“That’s how it should be. We have no other choice”. Jalen Brunson understood what Team USA stood for. Defeated for the first time in the tournament against Lithuania in their last game of the second phase, the Americans were again pushed aggressively, facing a team that knew how to surpass themselves for the occasion, to finally create the surprise and prevail, 110-104.
Even if Grant Hill recalled that there is no longer the “mystical side” to face the United States, the opponents remain overmotivated against Team USA. The Americans learned their lesson this time after the defeat against the Lithuanians.
“We see the reactions. We know of course that everyone wants to beat us in particular. You can see the joy they derive from it. This taste in the mouth, it is not pleasant”, noted Austin Reavesamong the many American rookies on the international scene.
Even if the gap is no longer so blatant, the United States remain the number one enemy of the tournament, the team to beat, a label not always easy to assume.
“Every player who plays for Team USA needs to understand what to expect. It’s not enough to tell them, they have to feel it.”recalled Steve Kerr. “And I think they felt it well in the last two games”.
The start to review
For the quarter-finals, Italy will approach the meeting with the same state of mind as the previous opponents of Team USA, with this desire to shake up the favorite and to try everything to achieve it.
It will imperatively be necessary to respond in intensity, to correct the mistakes on the rebound, but above all to avoid a new catastrophic start, as the Americans have been too used to. After ten minutes against Lithuania, the score was already +19 for the opposing team (31-12)!
“We have to jump on them early in the game, like they do on us”, pointed out Bobby Portis. ” It’s really important. It’s a match of good men that presents itself, a match of starvation. We have to get off to a better start”.
It will also be the first knockout match, which will make everything a little more electric. This is where the Americans are expected, especially in terms of composure and experience.
“It makes things more concrete”added Austin Reaves. “Now either we lose or we go home.”
