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Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder Author
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates– There was plenty to examine as Group U.S.A. transferred to 4-0 on its pre-FIBA World Cup trip Friday night, beating old competing Greece 108-86 in its first-ever video game in the UAE. However possibly the most pertinent product came prior to the video game.
That’s when coach Steve Kerr submitted his lineup card with the very same 5 names to begin for the 4th successive video game. This is an uncommon advancement in preparation for any global competitors for any Group U.S.A., which generally invests its couple of weeks of prep time and often even the very first couple of video games of competitions looking for connection.
That was particularly an interest in this group, where all 12 gamers are betting the senior nationwide group for the very first time and there’s extremely minimal experience playing under FIBA guidelines. Kerr has actually currently settled mostly on how he wishes to play– little and quickly, as he has actually leaned into over the previous years with the Golden State Warriors— and discovered the structure of numerous functions rapidly.
” It’s so difficult due to the fact that you just have a couple weeks and after that you leap right into the competition,” Kerr stated. “So I like the stability of that [starting] group.”
The group is settling into patterns, which can be so important in these tight prep windows. Anthony Edwards, who was available in as the group’s second-leading scorer, led them with 21 points (3 3-pointers) in simply 18 minutes. Mikal Bridges, who was available in unbelievably effective shooting 68% in the very first video games, was effective once again as he made 3 of 5 shots and scored 10.
The other 3 beginners– Jalen Brunson, Brandon Ingram and Jaren Jackson Jr— typically revealed the great ball and body language and active defense that has actually mostly been a function of the previous 2 weeks in these exhibits.
It’s a sure thing they will remain in the beginning lineup when the U.S. opens the World Cup on Aug. 26 versus New Zealand in Manila, Philippines.
” I seem like we got it going respectable,” Edwards stated. “The entire training personnel does an excellent task to ensure we understand the[play] You understand, we truly like each other too, so we do not mind sharing the ball and making the additional pass. So I believe it’s going respectable.”
Cameron Johnson and Austin Reaves, who have actually been toasting challengers with sharpshooting off the bench, did so once again and integrated for 24 points.
This isn’t to state the Americans were ideal. They didn’t play easily for stretches versus the Greeks, who lacked nationwide hero Giannis Antetokounmpo as he recuperates from offseason knee surgical treatment. For instance, they turned the ball over 20 times, costing them 24 points. Throughout one stretch in the 2nd quarter, they turned the ball over 4 times in a six-possession period, and at one point they saw a 17-point lead sliced to 6 due to the fact that they lost focus.
However like they did last weekend in Malaga when they had a quality win over host Spain, the Americans consistently followed up irregular stretches with force and kept a comfy lead throughout.
After getting outrebounded by Spain, an issue for a group that is deliberately built with speed instead of bulk, the U.S. won the glass 49-35.
” The issue is turnovers and rebounds. If we remain even on the belongings video game, I feel excellent about our opportunities versus anyone,” Kerr stated. “The method groups can beat us is if they get additional ownerships and require a great deal of turnovers and we’re not sharp and we’re not boxing out. And I have actually informed our men that. … It’s not truly a trick.”
Greece, the group that will deal with the U.S. in swimming pool play on Aug. 28, had 5 gamers in double figures.