United States men's basketball warm-up game narrowly beats Canada: Superstars assemble, championship bench shows power
In the crucial warm-up game before the Paris Olympics, the United States men's basketball team showed strong strength with an 86-72 victory over Canada. However, behind this 14-point victory, there are some thought-provoking details and questions.
On the day of the game, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was packed, and fans eagerly awaited the superstar-studded matchup. There was a sense of tension and excitement in the air, as if to signal that an exciting match was about to take place.
The first quarter was slow and the United States team was in trouble
At the start of the game, Team United States' superstar lineup didn't seem to have found its groove. The starting combination of James, Embiid, Curry, Holiday and Booker looked strong, but they fell into a scoring drought in the opening game. After half a quarter, veteran James scored just one point, and the team fell behind 1-11. This scene made the fans at the scene and the audience in front of the TV apt a sigh of relief. Curry's three-pointer finally opened the door for the team, but at the end of the first quarter, the United States still trailed by seven points.
In the second quarter, the substitutes showed their might
In the second quarter, the United States adjusted their strategy, strengthening their defense and taking advantage of the inside. Led by Edwards and Tatum, the team went on a 14-2 run. The outstanding performances of these two substitutes not only helped the team turn the situation around, but also raised questions about the starting lineup. By the end of the first half, the United States had already taken the lead by eight points.
Curry broke out and the United States narrowly won
In the second half, Curry found his touch and scored nine points in a row, showing his strength as a three-point sharpshooter. However, in the final quarter, the United States team fell into a scoring drought again, scoring just one point in four minutes. At the critical moment, James's long pass stabilized the situation and ultimately helped the team win 86-72.
The story behind the data
The data from this game reveals some interesting facts:
Four of the United States scored in double figures, including Edwards with 13 points, Davis with 10 points and 11 rebounds, Curry with 12 points and Holiday with 11 points.
Canada shot just 7 of 33 three-pointers, shooting just over 20 percent.
None of the United States starting five had a plus/minus of +2, and it was the substitutes who really built the difference.
Haliburton's +17 was the highest plus/minus in the game.
In-depth analysis: The rise of the championship bench
Tatum, as a player who just won the NBA championship, could only come off the bench. The arrangement sparked discussions about the United States team's roster configuration. In fact, Tatum contributed 8 points and 2 assists in his limited playing time, showing good quality.
The match also highlighted the deep bench strength of the United States team. Haliburton's all-round performance (2 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, +17) and Bam Adebayo's inside contribution (6 points, 7 rebounds) both demonstrated the importance of the bench.
Coach Cole's conundrum
For United States head coach Steve · Cole, balancing the playing time of starters and substitutes and maximizing the strengths of each player will be a huge challenge. The balanced distribution of players' playing time in this game (most players playing 19-21 minutes) shows Cole's intention in terms of "training".
Outlook: The road to Olympic gold
Although the warm-up match exposed some problems, it also showed the potential of the United States team. The run-in of the starting line-up, the excellent performance of the substitutes, and the overall resilience of the team have laid the foundation for the future Olympic journey.
However, the scoring drought and defensive leaks that occurred in the game also sounded the alarm for Kerr and the players. How to avoid the recurrence of these problems in official matches will be a key issue for the United States team to solve.
epilogue
This game is not only a warm-up, but also an important step on the way to Olympic gold for the United States men's basketball team. The quality and potential of the team is exciting, but there are also many challenges. In future games, we look forward to seeing a more mature and tacit United States team.
How do you think the United States team will fare in this game? Is the performance of the starting line-up worrying you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section!