Europe’s two most talented national teams have all fallen apart, and even if they were whole, they wouldn’t be a match for the Dream Team.
The only thing the Americans are thankful for now is that Ah Gan is Chinese, and not Croatian or Lithuanian.
Aside from Ah Gan, the China Team is the weakest among all the participating teams, which makes Ah Gan’s threat much smaller.
Even so, Gan Guoyang’s 45-point performance in the morning still caused a stir and a bit of panic for the Dream Team.
Everyone in the League has been suffering from Ah Gan for a long time; could it be that we still have to take a beating at the Olympics?
No way, absolutely no way. Once we meet in the knockout stage, we’ll definitely go all out!
Angola should be the second weakest team after the China Team without Gan.
Facing America, they had no resistance at all.
After the game started, it visually seemed like adults playing against children.
The Dream Team opened the game with a terrifying 36:7 lead against Angola, including a horrific 31:0 surge.
Team USA’s strength lies not in offense, but in their pressing defense, coupled with fast-break counterattacks, it’s basically a dimensional reduction strike.
Barkley inexplicably elbowed Angola’s player number 8 after a fast-break layup.
This player’s name was Coimbra, thin as an African refugee in front of Barkley, inexplicably caught an elbow.
Perhaps his actions following Barkley annoyed the big guy; he was playing too excitedly and did it casually.
Poor Coimbra was hit hard by the elbow, showing a painful expression on his face, and the referee whistled Barkley for a technical foul.
Angola got a free throw opportunity and they finally scored again.
This elbow didn’t earn the admiration of the American players; Barkley was indeed a bit excessive.
Jordan pulled Barkley aside, reprimanding him that there was no need to do that, "If you act recklessly again, we’ll make you sit on the bench."
At moments like this, Jordan was still fair, also indicating that Team USA was focused on the Olympics; being exceptionally strong doesn’t mean you can act arrogantly.
In a knockout tournament, anything can happen, and there’s no cure for regret once overturned.
Gan Guoyang also shouted at Barkley, "Charles, are you a coward who bullies the weak? If you have guts, come elbow me!"
Barkley felt quite depressed, getting reproached by both Jordan and Ah Gan, could only swallow his anger, as he couldn’t beat either of them.
After Coimbra scored from the free throw, the Dream Team surged again, finishing the half with a staggering score of 16:64.
The China Team watching America’s defense intensity broke out in cold sweat; they were far more aggressive than during the America Cup.
It seemed during the America Cup they were indeed holding back, it was fortunate not to practice with the Dream Team in America, otherwise, their confidence might have been shattered.
The full-game score fixed at 48:116, Team USA rampant over Angola by 68 points, only 10 points more than the 58-point difference.
After the game, despite the exaggerated score and Team USA’s miraculous performance, the public focused more on Barkley’s elbow.
This footage was repeatedly played by major TV stations, newspapers published photos, criticizing Barkley, or rather criticizing the "ugly Americans."
Of course, Barkley didn’t care; he countered by saying, "He hit me first, so I hit him. This is a matter between blacks, an eye for an eye."
In reality, Coimbra didn’t hit Barkley at all; Barkley was just making excuses, refusing to publicly apologize through the media.
But privately, Coimbra was a fan of Barkley, he approached Barkley asking for a photo together and an autograph.
Barkley agreed willingly, then Coimbra requested, "I’m a big fan of Ah Gan, can you help me get his autograph or a photo with him?"
Barkley felt he hit him lightly with the elbow, yet managed to restrain his anger, saying no problem, he could sway Ah Gan over.