Team USA plays Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics on Tuesday and coach Steve Kerr says that his team’s preparation has been centered on defense, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
“We know what wins a FIBA game,” Kerr said, referring to the international rules played at the Olympics. “We are just completely focused on our defense … and then the beauty of our team and the talent, the depth of our talent is that from one game to the next, we’ve got lots of guys who have the ability to get rolling.”
No one has been the focal point of the offense from game to game, which makes Team USA even more dangerous as it exits group play.
“That’s how we can overwhelm teams. It’s just everybody has to be ready for your moment whenever it is,” Stephen Curry said. “I think that’s a challenge because you don’t know from quarter to quarter from game to game who it’s going to be, [but] it’s a fun way to play. If you’re bought into ‘Let’s just win the basketball game’ and after that, who cares what it looks like.”
We have more on the Olympics:
- The other quarterfinal matchups will also be played on Tuesday — Germany vs. Greece, Serbia vs. Australia, and France vs. Canada. Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy previews all of those matchups, taking a deeper dive into the France/Canada showdown.
- In what areas are Team USA most vulnerable? Rebounding and half-court offense, according to Windhorst, who looks at the main strengths and weaknesses of all eight remaining teams.
- Curry has struggled somewhat offensively during the tournament but he’s excelled as a screener, as The Athletic’s Joe Vardon details. Curry has set screens for LeBron James, leading to smaller overmatched defenders switching onto James. “I’m a good screener and can cause some confusion for a guy like (LeBron) having the ball,” Curry said. “We do it a little bit in Golden State where you have somebody else having the ball and me setting it, and I have a lot of different actions you can run, but if you get (LeBron) going downhill, good luck to anybody trying to stop him and having me come off into space.”
- James is the game’s global ambassador, Tania Ganguli of The Athletic writes, and now some who idolized him in their youth are facing him in Paris.
Even though Curry is not shooting his best he still creating out there on offense. He usually gets the other team’s best defender and constant moving opens up space.
You aren’t wrong, I still laugh at his one on one defensive ability though. His direct opponent been running in layups every game. Always looks shocked when this happens, it’s like WOW, I’ve never seen a straight line drive like that. Awe man, he did it again, how lol? Better team defender than James Harden though so that’s something.
I notice teams were running screens on Curry and when Embiid is in the game he doesn’t move fast enough to cover off on the open man.
This team ain’t losing. This is why you get vets.
USA ……. USA. …….. USA
Again, as with the GSW title-winning teams as team USA, as Curry gets double teamed, so an elite scorer becomes wide open…
Not exactly exclusive to Steph and the Warriors that. Double teams and guys open every game bro. If someone like Embiid learnt how do deal with a double, Philly would actually be dangerous.
Needs to have shooters around him. Shooters he trusts
France defeats Canada and Fournier auditions for more NBA play.