3 takeaways from Team USA's win over Australia in Olympics exhibition game
Team USA took on the Australian men's national team on Monday in an exhibition match ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. They held off a late comeback and defeated the 'Boomers' 86-82.
It's their second game together this summer ahead of their July 28 opening match against Nikola Jokic's Serbia.
It's a valuable glimpse into any little details the team needs to iron out ahead of the official international competition. Here are three takeaways from Monday's game against Australia:
#1 Anthony Davis is Team USA's best starting center
Davis was without a doubt the most impactful player on the floor in this match. He finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks, seemingly unstoppable with the ball in his hands while holding down the paint on the other end.
He showed his chemistry with LA Lakers teammate LeBron James, perhaps another reason to put him in the starting lineup permanently with James.
Davis provides a more complimentary fit to a starting lineup that has Steph Curry playing off-ball and James as the primary ball handler. Joel Embiid is perhaps more suited as a fallback option in a second unit, where he can easily feast on the opposing team's bench bigs.
#2 Keep letting it fly from three
Team USA hit twice as many threes against Australia as they did against Canada, finishing 12-29 from deep. They had eight different players cash one in.
Despite having the size and athletic advantage over most teams they'll face, arguably the biggest advantage Team USA has is from the three-point line.
Each player is used to an NBA that now sees more three-pointers year after year. Also, each player is familiar with a rapid style of play focused on finding the open man behind the line.
They have obvious snipers in Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, but also several more players who are capable of knocking down four or more threes on any given night.
Anthony Edwards nailed three three-pointers in the first half alone. Jayson Tatum could erupt with his array of step-back threes. Devin Booker once scored 70 points in a game when he couldn't miss a shot.
In the modern NBA, the league all the Team USA players compete in, a 10-point lead can shrink in seconds because of the modern focus on the three-ball.
As the top players from this league, they ought to be able to tap into this advantage any time they need to get ahead. And when one guy gets going, they've got to feed him the ball.
#3 Anthony Edwards deserves as many minutes as anyone
In their first game against Canada, it was Anthony Edwards who came in off the bench and helped erase a deep deficit left by the starting unit. He did it with his penetration, shot-making, and playmaking, all within minutes of touching the floor.
Against Australia, he erupted for three huge three-pointers that helped give Team USA a lead they wouldn't give up. He's aggressive, exciting, athletic, young and all-around deserving of not only starting but playing as many minutes as any other Team USA player.
He dubbed himself 'the No. 1 option' in an interview at the team's minicamp, and has done everything possible to back up the bold talk. Because of both his efficiency and his energy, he has an argument for being the face of the team in this tournament.