Anthony Edwards and Cameron Johnson every scored 15 factors to guide a younger United States NBA squad over Puerto Rico 117-74 on Monday and conclude Basketball World Cup coaching camp.
Mikal Bridges scored 14 factors, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 12 factors and Jalen Brunson, Bobby Portis and Brandon Ingram every contributed 11 because the Americans launched a five-game exhibition tour in Las Vegas with a blowout.
“We’ve jelled really fast as a team. It shows the way we play the game,” mentioned Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who had 9 factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
“We know we have a lot of talent and we can do a lot of great things but it’s all about becoming one unit and going and playing for one another.”
NBA All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton of Indiana handed off a game-high 12 assists whereas New York guard Brunson grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
NBA All-Star guard Edwards of Minnesota made a game-high 4 steals whereas Brooklyn ahead Johnson had six rebounds.
Reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jackson of Memphis, the league’s high shot blocker every of the previous two seasons, had seven rebounds and two blocks.
NBA 2022 All-Defensive Team swingman Bridges of Brooklyn had three steals and 5 rebounds in a team-best 23 minutes.
New Orleans ahead Ingram, the NBA’s 2020 Most Improved Player, had 5 rebounds and three assists.
The squad additionally contains 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, a ahead for Orlando, and ahead Portis, who helped Milwaukee win the 2021 NBA crown.
The rout got here forward of the worldwide showdown in Asia that begins this month, when the Americans will face New Zealand, Greece and Jordan in Group C video games at Manila.
The US squad of NBA gamers of their 20s, coached by Golden State coach Steve Kerr, will play at Malaga towards Slovenia on Saturday and Spain on Sunday, after which face Greece on August 18 and Germany on August 20 at Abu Dhabi.
The Americans, 2010 and 2014 champions, hope to bounce again from a humbling seventh-place displaying on the 2019 Basketball World Cup, their worst displaying in 15 main tournaments since NBA gamers started competing for the US nationwide squad with the “Dream Team” on the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
The US lineup made 48 of 85 pictures from the ground however struggled from the three-point vary, connecting on solely six of 27 from past the arc.
The Americans grabbed a 50-43 half-time benefit, led by 9 factors off the bench from Reaves.
Speed and tight defending will likely be hallmarks for the US staff, which went on a 20-0 run for a 94-61 lead early within the fourth quarter on the best way to closing out a lopsided triumph.
‘Good first check’
Grant Hill, managing director of the US nationwide staff, mentioned having a younger roster of principally US nationwide staff newcomers is essential for long-term growth.
“We’ve got to get young players into the pipeline,” Hill mentioned. “They’ve given their time and sacrificing their summer. We’ve had a great camp. Guys buying in, playing hard, building that camaraderie and trust.”
“It was a little tight out there in the first half but you don’t play for a gold medal now. You want to keep improving, keep getting better. This is a good first test for us.”
Hill admitted recruiting expertise is amongst his more durable duties, particularly when it isn’t for an Olympic squad.
“The World Cup is not valued here as much as the Olympics,” Hill mentioned. “So getting guys to be excited is a little bit different. Next summer it will be a little easier.”
That’s when the US NBA stars will go to Paris and attempt to seize a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Tremont Waters, a guard with 40 video games of NBA expertise, led Puerto Rico with 17 factors.
—AFP
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
