PARIS — We need to get used to this.
As a nation that comes into every Olympics thinking it’s more of a coronation than competition, we need to feel the tension, the stakes and the possession-by-possession intensity that is only possible when you respect what it takes to win and have a healthy fear that a loss could be around the corner.
We need to understand that what we saw at Bercy Arena on Thursday in an epic semifinal against Serbia is the new normal. We need to admit that, little by little, the world is coming for Team USA.
They’re almost there.
Just not yet.
Somehow, at the very moment it looked like this team of at least six future Hall of Famers was ready to be buried, they resurrected. Somehow, when one of the most disheartening defeats in the history of American basketball was looming over their heads, they held off the guillotine.
After storming back for a 95-91 victory over Serbia that almost seemed out of reach, Team USA will play France for the gold medal on Saturday. Better not take anything for granted. Not now, and probably not for the rest of our lives.
“Serbia was brilliant today, and I am really humbled to have been a part of this game,” Team USA coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s one of the greatest basketball games I’ve ever been a part of.”
It was great because Serbia was great. It was great because Team USA’s forever superstars were great exactly when they needed to be. But it was also great because it wasn’t really a fluke: This is what the…
