Getting started was complicated for Team USA. Late for the warm-up, surprised by FIBA protocols and animations, Steve Kerr’s players also observed a prankster trying to interfere with the opposing team, before the Kiwis executed their famous “Haka”.
In the aftermath, the whistles of the referees against them and the loss of the ball multiplied, New Zealand even leading 14-4 in the middle of the first quarter…
Team USA nevertheless logically regained control to win (99-72) by imposing its physical dimension on Oceanian players who were too limited. But it was above all the substitutes who made a good impression.
Austin Reaves (12 points, 6 assists) brought his vision and all the little things that help a team run better, Paolo Banchero (21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks) was a particularly interesting interior anchor, especially in defense, so that Tyrese Haliburton (10 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) brought his pep.
Holders struggling
Among the starters, on the other hand, there are reasons for concern for Steve Kerr. Because Jalen Brunson was targeted defensively by New Zealand, and it worked quite well at first, while Anthony Edwards forced a lot in the attack from the circle (5 of his team’s 19 ball losses)…
Mikal Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Ingram seemed perplexed by the FIBA rules, the first two having accumulated fouls as general frustration swelled on the American side.
The New Orleans winger is perhaps the most troubling case, his contribution (2 1/4 points shooting in 15 minutes) having been particularly limited, especially since he seemed particularly on edge.
Next meeting Monday for the United States (2:40 p.m.), and it will be against Greece, easy winner of Jordan.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
