It was solely an exhibition sport, however South Sudan had a possibility to tug off the best upset in worldwide basketball historical past Saturday in London, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Group USA wanted a driving layup by LeBron James with 8 seconds remaining and a vital defensive cease to flee with a 101-100 victory.
It marked the primary actual style of adversity for a U.S. workforce that’s closely favored to win the gold medal in France. South Sudan constructed its lead as excessive as 16 factors because the People’ offense regarded badly out of sync for a lot of the first half.
“I didn’t do an awesome job getting ready our workforce, I believe we didn’t focus sufficient on what they’re able to and that’s on me,” head coach Steve Kerr stated.“They performed an exquisite sport and the ending was good for us simply to really feel that. To really feel what it’s going to be like in Paris and Lille. … reminder that once we play towards groups, it’s the largest sport of their lives and we now have to count on everybody to play like that.”
Kerr shook issues up by utilizing a totally completely different lineup to begin the second half. That sparked a comeback that featured a 23-5 run protecting the late third and early fourth quarters, however South Sudan nonetheless grabbed a late lead on a three-pointer by JT Thor that arrange James’ heroics.
“I believe the entire workforce was embarrassed at halftime to be completely outplayed and down 14,” Kerr stated. “And I don’t suppose [James] was actual thrilled about me not beginning him within the third quarter. However I assumed that subsequent group that we put on the market actually did an excellent job defensively. And I regarded down a few instances and I can see LeBron chomping on the bit to be out on the ground as quickly as he obtained on the market and he went to work, so he was sensible.”
There’s extra Olympics information to cross alongside:
- Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, who serves as head coach for South Sudan, believes the expertise will assist his workforce within the Olympics though it didn’t fairly get the victory, Windhorst provides. Along with Thor, South Sudan was led by 2022/23 G League Participant of the 12 months Carlik Jones, who posted a triple-double with 15 factors, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and Marial Shayok, a second-round choose by the Sixers in 2019, who had 24 factors. “We need to take the momentum, the mindset, the tenaciousness that we had [to the Olympics],” Ivey stated. “We didn’t flinch.”
- South Sudan is already a outstanding story by reaching the Olympics in solely its thirteenth 12 months as a nation, notes Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle. Former NBA star Luol Deng, who serves as president of the nation’s basketball federation, personally funded this system and picked Ivey to function head coach in 2021. The Vivid Stars certified for the Olympics with their efficiency in final 12 months’s FIBA World Cup.
- In an Apple podcast, Joel Embiid defined that his resolution to hitch Group USA was influenced by strain from France (hat tip to HoopsHype). “It didn’t assist that, you realize, France that put an ultimatum on, you realize, when the choice needed to be made,” Embiid stated.
