LAS VEGAS — Here are some observations from USA Basketball’s first exhibition game, an 86-72 win over Canada before the team heads to Abu Dhabi.
Five-man units
Coach Steve Kerr eliminated hockey rotations for much of the night, starting with Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, LeBron James, Jrue Holiday and Joel Embiid. Canada jumped out to an expected lead as the turnovers increased and negligence was evident.
The second unit was anchored by Anthony Davis, with Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo – a clean 10-man rotation with Kevin Durant out and Derrick White yet to come in.
You could see the overtaking and hesitation in the first 10-minute quarter, with no one wanting to be too assertive. Only Curry made a field goal for the starters in the period.
“You know, we’re just getting started, four days of practice,” Kerr said. “You can see the rust on the offensive end. Lots of twists and turns, especially in the first half.
Kerr warned reporters not to worry too much about the lineup starting the exhibition games, as it will mix and match before the team heads to Paris. But you can see where Holiday fits in terms of ball pressure — he’s the perimeter stopper and that’s needed with an older Curry and James on the first unit.
“You can’t go wrong picking a starting lineup with this group,” Kerr said. “So I think I told you the other day that I’m going to do something different. In the next two games we’re just going to look at a few different combinations before we decide anything.”
The Stephen Curry-LeBron James connection
It appears Kerr wants to explore one thing: the Curry and James connection. When the lineups got mixed up on rare occasions, the two were on the floor together. James on the break or in semi-transition is looking for Curry, and one of his passes hit the expensive seats where former USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo and former USA Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski were sitting .
James likes to hit teammates looking for triples, and it seems like Curry picks the spot on the floor where he wants to shoot from and plants himself there. This will just be a matter of repetition.
“It’s a test and a challenge trying to figure out, like coach said, just the chemistry and the flow and the rhythm, especially on offense,” Curry said. “Because there is the temptation to delay, the temptation to overthink every possession because everyone can make a play.”
Curry scored 12 and hit James in the second half for an alley-oop highlight that will be replayed for a long time.
Whatever happens, it will take time.
Ant-Man is not shy
Edwards navigates and moves so easily on the floor that there is nowhere he can’t get. And even though that No. 1 option may be more bravado than intent, he was a straight shot — he electrified the T-Mobile Arena crowd with a drive to the basket and jumpers that were followed by playful glances and movements at the crowd.
He looks like the clear spark plug, the young energizer bunny who will change the momentum, along with Haliburton, who loves to hit players before the game. Edwards shot 6 of 10 from the field and led the U.S. with 13 points. Haliburton had a game-high six assists.
“I told (LeBron), it’s the first time, I haven’t been nervous in a minute,” Edwards said. “I don’t know what made me nervous. I feel great, I feel like I’ve calmed down a little.”
The big ones will adjust
The physicality of perimeter defense is one thing, but the widened lane, the ability to get the ball out of the rim as opposed to goaltending rules and what referees will allow is something every great player will have to adjust to.
Joel Embiid, in his first FIBA game, got into trouble and was flagged for an unsportsmanlike foul for contact with Canadian Dwight Powell. He seemed to be getting some work done, and since he gets to the foul line a lot in the NBA, he will have to figure out ways to get into the game quickly rather than an abundance of touches.
He committed five fouls, while Davis seemed to use his length and activity to block shots and make himself big underneath to get inside.
“It’s my first time at FIBA, so I’m going to get used to it,” Embiid said. “A lot of physicality is allowed. Especially for the big ones. It was one of those nights. I learn quickly, I’ll only need one or two games.”
Kevin Durant’s return
One would assume, although it is quite dangerous in these cases, that Durant will fit right in with the first unit when he returns from his calf injury. That’s not remotely a concern, USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill said, and Durant began work on the court.
He suffered the injury days before arriving in Las Vegas and sitting him was just a precaution.
“Durant will be on the plane unless you know something I don’t,” Hill said. “He is working, recovering. His looks great. I think we’re just being cautious and conservative. And I think we hope to see him on the court when we’re in Abu Dhabi.”
The United States will play two friendly games in Abu Dhabi against Australia on July 15 and Serbia on July 17 before playing two games in London. Hill made a point of specifying that there was no deadline for which game Durant would play, but made it clear that the team is on a crash course in chemistry and conditioning ahead of its first Olympic game in Paris on July 28.
