USABMNT 2014: #SplashBrothers Report vs Lithuania

#USABMNT 2014: #SplashBrothers Report vs Lithuania (Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account)

PALAU SANT JORDI, BARCELONA, SPAIN — The Golden State Warriors‘ #SplashBrothers duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson was back at it again, this time against Lithuania, for the right to play in the gold medal game in Madrid this Sunday.

Last game, Curry had foul trouble while Thompson led the way with 20 points, showing off his full arsenal of skills.

Curry started again with Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Anthony Davis, and Kenneth Faried.

Here’s our report on the two representing #DubNation:

FIRST QUARTER

• Curry got knocked to the floor on a left-handed dribble-drive, which missed, but Davis got the putback. Curry yelled something to the ref, but the ref responded by shaking his head. It would turn out to be the usual case of Curry not getting the call on one end, and getting called for a ticky-tack on the other end, as he tallied USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team‘s (#USABMNT) first team foul on the next time down.
• Curry missed a catch-and-shoot attempt delivered on a swing pass from Harden to Irving. The ball movement was good to see, as we’ve seen on occasion Curry not getting the last swing pass.
• Davis got a blocked shot, Curry got the outlet and, instead of pulling up for three like we’ve seen so many times, opted to take the ball in a step or two, nailing the banker from about twelve feet away. It was good to see him not settle for the long ball and try to get in rhythm with a lesser degree of difficulty.
• Curry picked up his second foul early again, this time with 7:20 remaining in the first quarter. Thompson subbed in for him, as usual. As a whole, #USABMNT was in foul trouble early.
• Thompson’s first make was a trey after his man had taken him to the hole. The bucket was assisted by Faried.
• Thompson continued to show his good lateral defense, defending the 6’6″ Jonas Maciulus.
• Thompson showed off another trey, another bucket initiated by left-handed dribble-drive, and even a blocked shot.
• #TeamUSA took a 21-16 lead into the 2nd quarter. Thompson already had 8 points on 2-for-5 from downtown.

SECOND QUARTER

• Curry was back in with the starters for the beginning of the 2nd quarter. He got off to a nice start, getting a feed outside from Faried, who was double-teamed down low. When he caught the ball from Faried, Curry gave a subtle fake swing pass, then knocked down the three-pointer.
• However, not long after that with 8:04 left in the ten-minute quarter and USA up 28-20, Curry was called for his 3rd personal foul. Media row felt that it should have been called a charge on Lithuania. Curry walked all the way over to the other side of the court to talk to the ref, perhaps about positioning. Luckily, a timeout had been called, otherwise Curry would have been a sixth player on the court with head coach Mike Krzyzewski already motioning for Thompson to go back in for Curry.
• Thompson continued to show off his improved left hand, driving, stopping-and-popping, and making laser passes to teammates such as Davis who blew the assist point-blank at the rim.
• His only defensive lowlight, if you could call it that, was when the 6’8″ Mindaugas Kuzminskas got the switch onto Thompson and muscled Klay inside for two.

#USABMNT took a slim 43-35 lead into halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

• The same starting five started the third quarter again and Curry got cooking early. Receiving a pass on the right wing, he waited for the defender to fly by, then sized up the situation, took a dribble to the left, and nailed the three. Vintage move Warriors fans have seen time and again. Team USA was playing much better again to start the third, and Curry’s trey gave them a 48-35 lead within the first two minutes of the second half.
• Curry tried to follow that up immediately with another three the next time down, but his miss was put back in by Davis.
• After a Harden three pushed the lead to 18, Curry shared a chest bump with Harden and let out a roar.
• But right after that, Curry picked up his 4th personal foul. With the FIBA limit at 5, Coach K had no choice but to take him out and sub in Thompson once again. There was still 7:57 left, although USA had built a 53-36 lead. Curry was clearly disappointed as he came out, he “kicked his chair over as diplomatically as you can do it abroad”, according to a tweet by ESPN’s Marc Stein.
• Thompson got into the mix immediately, nailing a long two pivoting on his left foot after receiving the pass at the top.
• After that, Klay got yet another blocked shot. Faried came over and gave Thompson a chest bump, the ultimate sign of respect from the big man who is usually expected to tally up such defensive statistics.
• Thompson would’ve gotten his third block, however, he was actually beaten on a drive by Adas Jaskevicius, who then hooked him (no call). Davis got called for the foul on the help at the rim as Thompson recovered and sent the ball past the baseline stanchions.
• Thompson added a long rebound and assist to Harden for the slam that made it 70-43 with 2:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
• He then added another assist as he got an outlet from Harden. Seeing Derrick Rose peripherally streaking down the court, with no hesitation, Klay delivered a perfect bounce pass for Rose’s layup. It was an impressive display of Thompson’s court vision.

Team USA took a 76-49 lead into the final frame, outscoring Lithuania 33-14 in the quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Thompson started the fourth along with the starters, as Curry still had 4 personals at that point and Coach K probably did not want Curry to pick up a quick cheap one. At 6:57, Curry subbed in for Thompson.
• Curry was cooking again as he executed a nice crossover with the shotclock winding down, passing it to Faried in the block, who passed it to Irving for a corner three.
• On a broken play, DeMar DeRozan lost and recovered the ball and, with the shotclock at :01, eventually tossed it to Curry in the deep pocket for three.
• Curry ended the game on the floor with Andre Drummond, Mason Plumlee, Irving, and DeRozan.

USA pummeled another opponent in the 2nd half, with the final score of 96-68.

Despite the foul trouble and being limited to just 13 minutes played, Curry still managed to score 13 points, along with 2 rebounds, but with 0 assists, steals, blocks, and turnovers.

Thompson filled up the stat sheet again, recording 16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocked shots. Klay played 26 of 40 possible minutes.

Both #SplashBrothers were 2-for-5 from downtown, or 4-for-10 combined.

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