Team USA’s Quest to Dominate the Boards in FIBA Knockout Stage
The knockout round of the FIBA World Cup is now complete. The Americans got there, despite Sunday’s crushing 110-104 loss.
Spain, the reigning world champions, didn’t. France, which won the silver medal at the Olympics, did not. Australia, who won the bronze medal at the Olympics, didn’t. Only after a comeback Sunday in the fourth quarter did Canada, the tournament’s greatest threat to the Americans according to the oddsmakers, advance.
Team USA, which was internally strengthened as it got ready to play Italy in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, has struggled, but that is typical for strong teams (ESPN2 8:40 am ET).
But it’s gone after one more defeat. In the 2019 World Cup quarterfinals, the United States suffered a defeat and placed seventh. Before practice on Monday, the coaching staff put the team through a protracted film session. Some of the destruction caused by losing the rebounding contest 43–27 was under review.
The Americans have been outrebounded by Lithuania and Montenegro by a combined 34 rebounds during the past two games. In the two games, they have taken down the same number of defensive rebounds (41), which is terrible.
In many World Cup games, Team USA is the bigger team, and some of that is acknowledged as a trade-off for speed and versatility. Steve Kerr, the team’s coach, claimed that he gave the players examples of the collective rebounding that is hindering their efforts to get possessions.
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Finding the Winning Formula
Italy, in contrast to Montengero and Lithuania, relies more on motion offense than post-up scoring. They are not as aggressive when it comes to offensive rebounding, being 13th out of 32 World Cup teams in offensive rebounding per game.
They are smaller; their top rebounder, former NBA player Nicoli Melli, is 6-foot-9. Simone Fontecchio, a forward with the Utah Jazz currently, leads Italy in scoring with 30 points after a brilliant performance against Serbia in a critical victory last Friday.
Theoretically, the Americans should find it easier to manage the Italians’ playing style. Yet at this stage, nothing can be taken for granted. Although playing considerably better in the second half and attempting a comeback after trailing the Lithuanians by as many as 21 points, the United States is not on the right track.
They have trailed at the half in each of the last two games and have been behind early in three of their five World Cup outings. Some of that is Jackson’s fault because he has spent time on the bench due to foul trouble.
Nevertheless, the rest of the starting lineup hasn’t been performing well. Josh Hart, a crucial rebounder, has only grabbed four rebounds in the past two games, while Jalen Brunson has shot only 5-of-12 over that span.
If Team USA is to rediscover its prior good play this summer, one of many tendencies must change.
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Source: ABC News
