Team USA Dominates Serbia in Olympic Opener, Tatum Sits Out
In a commanding start to their Olympic campaign, Team USA defeated Serbia 110-84. Despite the absence of first-team All-NBA player Jayson Tatum, who did not participate in the game, head coach Steve Kerr's tactical adjustments paid off handsomely.
Kerr, who has a wealth of experience from his roles in past international tournaments, including the 2019 World Cup in China and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, opted to leave Tatum out of the lineup for the opener. This decision wasn’t taken lightly, as Kerr met with Tatum to explain the reasoning behind it. "Jayson will play [Wednesday]," Kerr assured. However, he remained tight-lipped about future lineup changes, stating, "I'm not going to answer your next question, which is if he plays, who doesn't. But we're going to need him, and part of this job for me is to keep everybody engaged and ready, because my experience with this is crazy stuff happens."
The decision to prioritize size over Tatum's versatility was influenced by Serbia's formidable frontcourt. Kerr's selection included centers Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo, all tasked with neutralizing Serbia's big men. "With South Sudan, it's more about the speed, and speed is a killer. You have to be prepared for everything, and that means we need everybody," Kerr noted, highlighting the strategic variations required for each opponent.
Derrick White emerged as a crucial contributor off the bench, further validating Kerr's game plan. Team USA saw a substantial upswing whenever White was on the floor, outscoring Serbia by 15 points during his minutes.
"The hardest part of this job is you're sitting at least a couple of guys who are world-class, some of the very best players on Earth. On one hand, it makes no sense at all. On the other, I'm asking these guys to just commit to winning one game and then move on to the next one. I have to do the same thing. And so I felt like last night those were the combinations that made the most sense," Kerr explained, shedding light on the complexities of managing such a talented roster.
Looking ahead, Team USA prepares to face South Sudan, a team that demands a different approach. Their previous encounter saw South Sudan sinking an impressive 14 three-pointers and pushing Team USA to a narrow one-point victory. This encounter underscored the need for agility and readiness, attributes Kerr believes will be critical in countering South Sudan's high-paced offense.
Despite his limited action, Tatum has been part of the mix, averaging 6.7 points over Team USA's five exhibition games and logging 16 minutes with nine points in a recent match in London. His return to the lineup is highly anticipated, as Kerr navigates the challenge of balancing the playing time of his star-studded squad.
As Team USA eyes their next challenge, Kerr’s dynamic approach and strategic acumen will be pivotal. The match-up against South Sudan will test the squad’s adaptability and cohesion, qualities that are essential for a team with gold medal aspirations. With players like Tatum waiting in the wings, fans can expect to see a versatile and resilient Team USA ready to take on all comers.