The first three exhibition games for USA Basketball have gone swimmingly. Three home friendly games. Three blowout victories. A margin of victory sitting just above 45 points. Team USA is dominating in the way Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski want them to dominate. However, they could be playing a tighter game and with more focus, according to Coach K.
Toward the end of the second blowout victory over China, DeMar DeRozan tried to bring the house down. He came down the left side of the floor in transition and attempted a 360-degree dunk with a defender at the rim that would've instantly become one of the greatest in-game dunks we've ever seen. He didn't make it as he was fouled, but it sent the U.S. bench into a frenzy. Kevin Durant even got a technical foul from the bench by coming onto the floor and celebrating the near poster.
After the 107-57 victory, Coach K told reporters the team had a little too much fun and wants them to "tone that down a little."
Marc J. Spears ✔ @MarcJSpearsESPN
Coach K said: "We had a little bit too much fun out there tonight. We have to tone that down a little bit." https://twitter.com/kicksdeals/status/758160055728496641 …
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2016-07-27T04:44:35+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 27 Jul 2016, 04:44:35 (UTC)">12:44 AM - 27 Jul 2016
</time>Team USA's sloppiness is there and until they iron more of that out, Coach K's request that they play a little more seriously makes a bit more sense. In the three exhibition games, USA Basketball has seen its turnovers rise each game. They had 12 turnovers in the first game, 13 in the second and 16 in the third contest. If you're going to get sloppier with the ball, even as you're winning by more and more each game, the coach isn't going to be happy.
Maybe there's a tiny sliver of concern that this team won't take it seriously enough when they get to Rio. While a lot of players around the world are sitting these Olympics out, a lack of focus at the wrong time could send shock waves through international basketball -- much like we saw in 2004 when the U.S. only brought home the bronze medal. That's probably getting a bit dramatic based off this one moment and Coach K's comments, but that's definitely going to be the focus.
Because a gold medal is going to be the only acceptable outcome for Team USA.
Toward the end of the second blowout victory over China, DeMar DeRozan tried to bring the house down. He came down the left side of the floor in transition and attempted a 360-degree dunk with a defender at the rim that would've instantly become one of the greatest in-game dunks we've ever seen. He didn't make it as he was fouled, but it sent the U.S. bench into a frenzy. Kevin Durant even got a technical foul from the bench by coming onto the floor and celebrating the near poster.
After the 107-57 victory, Coach K told reporters the team had a little too much fun and wants them to "tone that down a little."
Marc J. Spears ✔ @MarcJSpearsESPN
Coach K said: "We had a little bit too much fun out there tonight. We have to tone that down a little bit." https://twitter.com/kicksdeals/status/758160055728496641 …
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2016-07-27T04:44:35+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 27 Jul 2016, 04:44:35 (UTC)">12:44 AM - 27 Jul 2016
</time>Team USA's sloppiness is there and until they iron more of that out, Coach K's request that they play a little more seriously makes a bit more sense. In the three exhibition games, USA Basketball has seen its turnovers rise each game. They had 12 turnovers in the first game, 13 in the second and 16 in the third contest. If you're going to get sloppier with the ball, even as you're winning by more and more each game, the coach isn't going to be happy.
Maybe there's a tiny sliver of concern that this team won't take it seriously enough when they get to Rio. While a lot of players around the world are sitting these Olympics out, a lack of focus at the wrong time could send shock waves through international basketball -- much like we saw in 2004 when the U.S. only brought home the bronze medal. That's probably getting a bit dramatic based off this one moment and Coach K's comments, but that's definitely going to be the focus.
Because a gold medal is going to be the only acceptable outcome for Team USA.
