2004 Olympic Men's Basketball Gold Medal Game
The Lead-up to the Game
The 2004 Olympic Men's Basketball tournament was highly anticipated, and many expected the United States to come out on top once again. However, things were different this time around, as the U.S. team was made up of young and relatively inexperienced players. Only six of the 12 players had NBA All-Star experience, and no player had previously played in an Olympic game. Furthermore, many of the top NBA stars, including Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan, declined to play for various reasons. Nevertheless, the U.S. team was still considered the favorite to win the gold medal, as they had done in every Olympic Men's Basketball tournament since 1992.
The Game
The gold medal game took place on August 28, 2004, in Athens, Greece, and pitted the U.S. team against Argentina. Argentina had a strong team, with many players who had NBA experience, including Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs), Andres Nocioni (Chicago Bulls), and Fabricio Oberto (San Antonio Spurs). However, the U.S. team was still expected to win, especially after defeating Argentina by 27 points in the preliminary round.
The game started off well for the U.S., as they jumped out to an early 6-0 lead. However, Argentina quickly caught up and took the lead by the end of the first quarter. The U.S. team struggled to get into a rhythm and committed many turnovers, which Argentina capitalized on with fast-break points. By halftime, Argentina had a 9-point lead, and many U.S. fans were starting to get nervous.
In the second half, the U.S. team made a run and cut the lead to 2 points. However, Argentina responded with a 12-3 run of their own and never looked back. The game ended with a score of 89-81 in favor of Argentina, and the U.S. team was left stunned and disappointed.
Key Moments and Players
There were several key moments and players in the game that contributed to Argentina's shocking upset:
- Manu Ginobili was the star of the game, scoring 29 points and making several crucial plays. One of the most memorable moments came in the fourth quarter when he dunked over Dwight Howard, who was considered one of the best defenders on the U.S. team.
- The U.S. team committed 18 turnovers in the game, which led to 26 points for Argentina.
- Argentina's defense was also a key factor, as they held the U.S. team to just 40% shooting from the field and forced them into taking contested shots.
- Carlos Delfino made several clutch shots down the stretch, including a 3-pointer that put Argentina up by 8 points with just over a minute left in the game.
The Aftermath
The U.S. team's loss to Argentina was seen as a major upset and a wake-up call for American basketball. Many fans and analysts criticized the U.S. team's selection process and the decision to rely on young and inexperienced players. The loss also led to changes in how the U.S. team selects and trains players for the Olympics and other international tournaments.
For Argentina, the gold medal was a historic achievement and a moment of national pride. It was their first Olympic gold medal in basketball, and they had done it by defeating the heavily favored U.S. team. The victory cemented the legacy of several Argentine players, including Ginobili, Nocioni, Oberto, and Pablo Prigioni.
In the end, the 2004 Olympic Men's Basketball gold medal game was a shocking upset that will always be remembered as one of the greatest moments in international basketball history.
