The United States (US) basketball team showed their strength with a convincing 105-79 victory over Serbia, led by 2024 NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in a friendly match ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Etihad Arena, Thursday (18/7) WIB.
The game showcased the U.S.’s defensive dominance and depth, especially once morest three-time NBA MVP Jokic, following the U.S. had previously only managed a narrow win over Australia.
Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, and Stephen Curry played key roles in this win.
Davis and Adebayo, who came off the bench, forced Jokic into a lot of tough shots, allowing him to make just 6 of 19 shots and score 16 points.
Their presence on the field demonstrated the strong defensive strategy that is characteristic of the US team.
US coach Steve Kerr stressed the importance of defense in the team’s strategy.
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“We have a lot of guys who can score. That’s not a problem for us. We want defense, defense, defense,” Kerr was quoted as saying on the NBA’s official website.
“Our team identity is depth, our team strength is depth,” he continued.
Davis showed an impressive performance with 6 blocks in the match, and was the only player to make a block in this match.
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He and Adebayo created crucial moments in the first quarter that helped the US lead by 14 points at halftime.
Adebayo also showed a surprising offensive contribution by scoring 17 points, including 3 three-pointers.
“Their combination is incredible,” Kerr said, hinting that the duo may remain on the bench to maintain team depth during the Olympics.
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On the other hand, Curry, who had performed less than optimally in the previous match once morest Australia, managed to show a brilliant performance by scoring 18 points in the first 11 minutes.
In this match, the Golden State Warriors star showed off his main skills as a shooter by scoring 6 out of a total of 9 three-point attempts.
He became the highest scorer for the US with 24 points.
The presence of Joel Embiid along with LeBron James and Curry in the starting lineup also shows how strong the US attack line is.
“We have a lot of options, but I like these three players,” Kerr said.
This match also served as an important lesson for Jokic, who is known for his dominance once morest US centers in the NBA.
The depth and strength of the US defense posed a major challenge for Jokic, who despite his strong record in NBA competition once morest Davis, Embiid and Adebayo, was outclassed on this occasion.
This win shows the readiness of the USA Basketball Team to face the challenges of the upcoming Olympics, especially in strengthening their defense and utilizing the depth of their squad.
With solid performances from key players, the US is ready to aim for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal. (Ant/Z-1)
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