Steph puts on Team USA show but sees simplicity as best path to gold

Steph puts on Team USA show but sees simplicity as best path to gold originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS – Steph Curry’s superhero cape became torn, tattered and worn down to its final threads the last few seasons, carrying the Warriors to a fourth NBA championship in 2022 but seeing the franchise’s sovereignty fall by the wayside each of the past two years. Surrounded by fellow champions, MVPs and All-NBA players on Team USA will create a world for Curry closer to the Supervillains era of the Warriors, as first seen Wednesday night at the T-Mobile Center in an 86-72 exhibition win against Canada.

The biggest adjustment Curry is noticing he will have to make in his first Olympics might come as a surprise.

“The different shots you’re going to get,” Curry said after Team USA’s win.

Miami Heat head coach and current Team USA assistant coach Erik Spoelstra recently gave this group of the game’s giants a reminder of that exact fact Curry witnessed against a strong Canadian team. Every person on the team is a high-usage player used to having the ball in their hands, creating and knowing where the defense is.

Highlights will come in bunches. Viral moments are inevitable. Simplicity, however, is what will lead to a goal medal.

“On this team, catch and shoot, simple shots, you got to be able to knock them down,” Curry continued. “You don’t know how many you’re going to get, you don’t know when they’re going to come.”

Yet still, Curry found plenty of ways to please the crowd.

There was his fastbreak alley-oop delivered to LeBron James that had a packed crowd featuring President Barack Obama and some of the biggest names in men’s and women’s basketball history ready for more. Every time Curry was in position to unleash a 3-pointer, fans were ready to roar. Aside from the screams and cheers for Obama, the biggest rush of excitement for the fans might have been from a Curry layup as he caught fire to start the second half.

Curry at the top of the 3-point line with Oklahoma City Thunder MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, hesitated and blew by him. For reasons he only knows,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/steph-puts-team-usa-show-064108241.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-07-11 06:41:08

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