The Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant led the way in scoring for Team USA with 19 points, including going 4-for-5 from long distance in just 18 minutes of action.
Advertisement
So it was left for each side to set a mission and focus on specific details in what turned into a 106-57 rout for Team USA.
“All of them. They can all shoot, and so in your coverages and how you react, they have good movement, which gives them windows of opportunity”, Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski said after Friday’s win.
When told he had been booed in pregame introductions, Durant seemed surprised: No, I didnt hear it. I did? Huh. But they know we are limited with time, so when they show up here, it’s no nonsense. “We have eight days to prepare”. Three-time Olympic medalist Carmelo Anthony led the boards for team US with 8 rebounds.
And bound to get better. “That’s a big difference in their favor”.
Yi earned most valuable player honors in the Asia Championship last October, leading China to a victory over the Philippines in the final that secured their Olympic berth. With DeMarcus Cousins pulling down 15 rebounds in just 16 minutes, the USA dominated inside, outrebounding Argentina 53-30.
“As good as I thought he was on TV and on tape, he’s better”, Krzyzewski said. “But we really have an inside presence on the boards”.
Warriors GM Bob Myers definitely did, though, and theorized it was bitter Clippers fans who are upset Durant didn’t sign with them.
Then there’s the matter of Durant’s decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder as a free agent this summer and create a super team with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson up in the Bay Area. “A huge thing for us during these five exhibition games is to try to be in game shape by the time we get to Rio”.
“We’re so talented”, George said. That Argentina team featured National Basketball Association players like Andres Nocioni, Manu Ginobli, and Louis Scula.
Though at times little defense was played, there was plenty of offense to keep the crowd at the new T-Mobile Arena happy. Still, it made the news, and anyone who was looking for new reasons to dislike Green and the Warriors, got them with abundance over the last two months. Andres Nocioni and Manu Ginobili were both 3-for-6 from 3-point range in the game.
For information on the USA National Team’s Olympic schedule, visit their official website.
Advertisement
Krzyzewski’s team, still adjusting to the slightly smaller basketball used in worldwide play and to an array of different rules, overcame a slow shooting start and an early 7-7 tie to lead by 25 points halfway through the second quarter. His teams have lost only one game during his reign, which will end after the Olympics with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich taking over.
