Team USA were dangerously close to a shock defeat by South Sudan in an pre-Olympics exhibition game, but this time there was a much different tone to their competitive contest in Paris on Wednesday clinching a quarter-final berth after a 103-86 victory over spirited underdogs with plenty of hidden gems.
Efficiency is key
A WHOLE host of NBA talent is bound for the knockout rounds in this year’s Olympic basketball tournament and the stacked USA side have joined Canada, France and Germany in the final eight.
Their final group game comes against an already-eliminated Puerto Rico, allowing head coach Steve Kerr increased licence to mix up his lineups and give some players more run as headlines swirl considering the DNP trend from their first two wins.
Given their embarrassment of riches, as Kerr eloquently put it himself, it’s no surprise they’re not satisfied and won’t be unless they’re pictured celebrating with Olympic gold medals next week.
Lakers big man Anthony Davis emphasised a need to improve, per The Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds: “It’s [reaching the quarterfinals] not the goal, gives us a sense of satisfaction as far as being able to play next week but there’s a lot that we can get better at, clean up, and we’ll use Saturday’s game to tighten the screws again… just see where it takes us from there.”
Miami center Bam Adebayo led by example with 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks off the bench while Suns star forward Kevin Durant, who wowed critics after putting Nikola Jokic’s Serbia to the sword on MD1, had 14 points elsewhere.
“In London, they weren’t prepared for us. We came there and tried to hit them on the chin, but almost had a knockout. This time, they were prepared… ready for the punches we threw, blocked them and threw haymakers at us. That’s a fight for you.”
- South Sudan coach and Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey on how things shifted between the two H2H meetings, 11 days apart
Adebayo played more minutes than usual (21) because Kerr opted to give 76ers star center Joel Embiid the night off, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Newly-minted NBA champion Derrick White was notably efficient, while Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Davis’ club teammate LeBron James endured a rough night – the latter recorded half-a-dozen turnovers, while Curry’s shot wasn’t falling.
White’s perennial All-Star teammate and franchise star Jayson Tatum was an unused substitute during the Serbia win, but started against South Sudan.
Tatum insisted he wasn’t holding any grudges and was rather in good spirits without an attitude per the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, quoted as saying:
“It’s a unique situation and it’s not about one individual player, the competitor in you wants to play obviously but I’m not here to make a story – we won – I was just glad to get back out there and play.”
Squad rotation appears to be the name of the game for the Warriors head coach, with Embiid and Celtics point guard Jrue Holiday – who came off the bench – slated to start this weekend’s final group game.
Keeping everyone happy and engaged is almost an imposed job, but Kerr acknowledges he’s in a unique situation with a succession of stars who can’t all play as much as they’re used to.
“I mean these guys are all champions, All-Stars, Hall of Famers, however you want to put it. So the whole thing is are we committed to the goal? That’s it,” he said after headlines again persisted about benching.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked
Mo and Sports 