NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Team USA’s depth gives Kerr options next to Steph, LeBron originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
LAS VEGAS – An embarrassment of riches is the best, and only, way to put it.
Steve Kerr waited until the 5:48 mark Wednesday night in the first quarter of Team USA’s 86-72 exhibition win against Canada at the T-Mobile Arena to pluck somebody from his bench. The 2022-23 NBA MVP Joel Embiid was replaced by a nine-time All-Star named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in Anthony Davis. A little under a minute later, it was time for starting shooting guard and four-time All-Star Devin Booker to sit down for Second-Team All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards to enter the game.
The Sixth Man on Team USA is a former No. 1 overall draft pick. So was the next player up.
“I don’t find it ridiculous,” Kerr joked back when the depth of his player talent on Team USA was brought up after the win.
Canadian coach and new Brooklyn Nets head coach Jodi Fernandez might have a different assessment. Fernandez finding it ridiculous behind closed doors would be completely understandable.
Team USA trailed 8-1 when Kerr substituted Embiid for Davis. They then were down 12-4 as Edwards checked in for Booker. The Americans in the first quarter had eight turnovers – five more than their three assists – and hit on one of their seven tries behind the 3-point line. They needed a spark, and their star-studded second unit answered the call.
“They were great,” Kerr said. “Slow start, which wasn’t surprising, given that we’re just getting started here, but I loved the second group. Their defense, picking up the pace for us in transition. They made a few good plays there, too, defensively to really kind of jumpstart our offense and that got us into the game.”
Between one 3-pointer from Steph Curry and a made free throw by LeBron James, Team USA’s starting five scored four points in the first quarter. The bench then upped the ante and scored 10 points to get them within striking distance of a seven-point deficit, 21-14, after the first 10-minute period.
As Kerr noted, a flicker of life lit Team USA’s flame, setting the wheels in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/team-usas-depth-gives-kerr-183618620.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-07-11 18:36:18
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
