Photo by Team USA Takes Flight in Paris Olympics Preparations
The Road to Paris begins for Team USA as they kicked off their pre-Olympic tune-up games in Las Vegas, with a hard-fought 86-72 victory over Canada. The Americans, featuring a star-studded lineup, got off to a slow start but eventually found their groove, with Anthony Edwards leading the charge with 13 points off the bench.
The first quarter was a sloppy affair, with Canada racing out to an 11-1 lead, thanks to some early turnovers and missed shots from Team USA. However, the Americans regrouped and refocused, closing the gap to 21-14 by the end of the quarter.
The second unit, led by Edwards and Jayson Tatum, took matters into their own hands, sparking a 14-2 run to start the second quarter. This momentum shift proved to be the turning point in the game, as Team USA never looked back, relying on their stifling defense to hold Canada to a mere 33.8% shooting night.
Edwards led the way for Team USA with 13 points off the bench.
The highlight reel plays kept coming, with Stephen Curry and LeBron James showcasing their incredible chemistry on a fastbreak in the third quarter. Curry lobbed the ball up top for a patented James slam, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The Curry-James connection was on full display in the third quarter.
With two key members of the original 12-man roster, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, absent from the game, it was an opportunity for the other players to step up and showcase their skills. And they did, with Curry adding 12 points and James filling up the stat sheet with seven points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
As the Paris Olympics draw near, Team USA will look to fine-tune their game, experimenting with different lineups and rotations to find the perfect balance. With four more exhibitions to go, coach Steve Kerr and his team will be looking to iron out the kinks and peak at the right time.
The Americans will look to build on their win over Canada as they continue their pre-Olympic preparations.
In other news, Demetris Nichols, a former Syracuse star and graduate assistant coach, has made the switch to the Philadelphia 76ers as a player development coach. Nichols, who previously coached at Wake Forest, is excited about the opportunity to return to the pro ranks and work with the Sixers’ summer league team.
Nichols makes the move to the 76ers as a player development coach.
As the basketball world gears up for the Paris Olympics, Team USA is sending a clear message: they’re coming for gold. With their talent, depth, and determination, it’s hard to bet against them bringing home the top prize.
The Americans are on a mission to bring home the gold in Paris.
