Corrected by Spain on Friday (99-79), the Slovenia failed to put up any further resistance against the UNITED STATES, this Saturday evening in Malaga (afternoon in local time). Deprived of their prodigy Luka Doncic, left to rest as a precaution after having received a blow the day before against Spain, the Slovenian selection was indeed largely dominated by the offensive firepower of Team USA (92-62), sharp in attack.
As he had announced beforehand, Steve Kerr played all his players, even if the rotations remained generally the same as in the first game, and are also beginning to take shape. In a match open to all, it was Anthony Edwards who particularly stood out, along with Jalen Brunson and Paolo Banchero.
More broadly, the 12 players all contributed since they all scored, and the American collective thus feasted both on the half-court by abusing the “pick-and-roll” and on the counter-attack. Larger, faster and more athletic than the Slovenian group, the American group also showed a good defensive face, without much surprise.
On the Slovenian side, the absence of “Luka Magic” (coupled with that of Vlatko Cancar) was of course fatal, the training of Aleksander Sekulic obviously no longer showing the same face without the “playmaking”, gravity and volume offensive play from the Mavericks point guard. The Americans have never been worried in their half of the field…
Next meeting for Team USA: tomorrow, still at 9:30 p.m., against Spain. For Slovenia, a few days of well-deserved rest after an intense start to preparation, before facing Japan next Saturday.
Photo credit : Spanish Federation
