Stephen Curry’s debut in the Olympics hasn’t gone as expected. Despite being known as the greatest shooter ever, he has struggled with his shot, scoring only 22 points in victories over Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico. Although many anticipated he would excel from beyond the arc due to the shorter FIBA three-point line, he has struggled with his accuracy in international play.
However, Coach Steve Kerr remains unfazed. He emphasized that the focus is on defense, as winning FIBA games relies heavily on it. Kerr pointed out that the team’s depth means other players are capable of stepping up offensively, and the team is concentrating on defensive efforts and rebounding to secure victories.
The United States has been prolific offensively, surpassing 100 points in each pool play game with various players stepping up. Anthony Edwards contributed 26 points off the bench against Puerto Rico, Bam Adebayo scored 18 against South Sudan, and Kevin Durant led with 23 against Serbia.
Interestingly, the top scorer for the U.S. has been a bench player in all three games so far.
LeBron James has been the most reliable and consistent player for the U.S., excelling as both a facilitator and a scorer when needed.
Stephen Curry’s position and minutes are secure, and Coach Kerr will continue to let him shoot until he finds his rhythm. However, as the U.S. heads into the elimination rounds, a single poor shooting performance could spell trouble for the favorites.
