Team USA’s ferocious ‘bench mob’ is its biggest advantage in Olympics

Team USA’s ferocious ‘bench mob’ is its biggest advantage in Olympics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr is not worried about Stephen Curry’s shooting, and neither is Stephen Curry.

Moreover, there is no need. Both realize that while an uncharacteristically low-scoring output from Curry might cripple their NBA team, the Warriors, it’s barely relevant with their Team USA squad.

Which is why even after committing four fouls in 21 minutes and missing eight of nine shots, including a blown layup and all six of his 3-point attempts, Curry on Wednesday could embrace Team USA’s 103-86 rout of South Sudan in the Olympics.

So, too, could Kerr, who finds himself in unfamiliar territory – and we don’t mean France. For once, he has no anxiety over his team’s non-Steph minutes.

An annual concern with the Warriors, those minutes are covered sufficiently by others on the Team USA roster. When Curry is on the bench – or off his game – they can do enough scoring, playmaking, rebounding and defending to drop any opponent.

Team USA has not only the most talented roster in Paris but also the deepest. By far. This allows Kerr tremendous flexibility with lineups and rotations. The “second unit” – regardless of its membership in each game – is built to destroy.

“We have an embarrassment of riches on this roster,” Kerr told reporters in Lille, France. “That’s the best way to put it. These guys are all champions, All-Stars, Hall of Famers, however you want to put it.

“So, the whole thing is are we committed to the goal? That’s it. That’s it.”

Consider the second unit against South Sudan: Bam Adebayo, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. They combined to score 60 points on 59.4-percent shooting from the field, including 66.7 percent from distance. Add 11th man Tyrese Haliburton’s six points on 2-of-3 from deep, and the bench totals climb to 66 points on obscene accuracy.

“That’s a pretty potent group when you come off the bench with Bam, Kevin and Derrick White,” Kerr said.

“I just think Steve trusts us,” Adebayo said. “He looks at the bench as a spark, a…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/team-usas-ferocious-bench-mob-145333054.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-08-01 14:53:33

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