On Thursday, the U.S. men’s basketball team faced Serbia at Bercy Arena in Paris in what turned out to be a thrilling Olympic matchup.
From the outset, Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic, put the U.S. on the defensive, utilizing a zone defense that stifled a Team USA offense that had not encountered such resistance in their earlier games against Serbia.
The U.S. team’s aggressive attempts to steal the ball often backfired, leading to a 17-point deficit in the first half. The situation became more dire in the third quarter as Serbia, fueled by Bogdan Bogdanovic’s sharp shooting, extended their lead.
Bogdanovic, who scored a team-high 20 points, even taunted NBA veteran Carmelo Anthony, showcasing his confidence as he celebrated every three-pointer with Anthony’s signature move.
Despite a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback that saw Team USA overturn a 13-point deficit to secure a 95-91 victory, questions arose about head coach Steve Kerr’s decision to keep Jayson Tatum benched.
With Serbia dominating the boards and creating second-chance opportunities, Tatum’s absence was particularly felt. His length, defensive versatility, and ability to facilitate the offense could have addressed many of the challenges the U.S. faced, especially in the first three quarters.
Kerr’s decision nearly cost the U.S. the game, and while they ultimately prevailed, the choice to bench Tatum remains a point of contention as the team prepares to face France for the gold medal on Saturday.
