Team USA discovered a stellar second unit that accounted for 60 of the reserves’ 66 points in its 103-86 win over South Sudan on Wednesday. Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Bam Adebayo comprised that group. The offensive output was matched by that unit’s defensive versatility, Sam Amick of The Athletic notes.
“That lineup was incredible,” Durant said. “You know, when you can switch a lot of different things, and keep the ball in front of you, don’t worry about over helping at all. We’re just (out there) talking to each other. There were some high-IQ defensive players out there. When you can throw that lineup out there, it’s fun. That’s when you don’t have to run offense when you can get stops and go and play in transition. And that’s basketball to me.”
Edwards is enjoying the experience of pairing up with Durant off the bench in the Olympics.
“I love that he’s coming off the bench. I get to play with him, so I hope coach keeps bringing him off the bench,” he said with a smile. “I get to pass it to him. He gets to pass it back. That’s probably one of my biggest dreams ever, so that’s dope. …We’ve got a great group of 12 guys. So it doesn’t matter who’s playing. It doesn’t matter who’s starting. It doesn’t matter who’s finishing the game.”
We have more on the Paris Olympics:
- Paul George said on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast (video link) that he believed he’d been chosen to play for Team USA after a conversation with coach Steve Kerr. Team USA managing director Grant Hill informed him during the NBA playoffs he wouldn’t be on the 12-man roster. “I was looking forward to representing the USA and being part of the team,” George said.
- Serbia bounced back from its opening loss to Team USA with a 107-66 romp past Puerto Rico. Now the Serbians face a pivotal game against South Sudan on Saturday in their final group play matchup. “Great opponent,” Bogdan Bogdanovic said of South Sudan, per Kyle Hightower of The Associated Press. “They started the tournament well. They played with great confidence. It’s going to be a tough game. We need to come out with the same energy we had (Wednesday) and to fight.”
- LeBron James surpassed the 300-point mark in the Olympics on Wednesday, joining Durant and Anthony as the only Team USA members to reach that career mark. It wasn’t a big deal for James, Aris Barkas of Eurohoops.net relays. “Oh, not much,” James said of the milestone. “I mean, at the end of the day, I just want to, you know, win. I mean, I’m here to win and win the gold, and that’s my only mindset.”
- The U.S. men’s 3×3 basketball team dropped to 0-2 in pool play with a 19-17 loss to Poland on Wednesday. Canyon Barry, son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry, had six points for the Americans. “We’re just not making shots,” Barry said, per The Associated Press. “That’s what it comes down to. We had a lot of good looks and they just didn’t fall tonight.”
is the 3 on 3 a gold medal event or just entertainment because why is it the over 40 players in it?
None of the guys on Team USA are over 40.
Is it a gold medal event? Because they sure picked some old guys to play.
It is a gold medal event but unlike 5×5 they can’t just pick the players, there are qualifications. You can pick two players ranked in the top 10 and two players ranked in the top 50 for your country. To get ranked you have to play in sanctioned 3×3 tournaments and a lot of those tournaments happen during the NBA regular season, that’s why we don’t just send Durant, Curry and LeBron. Those three would adapt quickly but they do play with 12 second shot clocks and a smaller ball.
As a Warriors fan, I must pipe up here and say:
Oh really? Kerr uncovered a lineup that cooks? Watch him NEVER use it again!!!
A smart coach adjust to play the best. A bad coach does nothing and just plays the same lineup. So you think a coach’s job is to just sit on the bench and watch the scoreboard?
Dingbat Davey, hates Steve Kerr and can’t handle or comprehend that he’s one of the greatest coaches of all time. You clearly don’t understand basketball Davey, so why are you pretending to be a fan?
Because curry is still elite and if curry is still elite, curry and 4 midgets are a contender.
19-17? Format?
I agree with Davey. Kerr has made a lot of questionable calls on taking players out when they are feeling it. Not saying he is a completely bad coach, but a few of those games I swear he was trying to make the team lose. And yeah, the players also helped win those championships
Watching Bam play D is a joy for me. Dude is easily the best defending big in the league, has been a while. Too much stock into rim protection alone, just one small component of D. Are there stats on how many times a big like Rudy gets burnt from deep when in drop coverage? That doesn’t happen much with Bam, the guy can switch and stay infront of guards, wings and still protects the rim. Out here guarding wings like Kawhi. Bam is a beast, so versatile both ends.
Meanwhile other bigger C’s are manhandling Bam everyday. Best defensive big lol, proves this league is garbage. Worst defensive and dribbling era ever
3×3 should not be an Olympic sport. The IOC is concerned about having too many sports, but uses spots here. Plenty of deserving sports should have been picked over it.
3 v 3 is what you play in your driveway not at the Olympics
The World is falling apart so none of this matters in 100 years
The Mamba and the Mambacita ……
link to espn.com
Put in putt putt