For USA Basketball, the roadway to the Paris Olympics has began with a win.
Anthony Davis scored 13 points, Stephen Curry included 12 and the United States opened its tune-up schedule for the Paris Games by topping Canada 86-72 on Wednesday night.
Jrue Holiday scored 11 points and Anthony Davis endedup with 10 for the U.S., which has 4 more exhibits before getting to France.
RJ Barrett scored 12 points for Canada, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks each had 10.
President Barack Obama was at the videogame, as were lotsof NBA coaches and lots of USA Basketball dignitaries in town for the federation’s 50th anniversary event. Among them: Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Teresa Edwards, Swin Cash, Lindsay Whalen and lotsof more.
And the overall participation was 20,757, a record for any videogame at T-Mobile Arena, USA Basketball stated.
Canada vs. United States Highlights | USA Basketball Showcase
Cold start
The U.S. was down 11-1 midway through the veryfirst quarter, havingactually missedouton its veryfirst 6 shot efforts. The rest of the half: U.S. 40, Canada 22, and the Americans shot 18 for 28 — 64.3% — in that period. The lead was 41-33 at the break and the Americans extended it to 69-54 going into the 4th.
It was simple to see where the Americans, who haveactually been together for less than a week, still are figuring things out; there were at least 4 celebrations where easy passes ended up in the veryfirst row of seats since somebody idea a zig was coming rather of a zag.
Second system
The 2nd system for the U.S. — Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum — was especially remarkable. Each of those 5 gamers had a plus-minus of plus-10 or muchbetter, significance the U.S. outscored Canada by at least 10 points with them on the flooring.
And that’s as it needto be. Only the Americans can trot out a lineup of “bench gamers” at the Olympics, all of them being All-Stars. That fivesome has 21 integrated All-Star nods, 2 NBA champs in Davis and Tatum, and 2 seasonal All-Defense gamers in Davis and Adebayo. It’s plainly not a normal 2nd system.
Oh, and keepinmind: The U.S. didn’t have Kevin Durant (calf pressure) and Derrick White (not yet with the group) readilyavailable Wednesday.
For Starters
The veryfirst beginning lineup of the summerseason rolled out by U.S. coach Steve Kerr: Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, LeBron James and Joel Embiid.
It definitely might modification going forward. But if last year is any indicator, it’s a clear view into Kerr’s believing right now.
Kerr has warned in the past about not reading too much into lineups, especiall