For the primary time in 53 years, Crew USA have didn’t win a medal in consecutive FIBA tournaments and head coach Steve Kerr reveals why his group didn’t reside as much as expectations.
USA endured a quite stunning 127-118 time beyond regulation loss to Canada within the bronze medal recreation on Sunday and earlier than that, misplaced to Germany and Lithuania.
Up to now, USA have stuffed their roster with NBA superstars however this yr’s group was made up of a comparatively younger roster of gamers with no worldwide basketball expertise.
“It’s arduous for us to construct continuity with Crew USA,” Kerr stated. “Simply because we naturally have a lot turnover yr to yr. What we have now tried to do is be taught what wins a FIBA recreation. We actually studied all the things about FIBA, the historical past of United States basketball — once we received, what was the rationale, and once we misplaced, what was the rationale. We research all that stuff.”
Kerr believes the principle motive his aspect misplaced was as a result of their lack of effectivity in protection.
“When it comes right down to us and this match, we put ourselves in an incredible place, we obtained to the semifinals,” Kerr stated. “We have been proper there, however we couldn’t get sufficient stops. We didn’t defend effectively towards Germany or Canada. That’s the underside line. Yearly, we are attempting to construct one of the best two-way group we will.”
Anthony Edwards stated after the Canada loss, “We are able to’t get no stops, so I don’t know what we may have executed. Our protection is fairly dangerous.”
As a result of improvement of basketball globally, the hole between the US and the remainder of the world is clearly narrowing, and Kerr is aware of it.
“I didn’t want any reminder,” Kerr stated of the more and more tough FIBA competitors. “I used to be on a training employees in 2019 [FIBA World Cup], once we completed seventh. America has not received a World Cup since 2014. It’s arduous. These groups in FIBA are actually good, well-coached, they usually have continuity.
“They performed collectively for a very long time, so it’s tough. It’s been tough already. What I’m impressed about is the best way our guys fought, particularly tonight underneath these circumstances, lacking three key teammates, and simply battling to the time beyond regulation was spectacular.
“However the narrative about USA Basketball and FIBA — do we’d like reminders? We handed that. These groups are actually good.”
It is going to be attention-grabbing to see the sort of roster group USA places collectively for the 2024 Paris Olympics, since LeBron has even reportedly indicated curiosity in a return.
At virtually 39 years of age, he nonetheless might need to return in and present them the way it’s executed.
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