Team USA took advantage of the day on Saturday to take “revenge”. Beaten twice Friday by the Select Team during scrimmages, Steve Kerr’s players took their revenge on Saturday. The opportunity to see that the coach of the United States had somewhat modified his starting five.
Friday was the following: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Brandon Ingram, and Jaren Jackson Jr. A very big five with no real shooting back.
Saturday, small modification with the integration of Anthony Edwards at post 2, and it was Johnson who paid the price. Which gives a more balanced starting five even if there is no real pivot. The most important thing is that there is a real playmaker, and it’s Brunson who seems to be one step ahead.
“Jalen is a natural leader”, believes Kerr. “Because he’s a playmaker, he immediately comes to mind. It is he who launches the song ‘1, 2, 3 USA’. There are guys for whom it comes naturally. But we have a great group. A lot of them are showing leadership and that’s nice to see. »
An option with two playmakers
About his starting five, the Team USA coach ensures that he is always looking for the right formula, and that nothing is fixed. Even for the four elements maintained between Friday and Saturday. “Nothing is fixed, far from it. We learn as we go. I think we learned a lot yesterday. We are going to learn a lot of things today. It’s nice to have videos so you can go back and watch things. But there will be many very interesting possible combinations, just because of the qualities [de l’effectif]. »
Thus, Kerr does not rule out playing with two playmakers, associating Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton. “Indeed, we had them play separately for the first two quarters of an hour, then we put them together”he confirms. “Guys who feel the game and can pass can play with anyone. But it’s fun. It’s nice to have a kind of doublet of playmakers on the field. But honestly, I feel the same when Austin [Reaves] is on the ground. Austin is such a good passer and he sees the field so well. »
Perhaps those experiences make Kerr more eager to pair Stephen Curry and Chris Paul with the Warriors…
