Team USA kicked off their Olympic campaign in emphatic fashion, delivering a resounding 110-84 victory over Serbia. This commanding win sets a positive tone for the tournament, even in the absence of Jayson Tatum, a first-team All-NBA player and champion, who was notably missing from the lineup.
Head coach Steve Kerr made the decision to bench Tatum after an analysis of matchups and past performances in exhibition games. In explaining this choice, Kerr had a meeting with Tatum to go over the strategy. "Jayson will play [Wednesday]," Kerr assured, noting the complexities involved in making such decisions. "I'm not going to answer your next question, which is if he plays, who doesn't. But we're going to need him, and part of this job for me is to keep everybody engaged and ready, because my experience with this is crazy stuff happens."
The decision to prioritize size against Serbia's imposing frontcourt was evident in Kerr's lineup, featuring three centers: Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo. This tactical move was aimed at countering Serbia's dominant interior players.
Despite Tatum's absence, Derrick White emerged as a crucial figure off the bench. White's performance was instrumental, with Team USA being plus-15 when he was on the floor. The depth of the roster and the strategic adjustments made by Kerr underscore the team's preparedness and versatility.
The Role of Experience
Kerr's experience as an assistant coach in the 2019 World Cup in China and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics has evidently shaped his approach to team management. Last summer, he served as the head coach at the World Cup in Manila, further honing his coaching philosophy. "The hardest part of this job is you're sitting at least a couple of guys who are world-class, some of the very best players on Earth. On one hand, it makes no sense at all. On the other, I'm asking these guys to just commit to winning one game and then move on to the next one. I have to do the same thing. And so I felt like last night those were the combinations that made the most sense," Kerr elaborated.
Looking Ahead to South Sudan
Team USA will face South Sudan in their next game, a team that proved to be a tough competitor in their previous encounter. South Sudan managed to drain 14 three-pointers and pushed Team USA to a nail-biting one-point victory. Kerr emphasized the need for adaptability and readiness against such formidable opponents. "With South Sudan, it's more about the speed, and speed is a killer. You have to be prepared for everything, and that means we need everybody," Kerr stated.
Tatum's role in the upcoming match is expected to be significant. In the five exhibition games leading up to the Olympics, Tatum averaged 6.7 points, and he played 16 minutes, scoring nine points in a recent game in London. The coaching staff's decision to rest him against Serbia likely stems from a meticulous assessment of his performance and potential impact against different teams.
As Team USA prepares to face South Sudan, the emphasis will be on maintaining the momentum from their opening victory while adapting to the fast-paced style of their next opponents. With a coach like Steve Kerr at the helm, whose strategic acumen and experience are well-documented, the team appears to be in capable hands.