CZECHS OFFER INSIDE TIP
SAITAMA, Japan — Sometimes, vulnerabilities can be identified even by the vanquished. Just because a challenger lacks the means to exploit a soft spot doesn’t mean he can’t see it.
Even after a resounding 119-84 romp over the Czech Republic that sent Team USA into the quarterfinal round of the Olympics, Gregg Popovich would be wise not to dismiss the careful observations of a man named Ronen Ginzburg, the coach who endured 35-point loss but still employed the only plan that gave his overmatched team a chance.
For a while, it worked. And one of Popovich’s biggest concerns is it might work again.
“I don’t want to say it’s a weakness,” Ginzburg said, “but it’s a place where you think you can (attack) them.”
That place, as the Americans know all too well, is near the basket, where the frontcourt players in Popovich’s small-ball lineups consistently have found themselves at a disadvantage this summer.
The way the roster is constructed, it’s just something
Team USA will have to deal with. Opponents the Americans might face during the final week, most notably Spain and France, have the size and the skill to punish smaller defenders, as the French did in their opening upset of the United States.
But Popovich has figured out that the answer is not to put extra big bodies on the floor, which can kill offensive flow.
Instead, he’ll rotate Bam Adebayo and Draymond Green at center.
And hope that Kevin Durant, who Popovich is counting on to contribute so much, can contribute a little more.
After a rough start to the Olympics, Durant played his best game in Japan on Saturday, scoring 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting and passing Carmelo Anthony to become Team USA’s all-time leading Olympics scorer.
He also spent time banging hips and shoulders with Czech post players. In a lineup dominated by perimeter guys, the 6-foot-10 Durant has to at least help as a rim protector.
And he said he’s up for that challenge.
“I’ve been asked to do a lot from every team I’ve played on,” he said. “Every coach expects me to go out and adapt to any situation, so it’s no different here. It’s fun to be able to mix it up and do other things. People know me for scoring, but my game has expanded, and I feel like I can do everything at a high level.”
The Americans’ potential path to the gold-medal game will not be known until group play concludes Sunday, but one of the most likely scenarios features them facing the loser of Sunday’s Slovenia-Spain game in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
That would mean a date with Luka Doncic or Pau and Marc Gasol.
How will Team USA handle those matchups? For insight, we go back to the vanquished.
“I think they’re the biggest favorite for the gold medal, but they’re not going to have it easy,” said Czech guard Tomas Satoransky, who plays for the Chicago Bulls. “If you play smart against them, and try to get the ball inside against smaller players, you’re going to have a chance.”