Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Team USA vanquished South Sudan

Kevin Durant and Bam Adebayo applied the pressure on offense. Jayson Tatum started over Joel Embiid and played an impactful 17 minutes after being a benchwarmer against Serbia. And Team USA strangled its rivals, conceding 42.1% of field goal attempts.

Early, LeBron James dictated matters, cutting up the baseline for a dunk, nailing a fallaway jumper through traffic, and scoring in the open court.

Defensively, Team USA gave the South Sudanese fits after allowing a seven-point burst. Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday slowed down the ball. Anthony Davis and Derrick White had denials in the backline, plus the latter stole the ball in the open court. Adebayo stripped the ball inside the key. And Anthony Edwards looted the rock in South Sudanese territory, resulting in a baseline floater for Adebayo. 

Through 10 minutes, the Americans led 26-14. The onslaught continued through the second frame as Tyrese Halliburton sprayed multiple trays, and Adebayo canned two-3-pointers and logged three dunks. They shot 54.3% from the field, including 43.8% from deep, with 40 digits coming from the reserves, and had 17 assists to five turnovers. Additionally, one trip for South Sudan to the line was authorized.

The South Sudanese converted 36.6% of attempts, 35.7% from long distance and totaled five bench points in the first half. 

Out of the break, South Sudan went on a 10-5 run to cut their deficit to 14 in the first few minutes, causing coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout and sub out five players. He inserted  White, Adebayo, Holiday, Edwards and Durant. Then White got screened from his blindside on the next play, putting him face first on the ground as Team USA gave up another tray.

Subsequently, the offense shot itself out of the mud with a new group. Edwards connected on a 3-pointer and buried three freebies. Adebayo slammed a lob through the middle on a pick-and-roll set. And White swished his third trifecta. 

The fourth quarter began with Team USA up 73-57.

Team USA suffered an 8-0 South Sudan run, cutting their advantage to nine marks partly because Anthony Davis was called for a suspect foul. But the Americans responded with a score by Stephen Curry, a catch-and-shoot bomb from Durant, an and-one layup by Booker, and a Davis rim roll to push the lead back to 19 marks.

The rest of the match was a formality. Team USA won 103-86, recording 52.9% of tries, 43.3% from 3-point range and 66 bench points.

Adebayo had 18 points on eight of 10 looks, with seven rebounds, one dime, one steal, two denials and two turnovers. Durant put up 14 marks on 40% shooting, making eight of nine freebies and registering two rebounds, three assists, three steals and a turnover. The other double-digit scorers were Edwards (13), James (12), Booker (10) and White (10).

For South Sudan, Nuni Omot logged 24 points on eight of 12 ventures, with two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Carlik Jones had 18 points on 42.1% accuracy, with three rebounds, seven assists, two steals and four turnovers. The other double-digit scorers were Bul Kuol (16) and Marial Shayok (12).

Adebayo handled the on-court interview. He said, “I’m not here to get 20 shots up. But when I’m open, shoot it.”

The United States is 2-0 in Group C.

Further comment:

The outrage regarding Tatum’s benching against Serbia was a non-story that was pushed as “disrespectful” by half-wits. James and Durant are the heavies on Team USA, and everyone else falls in line. Someone important will be left out each game, and against South Sudan, it was the former MVP, Embiid, for matchup reasons.

Assistant coach Erik Spoelstra must’ve been salivating as Adebayo drained two open threes. If that shot is a part of his arsenal, Miami’s center will take a significant leap next season (2024-25) on offense.

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