(CBS News) LONDON - Great for most of the Olympics, just good enough for
gold.
The U.S. men's basketball team defended its title by fighting off another
huge challenge from Spain, pulling away in the final minutes for a 107-100
victory on Sunday and its second straight Olympic championship.
And just like 2008, the star-studded Americans had to work for this one.
LeBron James capped one of basketball's most brilliant individual years with
a monster dunk and a huge 3-pointer in the final 2:50 that finally wrapped up a
close, back-and-forth game that few would have seen coming after the Americans
had been so dominant for so long in London.
Yet four years after beating Spain 118-107 in a classic in Beijing, the U.S.
found itself in another tight one, unable to ever really slow the Spanish down
until the closing minutes.
"We knew it wasn't going to be easy. We didn't want it easy," James said. "A
lot of teams have won gold easy. We didn't want it that way. We're a competitive
team and we love when it gets tight. That's when our will and determination kind
of shows. It was the same way in '08."
Kevin Durant scored 30 points and James had 19 on a day he joined Michael
Jordan as the only players to win the NBA title, regular-season MVP, NBA Finals
MVP and Olympic gold in the same year.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has said he's retiring as national team coach
after restoring the Americans to their place atop world basketball, emptied his
bench in the final minute
James stood with both arms in the air, then held Durant in a long hug before
they both headed to the bench.
"It's all about the three letters on my chest," James said with an American
flag draped around his neck.
The Americans, who insisted they were better than their 2008 version and even
good enough to take a game from the 1992 Dream Team, may not have been at that
level.
Still, they were better again than Spain — though not by much.
When the final horn sounded, Krzyzewski locked James in a tight embrace as
Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA" rocked the arena.
The Americans hugged at midcourt, guard James Harden holding a doll of the
Olympic mascot, and then after being handed flags, this group of NBA players —
and one kid just out of college — who grew into a tight-knit group during their
time together, paraded around the floor, the Stars and Stripes flowing off their
backs like capes.
Yes, they were Olympic superheroes again, but they had to fight until the
finish.
"To do it twice is a special moment," Carmelo Anthony said. "As the U.S.
men's team, we go through a lot. For us to persevere the way we did is just a
special moment for myself, and for the guys who are on this team."
For Kobe Bryant, it was his last Olympic moment.
"This is it for me," said Bryant, who scored 17 points and now has a second
gold medal to go with his five NBA championships. "The other guys are good to
go."
Pau Gasol scored 24 points and Juan Carlos Navarro had 21 for Spain, which
was again just a few minutes from its first basketball gold but couldn't finish
the job against the Americans.
The U.S. came in averaging nearly 117 points and stomping on their
competition with such ease that even the Olympics' own daily preview had a hard
time envisioning intrigue, writing that it would "likely take a great game from
Spain and an off-day from the USA to cause an upset."
Well, Spain brought the great game and trailed by only a point heading into
the fourth quarter.
But the Spanish somehow lost sight of James, and the game's best player drove
uncontested and threw it down for a 99-91 lead with 2:48 left. After Marc Gasol
dunked, James dribbled outside the circle with Marc Gasol giving him just a bit
too much room, and James pulled up for the 3 that made it 102-93 with 1:59 to
play.
Paul Gasol then was called for an offensive foul on a pick, and the Americans
could sense that it was over.
Gasol, who carried the flag for Spain in the opening ceremony, nearly carried
his country to its greatest Olympic basketball glory, but had a big miss inside
with Spain down by six about three minutes to go, screaming out loud in
frustration as he went back down the court.
Then James finished it off.
It was the 14th gold medal for the Americans, who lost at least five players
who might have been on the team when Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and
Derrick Rose had to pull out with injuries and Blake Griffin was hurt in
training camp.
Along the way, they showed they could be vulnerable during their exhibition
schedule, falling into early holes against Brazil and Spain, having to hold on
against Argentina.
Any concerns once they arrived in London seemed to be wiped away quickly —
just the way the Americans play.
They were tested only once, beating Lithuania 99-94, and the statistics
revealed a tournament that was more varsity against junior varsity than best in
the world against each other. The Americans came in leading the tournament in
eight statistical categories, with laughably lopsided advantages in points off
turnovers (198-77) and fast-break points (175-55).
James didn't seem too concerned Sunday, laughing his way through warmups,
even when he badly botched a dunk.
He and the Americans would soon realize this one wasn't going to be all fun
and games.
They used an 18-4 run to wipe out their early five-point deficit and made
seven 3-pointers in the first quarter, yet led by only eight points. Spain then
opened the second period with a 12-2 burst, taking a 39-37 lead on a 3-pointer
by Sergio Rodriguez.
Spain, long considered a finesse team, came to fight in this one, Rodriguez
delivering a blow to Tyson Chandler's ribs while setting a pick that led to
technical fouls on both players.
Both teams grew frustrated with the officiating — Spain in particular when
Marc Gasol was called for his fourth foul while going for a rebound with 5:29
remaining in the first half. The Spanish scored their final seven points on free
throws, cutting the U.S. lead to 59-58.
Though a gold-medal rematch was expected before the Olympics, the Spanish
struggled in London, losing twice in the preliminary round and saying that just
getting to the gold medal game was an accomplishment given some injuries they
faced. The Americans waved off Spain's claims of being tired and hurt, and, sure
enough, the Spanish team they expected showed up in the final.
Size was always the Americans' biggest obstacle, and the 7-foot-1 Pau Gasol
dominated them to start the second half, scoring Spain's first 13 points to give
them a 71-70 lead at the midpoint of the third quarter. Serge Ibaka at 6-10 also
hurt the U.S. inside, and the Americans led only 83-82 heading into the
fourth.
Though this was expected to be the final international game for Krzyzewski
and Bryant, the U.S. will apparently still be able to bring its best to the next
Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Though the NBA has said it might prefer an
under-23 age limit for the Olympics, FIBA's secretary general said Saturday he
doesn't see any changes being proposed in time for 2016.
James isn't sure if he will return after he, Bryant, Anthony, Chris Paul and
Deron Williams joined a list of 13 Americans who have won multiple gold
medals.
Krzyzewski, who matched Hank Iba as the only coaches to lead the U.S. to
consecutive golds, has said this will be his last game — though USA Basketball
chairman Jerry Colangelo promised to do his best sales job to bring the
respected coach back.
