Olympic Opener No Problem For Team USA
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By DERON SNYDER
The U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team needed a good challenge Sunday in its opening game against France because the next two opponents are lightly regarded Tunisia and Nigeria, which could lose by 70 points combined.
The two African nations are making their Olympic debut in 2012, which also marks the first time that a pair of countries from the continent have qualified in men’s basketball. Conversely, France, which won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics, is led by veteran San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker and boasts several other NBA players on its roster.
The French trailed by just one point after the first quarter Sunday, but Team USA cruised from there for a 98-71 victory. “We’re pleased,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a postgame interview. “We played a very good game against an outstanding team. France is so well-coached, and in Parker, they have as good of a guard as there is in the tournament.”
