34 dots. The Americans prevailed on this average difference during the first round of the competition. This average dropped drastically after today’s victory against Montenegro: only 12 points ahead (85-73), a gap all the less significant TeamUSA was only 4 points ahead with three minutes to go.
That is to say if the favorites of the competition were jostled by the 18th nation in the FIBA rankings. On a dunk from Marko Simonovic in the last moments, the Balkan nation even took the lead at the break (37-38). 37 points scored after 20 minutes of play is very little for a team that has averaged 106 points so far.
“ We didn’t start the game the way we wanted. But what does a FIBA match look like? It wasn’t the prettiest but they are for that “, formulates Tyrese Haliburton (10 points and 6 assists) thinking of the generally slower pace of matches on the international scene and their toughness.
” It wasn’t our night on offense », adds Steve Kerr. Anthony Edwards epitomizes these start-up difficulties. At the break, the back of Wolves had not scored a single point (0/5). Without further finding the target at 3-pointers in the second half (1/5 from afar in total), the offensive leader of the American selection woke up later by scoring 17 units (7/16 on shots).
Dominated on rebound
” I had the feeling of letting the team down in the first half, lacking aggression and stopping shooting after making 0/5. It’s not usual for me. I had to check in with myself in the locker room to get back in the saddle “, reports Edwards according to who will end up winning “ was super important. These guys, they play hard. They played very physically, we weren’t ready to play. We have to be more physical. A little more physical. »
Symbol of this Montenegrin physical impact, in addition to seeing Jalen Brunson sometimes being manhandled on his ball comebacks by his defender, the battle for rebounds largely lost by Team USA: only 31 catches against 49 for their opponents. The latter scraped 23 offensive rebounds, as many as defensive rebounds captured by the Americans!
This activity allowed Nikola Vucevic (18 points and 16 rebounds) and his band to compensate for a general clumsiness in shooting (40%) and to afford the right to believe in the “upset” until the end. ” They tried to blur the game, slow it down, make it low on possession, and that’s the opposite of what we want to do. “Summarizes Austin Reaves (12 points).
Author of an important award-winning shot in the last moments, the handyman of the Lakers believes that his formation has ” reacted in the second half, it’s positive that we managed the situation and played in the face of such adversity “.
The Haliburton – Reaves pair to finish
Same feeling on the side of his coach. ” It’s a great game for us. We are going to be confronted with this kind of encounter. We improve with this kind of match rather than with a victory of 40 points. Because you have to feel it, you have to live an experience where the game is tight and where every possession counts, that’s where you improve. I like the way our guys finished the game », greets Steve Kerr who found « fantastic » the performance of the Montenegrins.
This one, after having already released Brandon Ingram from his five in favor of Josh Hart, has also allowed himself a new adjustment by finishing this match with the pair Haliburton – Reaves, rather than the men of Villanova Brunson – Hart. ” It’s a five that we trust and like. They were playing well, in a good rhythm, and they got the job done. “, justifies the coach, when Edwards speaks of a ” dynamic duo “who he is with” very nice to play “.
The leader of the Pacers (10 points and 6 assists) believes, in conclusion that ” every win is satisfying but we will definitely look at the pictures tomorrow and see how we can improve and prepare in the right way for Lithuania “. A new beautiful piece for them.
