The jet lagged Americans arrived in chilly Melbourne City yesterday morning as Team USA prepares for the upcoming FIBA World Cup in China.
The solid NBA-reinforced lineup tried to sweat it out and find their legs late in the afternoon but cut their training short. The players needed some more time to recuperate from the long fifteen-hour international flight.
Two days in and Team USA are still looking for a closer.
With the short amount of time that they have been together, the team copped some unwarranted pressure back home after they lost a pair of scrimmages to G-Leaguers.
Now, Team USA is once again ready to prove their critics wrong.
According to USA Head Coach Gregg Popovich, “love is the answer”.
How they perform on the court will depend on how close they become off it, added Pop.
Don’t be fooled, the talent runs neck-deep in the United States. They got a well-balanced unit suited for international play, with a guard-heavy rotation. Other high-profile NBA superstars may have dropped out but the confidence in this team remains sky high.
Four Celtics, two Bucks, and one each from the Lakers, Nets, Jazz, Pacers, Spurs, Nuggets and Kings.
They have one cut to make but according to head honcho Jerry Colangelo, “We won’t be making that decision until after this Australian Tour.”
The USA Team is collectively worth $605 Million USD. Each one of their thirteen players are stars in their own right, each athlete a self made multi-millionaire.
All Star point guard Kemba Walker just signed a four-year $141 Million deal to play in Boston. Fellow All Star Khris Middleton re-signed with Milwaukee for $171 Million. Sacramento small forward Harrison Barnes upped it with an $85 Million deal. Myles Turner is still on an $80 Million contract with Indiana. Celtics stopper Marcus Smart and Milwaukee big man Brooke Lopez are on $52 Million each. Denver’s Mason Plumlee is on $41 Million. Boston phenom Jason Tatum is on a $20 Million deal. Brooklyn’s Joe Harris is on $16 Million. Their four other young guns, San Antonio’s Derrick White, LA Laker Kyle Kuzma, Boston’s Jaylen Brown and Utah’s Donovan Mitchell are still on rookie deals.
Team USA also put together a Hall-of-Fame coaching staff led by multi-titled head coaches Popovich and Golden State’s Steve Kerr, Atlanta Hawks mentor Lloyd Pierce and Villanova head coach Jay Wright. Over the last two days, we have also seen GSW assistant Mike Brown and USA Select Coach Jeff Van Gundy sitting on the sidelines. The wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership is abundant.
Despite being labelled as a weak or undermanned squad, this 2019 US version will be looking to dominate the FIBA tournament with their athleticism, speed and overall talent.
The sooner they learn each other’s intricacies and roles, the better. They will win but there will be growing pains along the way.
Thursday’s game against the Boomers will be a good test of character for the heavily-favoured Americans. It will be their second hit out against another powerhouse team after beating Spain 91-80 last week.
Expect the Americans to dominate the Australians early if their guards and wings control the tempo from the get-go.
As training finished up on Day Two, a one-on-one game between Celtics teammates Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown caught everyone’s attention.
Ball in. One post up move later, Brown gathered dust as Smart hit him with a right baseline fade-away. Walker and Mitchell playfully trash-talked Brown. The bromance has started.
Jason Tatum was up next and received the same treatment, only this time it was a bullying layup.
Could Smart be the go-to-guy they are looking for or will he ignite that missing fire?
Smart grabbed the rock and yelled, “Let’s go!”
Team USA has arrived. Love is they key, but Australia could be breaking their hearts come Thursday.
Marco Selorio is a serial entrepreneur, basketball writer, Master of Ceremonies, event director and promoter. Follow him on Facebook @marcoandreselorio and on Instagram @marcoselorio
