It’s enough to make you wonder if either DeAndre Jordan shouldn’t start for Cousins, or Draymond Green (who has been terrible but showed some things Sunday) should start for either Durant or Anthony – a prospect that is never going to happen because of politics – or both.
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The United States looked like a team brought back to life in the first quarter on Friday night. The Americans relied heavily on pick and roll and isolations on offense, but the Serbian team stayed disciplined.
But the last two games have been a lesson in teamwork.
The Serbs came even closer to an upset than medal hopefuls Australia, who two days earlier also hung with the US for much of a 98-88 American win.
But with the crowd on their feet and two seconds on the clock Bogdan Bogdanovic’s three-point attempt clanged off the rim allowing the U.S.to escape with the win while Serbia dropped to 1-3.
Sometimes, stats can deceive.
The U.S. looked like it would cruise when it opened the game with a 23-5 advantage, running and dunking all over the Serbs.
It’s also where Serbia’s movement found success as the rest of the Team USA defense would collapse on the ball, which left gaping holes for Serbia to operate. “It’s the Olympics. They’re coming at us with everything they’ve got”. For the best player in the tournament, Durant’s presence felt absent for stretches for the second game in a row.
The 113-69 defeat of Venezuela in the Americans’ second game of group action didn’t tell the story of what has been Team USA’s Achilles heel in the Olympic games: the inability to string together four clean, smooth, periods of basketball.
It didn’t seem that way in men’s Olympic basketball – until now.
“It’s real important (to run)”, he said. It’s more about how they’re running their offense. You never sit still.
You wonder what would have happened if France had played Parker in this game. “They don’t get exhausted”. We will be switching to a new platform early in September. For a while we were playing their game.
“We got in our own heads”, Durant said.
Here’s how to watch the game online.
On the other end of the floor, the ball movement wasn’t almost as crisp. These teams are not awed by the United States, at least this USA team, not in the slightest.
The Americans aren’t unwilling passers and “selfish” would be too strong a word to describe any of them. DeAndre Jordan was a plus-12 and was active on both ends.
But for the most part, the USA’s passing wasn’t quick enough. Draymond Green, whose versatility should be a good fit for the global game, hasn’t been much better. “They really know how to move”. As a criticism, however, it’s one of many issues for Team USA right now, alongside their play in every aspect of the game. They’re just not fouls.
It was Irving, a player who works best with the ball in his hands, who led the US with 15 points.
But any air of invincibility is long gone.
Kyrie Irving scored 15 points and Durant and Carmelo Anthony had 12 apiece for the US team, which arrived in Brazil lauded as another American super squad and gold-medal lock.
Serbia coach Sasha Djordjevic says he borrows his offensive philosophy from the San Antonio Spurs, who’ve won five National Basketball Association titles since 1999.
“It’s my philosophy, but I believe San Antonio’s game showed us in the last decade how the game should be played”, he said.
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There’s still a lot on the line for this game, however, because China is playing to avoid elimination.
