United States v Lithuania: Team J – FIBA Basketball Globe Mug
Prior to Sunday’s video game also tipped off, the United States had actually progressed to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Globe Mug. They are on to the eight-team ko phase and also will certainly encounter Italy on Tuesday (the champion of that video game handles the champion of Germany vs. Latvia).
Group United States likewise got approved for the Paris Olympics Sunday many thanks to losses by the Dominican Republic, Brazil and also Puerto Rico (making the United States among the leading 2 groups from the Americas at the Globe Mug, a certifying requirements).
None of that conceals the reality the United States was completely out-executed by Lithuania in the very first fifty percent, dug an opening they might not leave and also shed their very first video game of the Globe Mug or its tune-ups, dropping 110-104 in a video game where they never ever led.
That is regardless of 35 factors and also a leading efficiency from Anthony Edwards.
Via the very first 4 video games of the Globe Mug (and also a lot of its 5 tune-up video games), Group United States had the ability to bewilder challengers with their athleticism and also deepness. That skill space covered up concerns like irregular protective implementation or an absence of dimension and also physicality that in some cases saw the United States obtain controlled on the glass.
Lithuania was the first string the United States encountered it might not bewilder. Jonas Valanciunas obtained Jaren Jackson Jr. in fast nasty problem, and also the Pelicans’ facility took place to have 12 factors and also 7 rebounds. Lithuania brought a well balanced strike with 7 gamers racking up in dual figures (yet none greater than 15), which’s not counting 9 factors each from previous Rocket Donatas Motiejunas and also point player Rooks Jokubaitis (the Knicks possess his draft civil liberties). Lithuania implemented and also the United States did not match it for the very first fifty percent.
” We got on our heels that entire very first fifty percent,” United States train Steve Kerr claimed after the video game. “They were sculpting us up and also we most definitely had some miscommunications.
” Yet as I claimed, we enhanced in the 2nd fifty percent. We began playing a whole lot more challenging– which we are mosting likely to need to do– and also had our possibilities. They made numerous actually difficult off-balance fives that permitted them to remain in advance so, when a group does that, you provide credit scores. Yet as I claimed, we’ll pick up from this, we have actually a.
