Team USA faced criticism for their strategy in a recent game against Serbia, where their decision to fight through screens and double-team Nikola Jokić, instead of switching, allowed Serbia too much offensive freedom.
The approach led to a wave of backlash from fans, which Steve Kerr, the head coach of Team USA, had to address during an interview with Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.
Kerr acknowledged the criticism but defended the overall performance of the team, particularly highlighting the contributions of the second unit. He mentioned that although the second unit didn’t perform well in that particular game, they had generally been a strong aspect of the team’s defensive efforts throughout the tournament.
Kerr explained that the situation wasn’t about what Jayson Tatum was or wasn’t doing on the court, but more about the combinations of players and how Kevin Durant had effectively filled in since his return from injury.
He also pointed out that with a roster filled with stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, it was inevitable that some players would have reduced playing time, and in this case, Tatum was the one impacted.
Kerr emphasized that the decisions were more about finding the right balance and ensuring that the team performed at its best, rather than singling out any individual player.
