Luis Scola turned, spun, and banked in a two-handed lay-up off the glass on Argentina's first possession Thursday night.
Lithuania Coach Kestutis Kemzura threw up his arms in disgust and scowled at Robertas Javtokas, Linas Kleiza, and Paulius Jankunas. His hellish glance delivered an unmistakable command to all of his frontcourt players. The opponents spoke a different language, but even they understood this.
No more. That better not happen again. Stop him.
So, Lithuania did.
Scola had been so brilliant from day one that Kevin Durant, Team USA's prescribed floor leader and its unquestioned star, ceded the tournament MVP trophy to him. Durant is a gentleman and a good sport, not to mention an incredible basketball player. He cannot talk his way out of the honor after a 33-point performance against Russia. Turkey's Ersan Ilyasova now ranks as Durant's chief competition for the award.
No player, though, was better before Thursday than Scola. He dropped 30 or more points in six of Argentina's seven games. His 37-point eruption in Tuesday's win over Brazil elicited a number of stupefied reacti ...
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Article written by Robert Kleeman
2010 FIBA World Championship: Lithuania Snuffs Out Argentina, Chases History
September 10th, 2010 by Robert Kleeman Leave a reply »
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