Bogdan Bogdanovic was in quite a mood after Serbia's loss to Team USA in the Olympic semi-finals. Speaking to reporters after the game , Bogdanovic noted that the referees were not willing to clarify any of their decisions, and felt as though they gave the players on Team USA some physical advantages and allowed for some rough play.
“We tried to talk to referees; they didn't try to talk to us, but it's ok. The USA doesn't need that type of help against us. We didn't have that type of help when they were grabbing us with two hands and all that. We played the best we could.”
Bogdanovic wasn't the only one to vent their frustration after the game. Serbian head coach Svetislav Pesic was furious with the officiating and ranted about it after the game.
Bogdanovic is clearly frustrated about the loss, and he has every reason to be. Despite the officiating from the referees, Serbia had built themselves quite a sturdy lead. But in the fourth quarter, performances from Stephen Curry and LeBron James allowed Team USA to slowly erase and then overturn the lead and secure the win in the final moments of the game.
In fact, out of the 40 minutes the two sides played, Serbia led for over 35 minutes, whereas Team USA barely had the lead for 3 minutes . But that was all that they needed, as they walked away victorious, now one step away from the gold medal in Paris.
For Serbia, it must be really frustrating to come so close to usurping the reigning gold medalists and earning the gold medal for the first time in their country's history. And to have the officiating play a factor in that result makes this loss even more bitter.
Serbia Now Has Chance To Win Bronze Medal
The Serbian team definitely played well against Team USA. Bogdanovic himself led the scoring for Serbia, putting up 20 points, along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists. As for Nikola Jokic, he had a great outing as well, delivering 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists for Serbia.
The duo were integral to the Serbian team building up a lead over Team USA. But unfortunately, they weren't able to hold on to that lead. Now, they will not have time to harp on this loss, as they must prepare to face reigning FIBA World Champions Germany in the bronze medal game.
Serbia can take pride in the way they fought against Team USA. While many felt the result of the game was a foregone conclusion because of the prior two meetings between Team USA and Serbia, they didn't accept any such formality. They fought tooth-and-nail against Team USA till the final seconds of the game.
As for Team USA, they will shift their focus to Saturday, when they play the hosts France in the gold medal game. Playing against the host nation will not be an easy task. But given the talent on the roster for Team USA, they will be considered the heavy betting favorites to seal the deal and bring home the gold medal once again.
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Related: Serbian Head Coach Svetislav Pesic: "We Are Playing Against The Best Team In History Of National Teams"
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