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USA Basketball practiced for the second straight day in preparations for Saturday's exhibition game against Brazil. There has been plenty of press given to who won't play in the FIBA World Cup for USA Basketball but there is still a wealth of talent on the US roster.
Still a team must adjust after losing a player the caliber of Kevin Durant and head coach Mike Krzyzewski indicated that they will be leaning more on their guards to pick up the offensive slack.
"You have to do more to get your guards shots. I mean, these guards are really good, but they were complementing one another - Kevin with those guards. ... Now we have to look at developing our inside and getting the guards more involved."
That puts the ball in the hands of guys like Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose and James Harden much more often. Atlanta's Kyle Korver is still in the running as well and agreed with Krzyzewki that the guards are now the strength of the team.
"Our guard play is amazing. And that's going to be the strength of our team now. A lot of what we do is going to be predicated off of our guard play. ... I don't think we're going to get to the end of the shot-clock much."
Other notes from around USA Basketball:
- Coach K "surprised" by Kevin Durant's withdrawal - Ball Don't Lie - Dan Devine
- Rose, Curry, Harden, Davis four of five Team USA starters vs. Brazil - ProBasketball Talk - Kurt Helin
- USA Basketball cancels Senegal trip because of Ebola virus - Yahoo Sports - Marc J. Spears
Images and Videos from today's practice:
DeMar DeRozan, Steph Curry and the #USABMNT getting loose before Day 2 of Chicago practices. https://t.co/2tV15XM9P0
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 15, 2014
Who ya got? @drose and Team White or @KyrieIrving and Team Blue? RT for WHITE FAV for BLUE pic.twitter.com/1YdVvDCb7h
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 15, 2014
Coach Thibodeau leads Team White and Coach Williams works with Team Blue as practice is underway! #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/9GofPiMsio
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 15, 2014
Derrick Rose knocks down the corner three off a crisp pass from Chandler Parsons. https://t.co/LTaFakfrUa
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 15, 2014
Sure, we have great players on the #USABMNT. But it's the coaches that power this locomotive. pic.twitter.com/tcDdWkj9FA
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 15, 2014
Day 2 of Chicago practice comes to a close as the #USABMNT prepares for tomorrow night's exhibition with Brazil. pic.twitter.com/CPq7al10WT
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 15, 2014