Well Team USA first challenge in the elimination round of the FIBA Championships vs. Angola was not much of one as they routed Angola by 55 points. Angola played without leading scorer, Olimpio Cipirano due to an injury but he probably wouldn’t have been much help as Team USA shot lights out this morning. Chauncey Billups lead the team with 19 points while Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, and Eric Gordon all had 17 points. Every member of the USA team had at least 4 points. 18-7 on 3 point shots made was the major difference in the game today. USA got off to a quick start getting some early 3’s and getting in transition for easy layups and dunks to give them a comfortable lead early. Angola was a much a smaller team who relied on their athleticism to compete with Team USA. However, turnovers and poor shot selection lead to easy baskets and open looks for Team USA. Team USA did have some defensive breakdowns throughout the game which tends to happen when leading by so much but will need to be addressed as they continue through the tournament.
Team USA will now play Russia on 1 p.m. on this Thursday. Russia should be a tough challenge as they went 4-1 in pool play. Russia has 1 NBA player that is claimed by Knicks in Timofey Mozgoz however he has yet to log any NBA minutes. Russia also features former Kansas star Sasha Kaun. Mozgoz is Russia’s leading scorer at 12.5 points per game. Russia has a rich international basketball tradition and will not be another push over like Angola. It will be interesting to see if more teams try playing zone vs. Team USA and make them make jump shots.
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