Group USA’s #07 Kevin Durant (C) reacts throughout a trip within the males’s preliminary spherical group C basketball match between Serbia and USA throughout the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games on the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on July 28, 2024. (Photograph by Thomas COEX / AFP)
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — The query was apt, however on the similar time slightly flabbergasting for Stephen Curry to ponder.
Might he envision a situation during which Kevin Durant, who shined in the united statesmen’s basketball group’s Olympic-opening victory over Serbia, would possibly proceed to return off the bench?
“We’re speaking about Kevin Durant as a sixth man,” Curry replied. “That tells you ways good this group could be.”
SCHEDULE: Group USA basketball at Paris Olympics 2024
Highlights had been plentiful for the U.S. within the Serbia win. LeBron James awed together with his signature one-handed dunks and celebratory flexes. Durant had an almost excellent capturing evening in his first official basketball recreation in two months due to a calf pressure.
And all people – who performed that’s – scored.
That’s as a result of simply as eye-popping was that Jayson Tatum – the newly minted highest-paid participant within the NBA – and Tyrese Haliburton, who lately signed franchise report contract himself, didn’t see the courtroom.
It illustrates the embarrassment of riches that exists for a group that claims it’s nonetheless determining how greatest to make the most of its expertise.
READ: Paris Olympics: Group USA rolls previous Serbia in opener
“We’re nonetheless making an attempt to construct id round who we’re with this 12-man group,” Curry stated. “It’s vital to remain centered on not simply getting a win, however how we do it.”
Coach Steve Kerr stated other than it being virtually inconceivable to provide adequate minutes to 12 gamers in a 40-minute recreation, the concept of sitting Tatum particularly struck him as simply as unfathomable.
“It appears loopy. I believed I used to be loopy after I checked out all the pieces and decided these are the lineups I needed to get to. Jayson’s first group All-NBA three years in a row. He’s probably the greatest gamers on the planet.”
So good that Kerr stated on Monday that Tatum will play when the group performs South Sudan on Wednesday.
READ: Paris Olympics: Kerr explains ‘loopy’ determination t bench Tatum
Complicating Kerr’s decision-making going ahead is that Durant’s contributions off the bench continued a pattern that began throughout the exhibition portion of the leadup to the Olympics, during which the reserves have offered wanted jolts for a group vulnerable to gradual begins and turnovers. The turnover complete was 17 in opposition to Serbia.
And that, too, is the results of looking for the correct rotations on a roster layered with ability.
Curry even acknowledged being nervous earlier than making his Olympic group debut. It confirmed at occasions when he was crushed on a few again cuts on protection and had one other turnover on an inbounds move.
However he additionally thinks the reply to fixing these points is just not getting of their heads about it.
“It’s only a matter of all people being able to do what you’re requested to do, as a result of each recreation goes to be slightly completely different,” Curry stated. “You may choose any 5 of us 12 and it’s a Corridor of Fame lineup on the market. We simply need to play prefer it.”
Comply with Inquirer Sports activities’ particular protection of the Paris Olympics 2024.
