The Fig Cap: REDEMPTION!
Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Do you notice that huddle to the right there? See all of those numbers on the back of those jerseys? Can you add up all the numbers? Simple addition, right? Well, no matter what the literal answer is, the symbolic answer is the answer that matters most, and that answer is ONE. After spending parts of three years together gearing up for these 2008 Beijing Olympics, Team USA came together at the most crucial of moments and played together as a team. Unlike the recent past, there's no one-on-one's here, folks. Nope...

... just ONE.

For all the individual star power that comprised Team USA, it wasn't about individuals, as players accepted their roles and did what needed to be done in order to redeem themselves as the supposed top basketball power in the world. With today's win they did just that. Spain made it tough on them in the fourth quarter, coming thisclose to tying the game with about eight minutes to go. Then a American run. Then a Spain jog to get it as close as four points. Then, the Americans answering back and hitting free-throws on technicals the rest of the way. Understand, there weren't five players on the floor for Team USA at any one time - that would be an insult to the brotherhood, mission, and focus of this team - so, not five players playing as five players. Nope...

... just ONE.

And for all the prestige and power (and pendulousness) of being an NBA head coach, the 2004 Athens Olympics proved that not even a Hall of Fame NBA coach who did not appropriately teach the team concept would have been good enough to achieve this redemption and bringing back hoops glory to the United States. It took a college coach, a legendary one at that, to bring this squad of NBA All-Stars together. Makes sense. In college basketball, it's the system that takes precedence over individual players and there wasn't a better coach to teach and preach teamwork.

If you notice, I do not name any individual in this article because this road to redemption was never a story about one person or one coach. Nope...

... just ONE team.

Gold Medal Game Results and Final Standings

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The Fig Cap: "We're NUMBER ONE! At least, we will be come Sunday."

Okay, so Manu Ginobili, a proven Team USA killer, missed most of the game with an injury. So what? It doesn't take away from the huge win the Americans achieved during the Olympic Basketball semifinal against Argentina, 101-81. The victory pushes away the pain that Manu and company exacted on Team USA in the last Olympics in Athens when they beat the Americans in the semis, having them settle for bronze as the Argentines went on to win gold.

Moving on to the gold medal game, Team USA will match up against Spain, a team they absolutely clobbered during group play. Will Team USA put down another beating and take the gold back home and redeem themselves of past losses? We'll find out on Sunday.

Day Seven Results (Semifinals)

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The Fig Cap: What stinks? Oh, Australia's play.

There was a bit of fear about Australia going into this game. Why? Because in one of Team USA's pre-Olympic exhibition contests, Australia actually gave the Americans a tough test as Team USA took the 87-76 victory, which was particularly of interest since Australia's best player, arguably, did not play as Andrew Bogut was sitting out with an injury. It wasn't the usual 30 point win to say the least.

However, when it counted, Team USA beat Australia 116-85 as they matched up during the Beijing Olympic Basketball quarterfinal. Next up will be Argentina, the team that beat Team USA in the 2002 World Championships, as well as the defending Olympic Basketball champions having beat the Americans in the semifinal before claiming gold in 2004.

Day Six Results

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The Fig Cap: This is Dwight Howard's kryptonite.

Dwight Howard stood tall in Team USA's final game of group play against Germany, leading the team in points (22), rebounds (10), and tied in steals (2). And while Howard shot very well from the field (9-for-10), well, not so much from the free-throw line (4-for-9). However, considering the final score of 106-57 in the Redeem Team's favor, there were no worries about the misses.

And that's pretty much been the way in group play - no worries about the misses because Team USA has been hitting so much! In going 5-0 thus far, the team has been beating their opponents by 32.2 points on average. That's 32.2!!! Keep it up, boys!

Day Five Results

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