Jayson Tatum spent the week main as much as Staff USA’s first scrimmage carrying over his message from the Celtics’ championship season. It doesn’t matter who begins, he mentioned, and if the gifted collective the Individuals organized to avenge final summer time’s poor World Cup exhibiting may all sacrifice, they’d win one other gold medal.
Regardless of Kevin Durant (calf) sitting out and Kawhi Leonard backing out of the Olympics on Wednesday, Tatum got here off the bench in favor of Jrue Vacation in Staff USA’s first exhibition main as much as the Olympics. Whereas Vacation performed a job paying homage to the one he tailored to in Boston, Tatum thrived in an much more condensed model, trying seven pictures and specializing in protection, passing and driving. He didn’t try a 3 within the 86-72 win and Staff USA gained his minutes by 14 factors.
The alignment of the Celtics helped the US handle early offensive struggles that put them in an 11-2 gap. They began 0-for-7 with a turnover, one in every of 11 within the first half earlier than ending 18-for-27 (66.6%) enjoying quick by way of totally different lineups. Vacation missed his first three-point try and grabbed a pair of rebounds earlier than exiting with Canada up 12-4 when Tatum entered for the primary time. Tatum shot 4-for-4, beginning with a driving make and ending the quarter with a breakout layup by way of contract. He stopped Kelly Olynyk within the publish and fed Anthony Davis for a end inside whereas the US lower the Canadian result in 21-14.
Tatum wasn’t proof against a few of the offensive stagnancy and sloppiness that marked the begin to the sport, falling throughout one transition and giving the ball away. Olynyk damage the US with a 3-for-3 begin and Dillon Brooks engaged in a pair of shoving matches with LeBron James early whereas Anthony Edwards and Joel Embiid fell into isolation basketball early. A larger rhythm flowed right into a 27-12 second quarter, Tatum main Tyrese Haliburton with an outlet go that changed into a skip go to Edwards for 2. The US grabbed 4 offensive rebounds on the next possession, flexing a larger power in that space that Grant Hill confused in constructing the workforce.
Earlier than the sport, Hill defended the choice to pick Derrick White over Jaylen Brown to switch Leonard, citing a wide range of roles wanted and denying Nike had any position. White didn’t play Wednesday, however Vacation previewed their connective contributions with a go by way of a decent window to Embiid beneath to tie the sport at 23 earlier than he blocked Nickeil Alexander-Walker on the opposite finish and located Devin Booker in transition for the go-ahead bucket. The US by no means seemed again, Embiid catching a go from Steph Curry inside and flipping it to Booker within the different nook, forcing a Canada timeout.
Tatum returned with the US up by 4, Vacation exiting after ending a transition layup together with his left hand trailing Curry. He went to the rim two extra occasions, closing the half with a crossover to shake Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earlier than spinning right into a end. The US led, 41-33.
A steadier ball-handling effort within the third quarter helped the US construct its result in 69-54, capped by an Edwards buzzer-beating three within the left wing. Curry hit back-to-back threes to start the 28-21 body, the second arrange by a tip offensive rebound from Vacation with the pictures separated by Curry’s driving and-one end. He slid right into a pose alongside the baseline, with the new-look US squad’s sheen rising extra evident after the primary. Tatum missed his first shot halfway by way of the third earlier than driving from the nook and dumping off a go to Davis for a three-point play contained in the second Davis freed himself from his defender.
He picked up a block within the fourth quarter to complete 4-for-7, solely taking pictures two-pointers, with two assists, a steal and a block. Vacation added a 3 within the fourth, taking pictures 5-for-8 with the 2 Celtics combining for 19 factors. Staff USA gained Vacation’s minutes by 4, separating by as many as 16 factors within the fourth after Canada emptied its bench with 5:26 remaining. Edwards led the workforce with 13 factors off the bench, Davis grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 4 pictures. Haliburton’s six assists led all passers. The US protection held Canada to 33.8% from the sector and 21.2% from three.
“If we will decide to that protection,” Curry mentioned after. “We’ll be superb towards anyone.”
The US performs one other pair of exhibitions subsequent week in Abu Dhabi towards Australia and Serbia on Monday and Wednesday. White will seemingly reunite with Tatum and Vacation there.
