Who should start for Team USA? LeBron or Curry off the bench?

LAS VEGAS — Don’t read too much into who is starting for Team USA when it takes the court Wednesday night against Canada.

“We are purposely going to just throw all kinds of different combinations out there…” USA head coach Steve Kerr said. “I imagine I’ll change the starting lineup for the first few games, just try different ones. Everybody understands this is a very unique situation. They’re all not only starters, but superstars, future Hall of Famers. So they all deserve to start but only five can. We will figure it out.”

Kerr has options, but if we don’t see the Paris starting five against Canada — and we definitely won’t with Kevin Durant out — then who will start in Paris? Let’s break it down.

Steve Kerr learned a hard lesson at the World Championships in the Philippines last summer — his small-ball lineups don’t work the same way in the physical game allowed internationally as they do in the NBA. The USA struggled to match up with size.

Enter Joel Embiid — the most dominant physical big man in the NBA (or, at least tied with Nikola Jokic). If Team USA takes home another gold it will be because Embiid — along with some help off the bench from Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo (who Kerr seemed to use together in scrimmages, bumping Bam to the four) — could match up physically inside with anyone. Kerr added this style of play may be an adjustment for Embiid because he’ll be down on the block more.

“Nothing changes,” Embiid responded. “I’ll still be dominant as I always am. I’ll just see a few more touches in the low post and go from there.”

The must starts: Curry, LeBron, Durant

There is a political element to being USA basketball coach and with this team in particular — Kerr has to start these three legends. Even on a team of superstars, these three icons can’t come off the bench.

This is also not a bad thing. The plan in scrimmages appears to have been LeBron as a point-forward initiating the offense, with his elite decision-making and passing setting everyone up, then have Curry working more off the ball and as the secondary shot-creator. (Still, the USA Select team was quick to double Curry…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/start-team-usa-lebron-curry-053452735.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-07-10 05:34:52

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