Well the nostalgia from Team USA’s demolishing of Finland didn’t last long as Team USA had a bit of a scare versus Turkey before finally pulling away to win 98-77 by a respectable 19 points. Team USA looked like they were reeling going into the half down 40-35, or maybe it was disinterest. They looked uninspired all half long and when the second half started they began to go into the middle to the Brow. Anthony Davis scored all 19 of his points in the second half off 8 for 11 shooting adding 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots including 11 points in the 3rd frame.
The real star of the night was the Manimal, Kenneth Faried, who had a huge night for Team USA leading all scorers with 22 points off a tight 11 for 14 shooting along with 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocked shots of his own. The huge motor player played 28 minutes, more than any other player on Team USA. Fairied and Davis combined for 33 of Team USA’s 63 second half points. The huge discrepancies in the team statistics came in the turnover category, where Team USA had 12 while forcing Turkey into 28, and steals where Team USA had 17 steals to only 2 by Turkey.
Team USA outscored Turkey 63-37 in the second half when they concentrated their scoring in the middle. James Harden was third in scoring with 14 points off 4 of 7 shooting. Derrick Rose played 17 minutes and was 0 for 4 with 2 points, 2 turnovers and no assists another “not so good” stat line for Rose.
Team USA got away with a lackadaisical performance and cannot bring this kind of game vs Argentina or Spain and hope to win. Team USA has Monday off and will be back on the court vs New Zealand on Tuesday, September 2nd at 5:30 pm EST.