For the second time at the Paris Olympics, Kevin Durant and Team USA are set to face Serbia. It went well for the Americans in the previous match, as well as the exhibition game before that.
And that's nothing against Nikola Jokic and the Serbs. So far, no one has challenged the ol' US of A. Nonetheless, Team USA is taking every opponent seriously. Just ask Durant.
Again, the USA and Serbia faced each other in the USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi, with the Americans coasting to a 105-79 win. Then, the Americans won by a 110-84 count in the Olympics opener. Durant made his USA debut in that one, recording 23 points.
So yes, the USA is heavily favored in this semifinal matchup. But it can be tough to handle an opponent three times in a row.
"They're just more familiar with us," Durant told reporters. "Understand how we're coming up there. You understand them as well. So it's going to be about who wants it more, you know what I'm saying? We're going to watch the film, study tendencies and all that stuff."
For the record, Durant became USA Basketball's all-time leading Olympic scorer by recording 11 points in the 122-87 rout of Brazil — passing the legendary Lisa Leslie in the process.
"Records are meant to be broken," Durant said. "So it's going to come along."
France and Germany are set to square off in the other semifinal. That game is set for 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday. Team USA is scheduled to face Serbia at 3 p.m.
"At the end of the day, it's about who wants it more," Durant repeated.
(This article originally appeared on Hoops Wire and was republished with permission.)
