Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

FIBA WORLD CUP

Euro ball sinks U.S. hoops

The Germans celebrate their conquest of the Americans in the FIBA World Cup. (FIBA photo)
SOCIAL MEDIA

Gone are the days when the United States’ athleticism and deep talent alone would suffice to dominate rivals in basketball.

US head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that the sport which was invented by an American is no longer their domain.

Other countries, especially European nations, have taken basketball to a whole new level, evolving it to fit their strengths and counter the Americans’ style of play.

“It just means the game has been globalized over the last 30 years or so and you know, these games are difficult. This is not 1992 anymore,” Kerr said after the US made an exit in the semifinal of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

“So, players are better all over the world, teams are better and it’s not easy to win a World Cup or the Olympic Games,” he added.

Frustration is written on the face of Team USA’s Austin Reaves as the squad fail to advance to the gold medal match in the FIBA World Cup. (Photo, FIBA)

The five-time champion US bowed to unbeaten Germany, 111-113, last Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena to miss the championship round for the second straight edition of the World Cup since the Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving-led squad won it all in 2014 in Madrid.

Stripped of veterans and legitimate National Basketball Association superstars, the Americans struggled to keep up with organized, pass-first and defensively-sound European squads.

They did have strings of blowout wins but had trouble intimidating the unfazed Lithuanians, who handed the Americans their first tournament loss, 110-104, in the second round, and the Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner-bannered Germany.

Against the Germans, US trailed by as much as 12, fought back with a late rally to come within four only to turn the ball over with 27 seconds left when Anthony Edwards threw a bad pass.

Kerr also rued his team’s defensive lapses.

“Yeah, that was the main point of the loss. We weren’t able ever to make them feel us defensively,” he said.

“I give Dennis Schroder a ton of credit, I think he’s a really tough guard to handle, he’s really quick, he can get the ball and penetrate constantly and that really threatens your defense and compromises the defense and I thought we made some mistakes,” Kerr added as his squad was also pummeled off the offensive boards that Germany converted to 25 second chance points.

Now what’s left for Kerr and the US is to salvage a bronze medal against neighbor Canada today at 4:30 p.m.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAManny Pacquiao knows his time is up. This was the keen observation made by a longtime member of his training team who spent...

ESPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAThe dynamic duo of Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” del Rosario is back with a bang after leading Blacklist International to...

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAThe University Athletic Association of the Philippines will have a full calendar of sports events for Season 85 starting 1 October. UAAP President...

ESPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAECHO has revealed its roster for the upcoming M4 Mobile Legends World Championship to be held 1-15 January 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The...

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAIt’s going to be business as usual as the Philippine Basketball Association will not stop its on-court activities when it gives way for...

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIAIt doesn’t look as if newly-crowned Melvin Jerusalem will get the luxury of defending his minimumweight crown against a handpicked rival after the...

SPORTS

Mitchell, meanwhile, is a six-foot shooting guard frowm Hartford University.

SPORTS

SOCIAL MEDIALegendary boxing referee Carlos ‘Sonny’ Padilla was recently inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Famous for serving as the third man...

Copyright © DAILY TRIBUNE