usa vs serbia
USA won't stumble vs. Serbia in FIBA World Cup final
Serbia struggled with France's Nicolas Batum, the Portland Trail Blazers small forward who scored 35 points (with eight three-pointers) Friday. The French shot 15-for-33 from behind the arc, and they can't match the shooting Team USA has in James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Milos Teodosic, Serbia's 6-5 star point guard, thoroughly outplayed France's Thomas Heurtel with 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting. But the USA's point guards (Irving, Curry and Derrick Rose) are quicker and, frankly, better. Teodosic probably could start in the NBA, but he would have to adjust to the speed in the same way so many European star guards have struggled with in the past. Team USA has run the court hyper-aggressively this tournament, and Teodosic is going to have to be the one to keep pace.
And then there's Davis. And Kenneth Faried. And DeMarcus Cousins. The USA's frontcourt was criticized entering this tournament for its inexperience and lack of size. But that's become this team's strength, as they've had major athleticism advantages down low that are sure to continue against Serbia's Miroslav Raduljica and Nenad Krstic, who both have been mediocre NBA centers.
Team USA last lost in a major international tournament in 2006, when Greece used a pick-and-roll offense led by point guard Theodoros Papaloukas' incredible decision-making. Teodosic is capable of similar play, but USA coach Mike Krzyzewski has learned from his mistakes. Team USA's pick-and-roll defense has become much more complex and reactionary in the past eight years, and the result is a 62-game winning streak in international play.
Serbians should take great pride in this team's accomplishments. They've overachieved and look to be even stronger for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as the roster is loaded with players in their 20s.
But as USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick wrote from Madrid, the Americans have dominated this tournament as thoroughly as they have any other in recent memory. And with potential nemesis Spain out of the way, the coronation appears all-but official. http://www.usatoday.com/
Milos Teodosic, Serbia's 6-5 star point guard, thoroughly outplayed France's Thomas Heurtel with 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting. But the USA's point guards (Irving, Curry and Derrick Rose) are quicker and, frankly, better. Teodosic probably could start in the NBA, but he would have to adjust to the speed in the same way so many European star guards have struggled with in the past. Team USA has run the court hyper-aggressively this tournament, and Teodosic is going to have to be the one to keep pace.
And then there's Davis. And Kenneth Faried. And DeMarcus Cousins. The USA's frontcourt was criticized entering this tournament for its inexperience and lack of size. But that's become this team's strength, as they've had major athleticism advantages down low that are sure to continue against Serbia's Miroslav Raduljica and Nenad Krstic, who both have been mediocre NBA centers.
Team USA last lost in a major international tournament in 2006, when Greece used a pick-and-roll offense led by point guard Theodoros Papaloukas' incredible decision-making. Teodosic is capable of similar play, but USA coach Mike Krzyzewski has learned from his mistakes. Team USA's pick-and-roll defense has become much more complex and reactionary in the past eight years, and the result is a 62-game winning streak in international play.
Serbians should take great pride in this team's accomplishments. They've overachieved and look to be even stronger for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as the roster is loaded with players in their 20s.
But as USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick wrote from Madrid, the Americans have dominated this tournament as thoroughly as they have any other in recent memory. And with potential nemesis Spain out of the way, the coronation appears all-but official. http://www.usatoday.com/
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