Sthey always are. It is a constant in time and form. Spain, the Spain that already speaks in the past tense when it remembers its golden generation, is in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It defeated the talented, anarchic and selfish Bahamas (86-78) in a game of enormous basketball, collective sense and play. Anchored by the magnificent Lorenzo Brown (18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists), who he executed when the game asked him to. He provided what Spain needed and Paris is now a reality.
Spain respected his style. The team. Lorenzo directed and shone. But Rudy was vital, with his drive and his sense of the game to go to his sixth Olympic Games. Also Santi Aldama (12 points), with a triple and several key rebounds when Bahamas came out on top in the last quarter. And Usman Garuba (10), who became a giant in defense.
It was a final, with all the letters. It came out just as that type of game is. Even, nervous and with little success (1/6 both teams in T3 in the 10′) in attack. Bahamas drew on the individual talent and quick shot generation of Buddy Hield, and Spain grabbed the inspiration of Willy and Aldama start to add. He also contributed the strength of Garuba and neutralized together with the ‘7’ the first moment in the game of the giant DeAndre Ayton under the boards (17-17, 10 ‘).
Lorenzo Brown launches Spain
From that timid beginning it turned into a formidable exchange of blows. That of Eric Gordon, with a 2+1 and triple of true genius. And that of a Spain, responding with Rudy Fernández. The captain scored from outside, stole a ball and Usman Garuba repeated the damage under the boards to maintain the balance of a serious Spain (24-23, 14′).
That of the Warriors was a tornado on both sides and Spain raised its bet behind. Making every Bahamian shot and decision uncomfortable, to step on the accelerator in attack through another excellent moment from Lorenzo Brown. He put on his leader’s suit and made three triples. Of all colors (39-31, 18′) to unleash a more than correct Spain.
Until the difference was eight at half-time (42-34, 20′) after a triple by Munnings from the corner when Llull He had given away a house brand tangerine. Sign of how dangerous the Caribbean nation is. She showed it with the restart after triples from Gordon and Hield. But Spain had Brown on board, defining in every moment of trouble (52-41, 24′).
That they went, logically, to the Bahamas. Ayton became their only lighthouse, punishing Spain’s interiors for his ability from five meters to under the ring. Although the team did not change its way of competing. Garuba and Rudy fought for every ball, contributed and if the attack got stuck, Brizuela executed from the outside.
It didn’t definitively break the game. It was better for the Bahamas to wage war on each player on their own so as not to disengage and Smith, at the third quarter horn, prevented Spain from rounding off a sensational third quarter (65-56, 30′). Live match.
Spain closes the pass
Bahamas is like that. Pressing the scoreboard despite not playing well collectively. Gordon and Ayton built a good partial, and Spain had to demand another moment of resistance and grit its teeth. Aldama gave it to them from the triple, pushing away the volcanic Caribbean team. Also on the rebound, becoming huge on his own board.
The only thing missing was appearance of the other big name of the team, Lorenzo Brown. He hit another front three-pointer, just when Scariolo maneuvered to bring the quintet onto the court, balancing talent and experience, which works best. Aldama, capturing another rebound for a dunk, made the decision even better.
Bahamas didn’t even die with those. He changed, in a correct decision but one that seemed incredible for the little reason. camaraderie shown throughout their match, to a suffocating defense on every court. And Buddy Hield took advantage of it in attack after a minute of the national team’s blackout (79-71, 37′). A notice for Spain.
Willy tried to deactivate it. He took over under the board and after each blow from Bahamas (Munnings and Edgecombe), he got a break. An attack gave them air, and when Hield failed to put the Caribbean team within three, everything changed. The Bahamian reaction was fading.
Hield’s shot did not go in, Llull and Rudy came out firing, and the captain, as fate would have it, scored the free kicks with “Yes, yes, yes, we’re going to Paris” roaring from the stands.. Willy placed the final ones. It was the finishing touch to another day of epic and team basketball that puts Spain in the Olympic Games.
