USA Basketball 2014 World Cup: #SplashBrothers 1st Half Report vs Mexico (Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account)
PALAU SANT JORDI, BARCELONA, SPAIN — As the top seed from Group C, after winning their fifth straight pool play game against Ukraine two nights ago, USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team (#USABMNT) drew the 4th seed from Group D, Mexico, and got things started off this afternoon in Barcelona, a rather irregular early tipoff.
The starters for #TeamUSA were, as usual the Golden State Warriors‘ Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Anthony Davis, and Kenneth Faried.
Here’s the #SplashBrothers report on Curry and #DubNation teammate, Klay Thompson:
FIRST QUARTER
Curry was paired against the 6’8″-listed Francisco Cruz — the media on press row agreed that Cruz was probably really only 6’5″ or 6’6″ — and Cruz took advantage of his size early, as Curry made him turn on a drive, but then Cruz recovered to score a power bucket.
Curry also got a foul called on highly touted Mexican center Gustavo Ayon, working hard on an Ayon screen and drawing the bad screen foul on the big.
Offensively, Curry got in rhythm early, hitting a corner trey from the right side on a set play, assisted by Harden.
At the 2:42 mark, Thompson subbed in for Curry. The only starter who remained on the floor at that time was Harden. It was perhaps the longest stretch for Team USA’s starters to start a game.
Klay didn’t waste any time getting on the board. His first bucket involved bringing the ball up the court on the right side and pulling up for a three, good.
Once again, there were instances of USA’s point guards not dishing out to wings or corners, as Derrick Rose turned the ball over with Thompson waiting on the wing to his left and Curry in the same corner pocket. Steph pointed to Klay as if to encourage Rose to swing the ball, but it never got delivered.
SECOND QUARTER
It seemed like the #SplashBrothers decided to get themselves in rhythm on their own, as Thompson missed an early trey attempt from the right side and Curry followed that up with a catch, fake, and dribble-and-pop good on the opposite side.
The #SplashBrothers highlight of the tournament came when Mexico’s guards lost the ball, Curry started the fastbreak, and delivered a fabulous one-handed bounce pass assist that covered seemingly more than half the width of the court for the fastbreak dunk by Thompson.
Thompson also displayed a floater in his repertoire, routinely taking his man Ramon Martinez off the dribble, left-handed. His runner gave the U.S. a 32-19 lead with 6:26 remaining in the half.
But the tunnel vision by Team USA’s point guards continued as Irving penetrated and took on three defenders in the paint, all the while never spotting Curry wide open in the strong side corner.
Curry finished the half with 9 points on 3-for-6 from downtown (none from inside the arc), 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 0 turnovers.
Thompson collected 7 points and 1-for-2 three-pointers and 2 rebounds.
Stay tuned for the 2nd half report!
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