USA win World Basketball final against Turkey
One of the most formidable teams in international competition with the leading domestic league to boot, the United States of America finally ended their long wait for the world basketball championship with a clinical disposition of hosts Turkey in the final of the tournament.
This was the first title for the Americans at the highest level of competition in the last 16 years.
Sunday’s final game score line was 81-64 in favour of the winners.
Team USA were indebted to an outstanding performance by their mainstay 21-year-old forward Kevin Durant, who showed no nerves in the biggest match of his career to date to help topple the Asians.
Durant was in outstanding form throughout the tournament performing splendidly under pressure as he lit up the showdown in Istanbul's Sinan Erdem Dome.
In the final alone he scored 28 points and five rebounds and his aggressive intentions tore through the hapless defence of the hosts especially when he nailed seven three-pointers, bringing the Turks to their knees.
Despite the comfortable score line, the American team captain, Chauncey Billups praised his opponents, claiming that the Asians had proved themselves to be the second best team in the tournament.
"We knew it was going to be tough. I think that they really were the second best team in it. We proved that today. But they caused us a lot of problems because they are so big, they have got so many great shooters and they have got great players in Turkoglu and Ilyasova, who are frankly great great players so we knew it wasn't going to be easy”, Billups said.
The hosts on the other hand were elated with their performance knowing very well that they had made their mark at the highest level with their brilliant performance in front of their home audience.
"As far as the organization we did a great job I think and as far as a team we earned a lot to get to this point and winning the silver medal means a lot to us of course but I think we showed that we were the second best team in this tournament that played the best basketball", Turkish basketball player Sinan Guler said.
At the post match press conference USA Coach Mike Kryzewski had words of praise for his team as well as their opponents.
"I am a very lucky guy to have great players and this was, this championship really meant a lot because we had a very young team and it just meant a lot to all of us. I have a long way to go to be where I want to be", Durant told reporters.
He added that his team prides itself in its physical conditioning and stated that it was an important element of their game. "So I am looking forward to wake up every day and going to gym and get better so but right now I am just enjoying this moment, being a World champion", Durant concluded.
On the other hand, Turkish captain, Hedo told media, 'I am just proud and happy to be their captain and I hope I helped them in their career and hopefully they will carry on and become a great player".
The match was a closely fought affair for most part as the winners took a substantial 42-32 lead at halftime.
They were indebted to 20 points from Durant and his team mate from Oklahoma City, Russel Westbrook.
Westbrook also made the most of the big occasion providing great support in set plays finishing the game with 13 points in all including six rebounds and three assists.
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