1ST Q: TEAM USA 23 , NIGERIA 22
Competitive, have to say it's closer than I expected, but this is a good eye opener for Team USA in terms of a gauge of where they are and need to be. International teams have the cohesion advantage and it's where Team USA has to quickly close the gap.
Kerr just said in an interview between Q's that Team USA is looking to get their legs underneath them, that they're looking to improve rebounding and pace.
2ND Q: TEAM USA 43 , NIGERIA 41
Green and Durant don't look great, with the former a bit old and the latter like he's waiting for the game to come to him. I've seen driveway players with more juice. Love needs conditioning and timing is the nicest way to say it.
Didn't like the Bealism of full ISO on the final possession to end the half.
Lots of turnovers by Team USA, too. Just not crisp and organized and competitive. Have to bring it up a notch each Q, each game. Can't give opponents any hope.
Overall some Team USA players' tendencies need to be brought out more, and others' less. More team play and cohesion - but these will be brought out through the games themselves. Just need to bring up the intensity and competitiveness.
Practices had a LOT more movement and passing. Let's see how they respond in the second half.
3RD Q: TEAM USA 64 , NIGERIA 66
Team cohesion has a ways to go what with so many guys being the main option on their respective teams. Getting outhustled, too, not the best look.
4TH Q: TEAM USA 87 , NIGERIA 90
A game of 21 made 3s versus 8 I think for Team USA, but more importantly, too many players flat out were in like second gear for too long. Durant was 2-11 missing on in-the-paint Js and lackadaisical drives and still in the game before he made a couple of 3s; a lot of players missed bunnies at the rim on drives; too many turnovers; not enough consistent hustle.
I think once Booker joins the team he should start over Beal who is too used to being such an ISO heavy player that his natural default setting is tunnel vision and this takes away from the team-first game that can maximize this team's best weapons.
The turning point was when Team USA got up 9 easily and then allowed three consecutive 3s to tie the game. It felt like a shift. Lack of hustle on both ends is what was picked up on and picked apart. Each time Team USA got a nine or ten point lead it got too comfortable and allowed a punch back to close the gap. Eventually Team USA gave up the lead and that killer instinct lacking to maintain and build it wasn't strong enough at the end of the game to catch up. Mental mistakes, lack of execution.
I thought that Team USA players were tentative because the sets and chemistry didn't come to them naturally from familiarity. That part you can understand as they got together but a week or so ago. But the lack of consistent competitive juice is disappointing. And another lesson learned.
Pop lets Spurs assistants run plays during exhibition games, and on the last play it was Lloyd Pierce (I think) who diagrammed a play when Team USA was down 3. I don't know how passing the ball around the arc without taking a 3 or driving was the play before being fouled, but there it was.
I think there's pressure on Team USA to win every single game, even exhibition ones, and desirable as it may be, it's what the guys take from these games and how they respond that will largely determine how far they go.
It starts with consistent defensive intensity, pushing the ball with intensity, running the plays with purpose, and finishing with intensity. Hopefully they'll be smarted by this result and up the focus and personal responsibility to do one's best, all to a man, all for the team's best.
POST-GAME REACTIONSFull post-game interview with Pop and Jayson Tatum:
https://news4sanantonio.com/sports/spurs-zone/watch-popovich-talks-team-usa-exhibition-loss-to-nigeria