Steve Kerr says Workforce USA wanted Lithuania defeat to show them of how of Fiba basketball

Workforce USA coach Steve Kerr throughout a recreation towards Lithuania within the Fiba World Cup. -FIBA PHOTO

The phrase “studying expertise” just isn’t one thing coaches would wish to casually toss out on this aspect of the globe, the place basketball followers have been recognized to deride the time period after it had been trotted out lots throughout the disappointing marketing campaign by Gilas Pilipinas within the Fiba World Cup.

Nevertheless it was what coach Steve Kerr saved harping on Sunday night time when Workforce USA was handed a humbling defeat that would go both of two methods for the People, who’re anticipated to be the de facto house workforce for the remainder of the match now that the Philippines has performed its final recreation.

The 110-104 defeat against the tough European side earlier than a packed crowd at Mall of Asia Area might both be detrimental or, within the perspective of the many-time NBA champion mentor, helpful going into the quarterfinal match towards Italy.

“I’m hoping that it is a lesson and we get higher from this,” Kerr mentioned after disappointing followers of the NBA flavored squad with its first loss since being fashioned in July.

Considerations concerning the make-up of the USA roster, particularly with its frontline, had been validated within the closing recreation of the second spherical as Lithuania maximized its inside presence behind NBA participant Jonas Valanciunas, leaving his ex-Memphis Grizzlies teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. in foul bother.

However the different main issue within the defeat was how Workforce USA couldn’t cease Lithuania’s sizzling taking pictures from past the arc. Good ball motion led to open alternatives and the Lithuanians dropped their first 9 triples.

Makes an attempt of a US comeback led by Anthony Edwards fell quick, and now the squad finds itself caught in a way of urgency.

“We’ve no different alternative. If we lose, we go house,” mentioned Workforce USA guard Jalen Brunson.

Kerr described Lithuania as having a “good first quarter” and might be glad to have a “nice tape to look at” as focus is now on getting the People able to hurdle the knockout stage.

Slovenia, Latvia right here

Tuesday’s recreation is an 8:45 p.m. begin, with Workforce USA hoping to advance towards both Germany, the unbeaten workforce from Okinawa, Japan, and the shock Manila customer Latvia, which got here off an unbelievable efficiency in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“I preferred what occurred,” Kerr mentioned of the loss. “As a result of this occurs so rapidly, deliver collectively the workforce and observe for just some weeks and also you play for a gold medal. Occurs rapidly.

“And it’s totally different. Fiba’s totally different from the NBA. And that’s a giant focus for us and we speak about it every single day,” he added. “However these guys should really feel it, these guys should really feel how good these groups are. Lithuania’s a superb basketball workforce. They transfer, they shoot, they reduce laborious, they’re well-coached so it (the loss) was good for us.”

However studying from it can imply that Workforce USA should cast off the issues that contributed closely to the defeat that now leaves the American aspect hoping to regain its standing as basketball’s world champion in a harmful place.

“We’ve to begin the best way we did within the second half [against Lithuania],” mentioned Kerr. “We are able to’t ease into the sport in any respect.”

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