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The use of the word “appropriate fear” was first introduced by Team USA.
This history can be traced back to Gregg Popovich, a coach who is now in the Hall of Fame. Popovich was the first person to adopt this thinking, which is a respect for the underdog motto. He took this mindset to the San Antonio Spurs and eventually to Team USA as a coach.
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This is a lesson that Popovich’s current coach, Steve Kerr, who is also one of Popovich’s numerous students, has been teaching this week as the United States of America gets ready to play South Sudan in the Olympic pool play on Wednesday. In the wake of a remarkable victory over Serbia, a further victory for the United States would ensure a berth in the quarterfinals of the tournament the following week.
There are no active NBA players on South Sudan’s roster, despite the fact that the country is participating in its very first Olympic Games. On the other hand, the Bright Stars were victorious over Puerto Rico in their first Olympic match, which took place on Sunday, and they brought Team USA to the brink of defeat in a friendly match that took place in London less than two weeks ago.
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“We have appropriate fear,” said Steph Curry, who has been a member of the Golden State Warriors for ten years and is extremely familiar with the concept. Curry has played for Kerr. “We know we can’t just sleepwalk through any game and feel like you’re going to win.”
The line for the United States of America’s match versus the Bright Stars has been set at 29.5 points, making them a big favorite. At the 20th of July, however, the Americans were favored by a margin of more than 40 points. In order for the United States to secure a victory by a score of 101-100, it required a basket by LeBron James with eight seconds remaining and the ability to survive many good looks that the South Sudanese had shortly before the clock.
“They came within one shot of beating us,” Kerr explained to reporters. “I’m really glad that we played them so we can feel their speed and their 3-point shooting ability and feel how good they are.”
South Sudan is a team that is stocked with players who have quickness on par with that of the NBA, in contrast to Serbia, which is a methodical and bruising club that prefers to play slow and hard.
As a result of the leadership of Royal Ivey, a former NBA player who is now an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets, South Sudan will always have five players who are capable of shooting three-point shots on the court and will attempt to spread out their opponents. A total of 14 three-pointers were made against the United States of America in London, while ten more were made against Puerto Rico.
“The exhibition schedule was great because you got to figure out where we need to get better and also feel the force of teams that are coming trying to beat us,” Curry stated in his interview. Their offense is very high-octane, they spread the floor, they shoot a lot of three-point shots, and they have a lot of agility. That being said, you simply need to be conscious of how to protect them. When compared to Serbia, it is quite different.
Marial Shayok, a former wing for the Philadelphia 76ers who scored 24 points against the United States in their most recent matchup, will be a prominent player on the scouting report sheet
Wenyan Gabriel, a former NBA forward, and he shot a combined 9 of 15 from beyond the arc on three-point shots.
Carlik Jones, a former player of the year in the G League, had a triple-double in the game that took place in London. He did this by breaking down the American perimeter defense with aggressive drives that opened up more opportunities for three-point shooters to take the shot. During the game against Puerto Rico, Jones, who had only recently signed a contract with the Serbian powerhouse FK Partizan, had 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
“We’ll be much better prepared [Wednesday],” Kerr stated in his statement. “But doesn’t guarantee anything.”
Additionally, on Tuesday, the center for Team USA, Joel Embiid, made his first public appearance since coming in France to address the media. After Embiid declined offers to play for France in these Olympics, the French crowd in Lille booed him on Sunday. This was not surprising given that he had previously declined those offers.
“[Reaction is] nothing,” as Embiid put it. “I am an American, as I have previously stated. “I am a member of Team USA.”
While Embiid was still a child, he came to the United States when he was 16 years old. The year 2022 saw him receive French citizenship, while the year 2023 saw him receive American citizenship.
