Team USA basketball: Paul George says Australia plays 'a little dirty'

All-Star forward says Team USA expected hijinx from the Aussies in close win

Australian basketball players are not known for their gentle, stylish approach to the game. They grew up with rugby or Australian-rules football, and so they bring a real physicality to everything they do on the court. Matthew Dellavedova and Andrew Bogut, two members of the Australian national team, have reputations for hard fouls and borderline contact.

After Team USA was hit in the mouth and struggled with the Boomers Wednesday before finally pulling away for a 98-88 victory, Indiana Pacers forward Paul George admitted there was an adjustment period in getting used to the Australian style ... and then he just straight-up called them dirty.

"We knew we were going to get their best," George said. "It was an adjustment for us. The game kind of got out of hand early with the physical play.

"We knew that coming in - this team has a knack for being a little dirty."

Source: Paul George 'dirty': Australian Boomers v USA, NBA star brands Aussies dirty team | Fox Sports.

Dellavedova drew George's ire early, goading the Team USA forward into a technical foul just minutes into the contest. Andrew Bogut delivered a hard foul to Kevin Durant on a drive that ruffled the Americans' feathers.

The Australians, naturally, just feel that they play hard, to the whistle, and that if you can't stand the heat, you should get out of the kitchen. Team USA is in an unenviable position. If they deliver those kinds of hits, they're the big bullies beating up on the world. If they don't, they get beaten to a pulp. LeBron James suffers with this same dynamic in the NBA.

Australia got physical with Team USA Wednesday. USATSI

But the reality is that Bogut mostly frustrated the Americans with brutal screens which could have been managed a little better if USA's bigs had called out the screens. Also, it's worth noting that the Aussies' physicality had nothing to do with their blown defensive assignments that gave up back-cut after back-cut. The problem seemed less about any "dirty" play and more about how the Australians' NBA talent and precision preparation caught Team USA off guard.

However, Team USA still got the win, and if the two teams meet again in the medal round, they will not be caught off guard again.