Team USA overcomes a slow start to rout Serbia, win gold medal at the FIBA World Cup (Ball Don’t Lie)

Things could not have gone better for Team USA on Sunday. It just took a few minutes for everything to start getting better. Team USA downed Serbia by a 129-92 score to win the FIBA World Cup in Spain, earning the gold medal with stellar all around play, but not before starting slow against a game and confident Serbian squad. With just under four minutes gone in the first quarter, Team USA was reeling from foul trouble, unable to keep up with Serbia's ball movement on offense, and facing a 15-7 deficit. There was still plenty of game left to play, but even the most experienced of international basketball observers were getting a little punchy: Team USA had better wake the bleep up! — Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) September 14, 2014 It's strange to point to pivotal first quarter plays as game-defining and eventually game-deciding, but that's what tends to happen in an eventual 37-point blowout. With the eight point deficit ahead of him, James Harden sprang free for a lay-in and a foul, while tossing in a three-pointer on the next offensive possession. Kyrie Irving then scored five straight of his own as Team USA came back to build a lead. Those offensive plays were sandwiched...