A solid start but not a great day for Jayson Tatum
The US beat Serbia in its Olympic opener 110-84 and played like coach Steve Kerr’s warning about intensity got through to them.
They also got Kevin Durant back from his calf injury and he was spectacular in the first half, just decimating the Serbian defense. LeBron James also played well. Durant finished with 23 points while James had 21.
The US had a major advantage in athleticism and it was most breathtaking in small moments: beating the Serbs to a loose ball under the basket and making a pass out to an open teammate, or James picking up a missed shot after darting into the lane and hitting a teammate for an open three.
You saw it too in how well the US moved the ball. It looked routine but it wasn't: not many players in the NBA have the strength to move the ball as fast as it moved around against Serbia. It was like a careless arrogance and the Serbs, though they are a really good team, could not stop it.
It just built and built. The Serbs tried to shoot themselves back in with three pointers and they weren’t that far away from being able to do it, but every time they made a small run, the US just crushed them. It’s too early to say they can do it to everyone, but an impressive opener?
Yeah, it was.
Now it’s a rematch with South Sudan after the Bright Stars shocked Puerto Rico in their opener. Keep in mind though that Jose Alvarado was injured and he’s critical for the Puerto Rican team.
Be that as it may, South Sudan very nearly upset the US in exhibition play and that has not been forgotten by either team.
Finally, for whatever reason, Jayson Tatum didn't get in the game.
