By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune –
LONDON — Let’s play a contest, seeing how, after Czech Republic’s sizzling first quarter, the U.S. women’s basketball team didn’t have much of one Friday night at the Basketball Arena.
If the U.S., which improved to 4-0 in pool play with its 88-61 cakewalk, could play and practice together for more than the seven weeks they have had, how good could they be?
(PHOTO: Czech Republich’s Michaela Zrustova (5) is pressured by USA’s Tamika Catchings (10) during their game at the Basketball Arena at the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England, Friday, August 3, 2012. )
“Oh, man,” Maya Moore said. “That’d be scary.”
Added Candace Parker: “I’d like to think we’d be amazing.”
The U.S. is doing pretty well as is, running its Olympic winning streak to 37 games in its bid for a fifth consecutive gold medal.
While not exactly setting records equivalent to the men’s team’s dominance the previous night, Diana Taurasi tied a U.S. women’s Olympic record with eight 3-point attempts, sinking four en route to a team-high 18 points. And the 62 rebounds snapped the women’s team mark of 58 set in 2004 against New Zealand.
With only Sunday’s game versus China remaining in pool play, the U.S. has won its games by an average of 33.8 points.
“Everyone keeps asking me why we lost,” Czech coach Lubor Blazek said. “The answer is simple: The U.S. is better.”
That’s why you have to hand it to the U.S., which has the concerned and critical routine down pat even in the wake of blowouts.
“If we want to continue to advance, we have to start games better,” Tamika Catchings said. “We’ll watch tape and get it figured out quickly.”
The Czechs led 10-0 as U.S. coach Geno Auriemma’s new lineup with Moore replacing Parker opened with three missed shots and two turnovers. By the end of the first quarter, Czech Republic had sank six 3-pointers and led 26-24.
Then the floodgates opened, with Moore and Taurasi consistently wreaking havoc defensively, getting into passing lanes. Though Moore had only one of Team USA’s 12 steals, she had numerous deflections to go with her 14 points and eight rebounds.
“That’s one reason I wanted to get her in the starting lineup,” Auriemma said. “She’s just a high-energy player. She plays every possession to the end, and not everybody does that. It’s just her makeup.”
Tina Charles added 16 points and a team-high 15 rebounds as part of that record-breaking effort on the glass.
“Our depth definitely makes up for us not having a lot of the time together that the other teams are able to have,” Charles said. “We have our WNBA teams, playing overseas, so we just have to be mature when we get together. I guess you could say it’s like an All-Star team.”
