The disturbing truth that worries Team USA: “We can’t accept ourselves”

USA will truly test their strength and reliability this afternoon against Serbia Nikola Jokic and Svetislav Pesic this afternoon in their preparations for the Olympic Games (6:00 pm), where they will surely face the world runner-up in the group stage. However, and after the victory of the great favorite against Canada Jordi Fernandez, Australia already exposed the seams of Team USA on Monday in the tight victory of the American team (98-92): Steve Kerr’s men received no more or less than 68 points in the painting, according to information provided by Brian Windhorst, of ESPN.

The data is alarming in itself, but even more so is the list of centers of the reigning Olympic champion: the 2023 MVP Joel Embiid Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo. Three top-notch rim protectors.

Size and intimidation went from missing to excessive in the United States after the North American team, where Kerr wanted to apply the formula of small quintets That’s how great it has been for the Golden State Warriors.

The coach used ‘4’ as Jaren Jackson Jr. as a center and only referred to Walker Kessler as a pure ‘5’, a low-profile interior in the context of Team USA’s interior game. In this panorama, the ‘middle class’ is centered in the NBA like Jonas Valanciunas with Lithuania or Daniel Theis with Germany hurt Americans in the painting.

However, Team USA can see how it’s not as simple as putting some names in place of others.

Embiid This is the most alarming case. The Sixers center, experiencing his first games with the American team, is in the full phase of adapting to FIBA ​​​​​​basketball – he was ejected for fouls against Canada in just 12 minutes – and he apparently not in the best physical condition. either. The interior ended the season with several problems, the main one being persistent pain after a meniscus operation whose recovery was shortened to arrive in time for the playoffs.

This set of factors means that, right now, Embiid is more of a liability than a help for the United States defensively, especially when he’s forced to defend farther from the paint or in isolation. Australia tickled him repeatedly, looking for space to operate on the head when the center, for example Landale, began to distribute, and Embiid did not come out. Or when the aussies play the pick and roll with an empty corner, also hit the target with a pick and pop which the Cameroonian failed to score with his drop defence.

As seen in analyst Joe Viray’s video, Team USA sometimes tries to prevent Embiid from directly blocking by sending another player to defend the blocker, without success in the example cited.

Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo, with the ability to change everything on blocks and even stick to the point guard on the perimeter, they provide more structure and stability to Team USA. Even Kerr played a lot of minutes with both on the court, taking advantage of his shooting range beyond the paint on offense.

Despite this, and paraphrasing what the Warriors coach said after the elimination of the United States against Germany in the last World Cup, “It’s not 1992 anymore.” Arguably, in terms of athletic ability and muscle, no one can overshadow Team USA, perhaps only Jordi Fernández’s Canada. But teams know how to counter it, certainly taking advantage of the switch defense common in the NBA.

The key is to read the advantages generated from incongruity, and Australia exploits interiors that mean their interiors, such as Jock Landale At 20 points, they will be paired with the little ones. The team that won the Olympic bronze in Tokyo was spotted in the final stage clearly reading the changes to the point that the Aussies They scored four points in the last 5 seconds as they trailed by 24 midway through the third quarter.

But those Brian Goorjian They also made points in the painted area with cuts to it when their interiors began to distribute from the header, taking advantage of the fact that the rim was left unprotected when Davis or Adebayo went out on the perimeter on those kinds of action. The choice of the ocean showed in this context the shortcomings of Devin Booker either Stephen Curry to follow their grades. Australia’s general fluidity with their ball movement also opened up many routes to the side.

“We gave up a lot of points at the rim,” Steve Kerr acknowledged after the game. “Cuts to the back, offensive rebounds, the game has changed and this is a good lesson for us. Better to learn a lesson now than later. It will be a good film for us to watch,” added the American coach, who said he intends to continue the test different alignments. After coming out against Canada with LeBron, Curry, Embiid, Holiday and Booker, Kerr traded Holiday and Booker for Edwards and Tatum.

Even Anthony Edwardswith that much confidence that characterized him, turned serious.

“We can’t settle,” said the Timberwolves star, asking his teammates to keep up the intensity on a more regular basis.

“I think in the third quarter we came out and were very comfortable, we took our foot off the accelerator. I think the second group shares the ball more than the first group in terms of us and myself. So we have to do a better job involving each other,” added the point guard, who emphasized the attack.

In its part, Anthony Davis ask for time

“You have 12 guys on the team who are all elite players, the best on their teams and it’s hard when you try to play for another one,” the Lakers center said.

Whatever the root of the problem, painting is America’s black hole. The one that the best player in the world will step on this afternoon. The Serbia of Nikola Jokic and the former Barcelona player Svetislav Pesicyou wise old fox, the cotton test for Team USA.