Just in from men's Olympic Basketball: Team USA overcame a sluggish start and dominated Puerto Rico, 104-83, in its final group play game. Anthony Edwards led the Americans with 26 points on 11 of 15 shooting, while Joel Embiid, hearing boos from the crowd in France, dropped 15 points. Team USA clinches the top seed by way of points differential over Germany heading into the knockout rounds next week in Paris.
[Music] Let's welcome in basketball analyst Tim Doyle for more on this. Tim, before the game, we said, look, USA is going to win this in a walk, and they did. But was there anything in particular that stood out to you about this US team and the way they played this game, which they were expected to win big and did? They had nothing to play for, so the stat that stands out to me was for the entire game, they had six fouls. Six the entire game! So that to me just shows, all right, everybody not get hurt, run up and down. Puerto Rico could play the United States 100 times; they would lose all 100 times.
You mentioned Anthony Edwards. He was sensational off the bench. This is a USA team that is ultra-talented, and getting Kevin Durant back — he made three threes — was crucial. They struggled from three-point range, only making nine as a team. That's going to ultimately be their Achilles' heel. But this guy was sensational off the bench. And you remember when they put this team together, he said he was going to be the captain. Now, I'm the number one option? Well, not so fast, young fella; let's understand your role, and it's a pivotal role coming off the bench.
Now, I think the major story in this game, Jeremy, was that USA was a 31.5-point favorite, then it went to 33, and then to 35. You had to think that Puerto Rico had nothing to play for; maybe they were enjoying themselves a little bit too much over in Paris. Turns out, if you took Puerto Rico plus the points, it was never a sweat. But now, we get out of group play!
Okay, and I think if they match up with Serbia again, let's not forget Kevin Durant and LeBron James made their first 14 shots combined against Serbia. I thought they played excellent in that game. I think Germany is the main danger, and let's not forget about France as well as Canada, who's undefeated in their group stage. So, like, they did what they had to do, but this is far, far from over.
Yeah, Germany, Canada, and the USA all finished top of their groups with perfect 3-0 records. So, Tim, when you look at how this lineup has played, we had the controversy after the first game — the fact that we didn't see Tatum in that game. Then, Steve Kerr had all these questions fired at him about who's he going to play. Where do you think that this team is now settled into what their roles are? Because that was the biggest question, right? Do these people know what their roles are on this team? Do you feel that that is an answered question now?
I think it's still a work in progress. Anthony Edwards was the leading scorer in this game, who took the second-most shots? Joel Embiid. He didn't play in the second game; Jason Tatum didn't play in the first game. We are going to talk about the lineup, Jeremy. Get used to it, pal. After every single game, before every single game: what's Team USA going to do?
I do know this: Derek White's going to be an important piece in this process, which is crazy because he wasn't even originally on the team. Kawhi Leonard gets hurt, but he's such a great teammate. Drew Holiday didn't play in this game; an amazing teammate. Why? Because they play both ways. They defend, they can lock up, they make the extra pass, they do all the little things. I think Jason Tatum, Devin Booker, and Anthony Edwards are much more talented, better offensive players. But there’s a lot more to basketball. I think Steve Kerr is going to ride hot hands, and if you remember, Jason Tatum didn't play in the game against Serbia because who got hot? Kevin Durant in that game.
So this is going to be ultimately the work in progress. Obviously, Edwards had a huge performance today; he's going to be a stalwart on that second team. But what really matters and what the ultimate story is going to be is who plays in the fourth. Because do you want Anthony Davis, who’s better guarding the pick and roll, who's more versatile? Or do you want Joel Embiid, who's obviously a better offensive player — one of the best offensive players in the NBA currently? I think the fourth quarter against the teams that are still standing… oh, that’s going to be an amazing soap opera that Steve Kerr is going to somehow, someway have to manage.
Even Steph Curry, becauseSteph Curry’s the greatest shooter of all time, but if he’s struggling guarding the pick and roll, that’s why they’re almost lucky, or fortunate, or a great pick by Steve Kerr could be like, “Sorry, Steph, we’ve got to take you out of the game; you're just struggling right now.” And he has the juice to do that because he’s won four NBA championships with Steph Curry.
So, I think they’re still going to have their hands full. They definitely took care of business getting Kevin Durant back, Jeremy; changing the complexion of this team. Steph Curry, by the way, three for eight from the field, two for six from three points. As we've talked about the fact that he is struggling — by his standards.
So, Tim, when you look at the other side of this, yes, there’s a lot to be happy about, but what are the areas of concern for you in terms of this US team?
Areas of concern? You know, I had a lot more doubts coming into this tournament because I didn’t know what Kevin Durant was going to be able to bring to the table. The guy's been out of this world. The performance against Serbia in the first half, they were down six. If he doesn’t play that well, they win that game cruising. I think that’s a game that goes right down to the wire. Serbia is physical; obviously they have Jokic. They play as a team. Like, if the USA has a shooting performance like they did today, where they shoot below 30% from three against Germany, Serbia, France, or Canada, they will lose.
Think about the South Sudan game; South Sudan made seven more threes and went right down to the wire, right? They won by one. LeBron makes a layup against Germany; Germany made seven more threes — plus a 21-point edge from three-point range that game. Germany had the lead in the fourth quarter. That’s why Durant coming on the roster — just his ability to stretch the floor — he made a third of the team’s threes today against Puerto Rico.
I’m not saying they're going to lose, and obviously I'm not rooting against them, but I think they’ve got some really tough games ahead of them.
So, Tim, looking ahead to the quarterfinals then: who would you like to see the US play? Who would you like to see the US avoid?
You know, that’s always like the double-edged sword, right? It’s like rest or rust. I really don’t have the answer for that. I think their biggest competition is not Canada, I’m sorry to say. I know I love their national anthem, and I know you’re a great Canadian, okay? But I think the defense of Germany and the Wagners — you’ve got Mo and Franz, and they’re going to pump you up.
Okay, I think Dennis Schröder beat the USA a few years ago in the FIBA World Cup, and the fact that that game was competitive, albeit an exhibition, and Durant didn’t play; that's the team I gave everybody when they were 21! Now, you're not going to get the same odds. And if it gets to the gold medal game, because they are on opposite ends of the bracket, you're going to be able to hedge your bet somehow, someway, and at least turn a profit here.
I think the USA has looked better than even I expected, but getting Durant back was key. They’re going to have some dog fights of games going forward, and if you bet them against Serbia, they covered in that game, and they were sensational — over 60% from the field, over 50% from three. The next two games, South Sudan and Puerto Rico today, failed to cover the spread.
Tim Doyle joining us, our basketball analyst, to talk about USA's big win over Puerto Rico as they finish top of their group. Great stuff as always, Tim. Good to see you as we continue to follow the men's basketball tournament.
And you see the United States in terms of group play: three very good performances for this US team. A lot of question marks coming in, they've answered all the questions and then some! They get the big win out of the gates versus Serbia, handled their business versus South Sudan. You had the feeling there was perhaps a little bit of something to prove there for the US team after they only beat South Sudan in the exhibition round by a single point, and then today getting the big win over Puerto Rico led by Anthony Edwards and his 26 points. Now the focus shifts to the quarterfinals coming up next week in Paris.
