The U.S. plays Australia in the first semifinal Thursday at Saitama Super Arena.
SAITAMA, Japan — They believe they are the best basketball team at the Olympics, too good to consider anything but gold. “If we do what we do well, we bring the intensity on defense, we play our roles but we’re ourselves in our roles, we’re free, we’re the best players in the world,” U.S. guard Zach LaVine said. “I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to beat us.” Australia and France already have this summer. And Slovenia has beaten everyone its ever played with Luka Doncic in the lineup. So the semifinals might be as wide open as any time during the Americans’ run of three straight titles. The U.S. is the only team left that has won Olympic gold, but the other three teams think this is their time. “We’re well experienced,” Australia guard Patty Mills said. “We’ve been to this stage many a time and haven’t crossed the line. But we’ve bottled those experiences up, and I think we’re well prepared for this moment and for this stage to make the next step.” The U.S. plays Australia in the first semifinal Thursday at Saitama Super Arena, with a victory assuring the Australians their first medal in men’s basketball. But they’d have to win again Saturday to get the one they believe is in reach. “Our goal is the gold medal,” guard Matthew Dellavedova said. France faces Slovenia in the nightcap.
