Green helps U.S. get going
Warriors star kickstarts offense after two losses
Gregg Popovich credited Draymond Green on Tuesday with stabilizing Team USA’s offense after the Americans’ most complete game of the Olympic preparation schedule.
After back-to-back losses in which the U.S. struggled to find a flow on offense, Green had eight points, three assists and two rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench as Team USA beat Argentina 108-80 in Las Vegas to earn its first tune-up win before heading to Tokyo for the Olympics later this month.
“I thought both (Bam Adebayo) and Draymond facilitated a lot of action,” Popovich said. “They were very active, got everybody involved. That’s something that’s really important for us. Those are the talents that we have that fit best with our shooters. Providing that situation where our shooters can get open shots — we did it without turning it over, and that’s wonderful.”
It was Green’s jump pass that led to the highlight of the night: A one-handed dunk by Zach LaVine in the fourth quarter. Playing as a point center, Green drew two defenders as he crossed halfcourt and slung a pass to LaVine cutting to the basket. As the defense rotated, LaVine leapt and dunked over Argentina’s Juan Pablo Vaulet with his right hand while drawing the foul.
During the second quarter, Green faked a dribble handoff to Damian Lillard before darting to the basket for a two-handed slam, the kind of play Warriors fans have become familiar with during Green’s nine years in Golden State.
Tuesday’s game also featured strong performances from Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, who each finished
with a team-high 17 points. Lillard added 13 points and four assists. Jayson Tatum, who sat out with a sore knee, was replaced in the starting lineup by LaVine, who had 15 points.
With so many high-powered scorers on the roster, Popovich relied on his big men, Green and Adebayo, to initiate the offense against Argentina. It worked as all five starters finished with double figures and Team USA tallied 27 assists on 37 field goals.
This was also Team USA’s best defensive performance among the exhibitions. After a pair of listless losses to Nigeria and Australia, the Americans ratcheted up the intensity, forcing 12 turnovers, winning the rebounding battle and holding Argentina to 38.4% shooting.
“It was fluid,” Beal said. “That comes from us getting stops and getting out in transition. That’s something we love to do.”
It’s worth noting that Argentina was the weakest team the Americans have faced so far. Both teams entered Michelob Ultra Arena on Tuesday without a win, and Argentina’s roster is largely devoid of NBA talent. Former Houston Rocket Luis Scola, at 41 years old, led his team with 16 points.
But Popovich characterized the win as a step in the right direction, citing improved ball movement, energy and conditioning. Team USA will put that to the test Friday in a rematch with Australia, the last game of the exhibition schedule before the team leaves for Tokyo.
Questions remain. How will Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton — all playing in the NBA Finals — fit in with this group? Will Popovich, after using three different starting lineups in as many games, settle on a first five? Will someone in the backcourt emerge as an initiator, or will that responsibility continue to fall to Adebayo and Green?
And, perhaps most critically, can these NBA players — after condensed seasons and playoff runs — sustain the energy necessary to beat opponents that will have an advantage when it comes to chemistry?
“I thought we sustained our (stamina) pretty well,” Popovich said. “Against Australia (on Monday) we competed well, rebounded, played defense, ran the floor and had good pace for a half and then it dissipated for a half. Tonight, we maintained that pretty much throughout the game. Hopefully that’s a sign we’re getting better.”