From (Carmelo) Anthony to LeBron James to (Kevin) Durant, resistance was futile for Argentina. Argentina had subscribed to a strategy that Lithuania used on Saturday – protecting the paint, daring the Americans to shoot 3-pointers. It turned out that Argentina became one more national team that the Americans left in shambles.

“It is no secret,” (Manu) Ginobili said. “That’s the way everybody has been playing them for the last decade. But when they make 20 [3-pointers], you shake their hands and say good game.”

Now, the Americans move to the quarterfinal round, where they’ll meet Australia on Wednesday. So far, the United States has survived with center Tyson Chandler in constant foul trouble, compensating by moving James into the middle and Anthony to the power forward spot. It’s made for hellacious matchups, leaving teams scrambling to find ways to respond.

(Luis) Scola spoke for everyone else in the medal round when he said: “We cannot beat them in the 100s. We have to get it down into the 90s to have a chance, maybe even the high 80s. Nobody can just score with them.”

via Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports