LeBron James saves Team USA from South Sudan scare in London
Team USA had to rely on a LeBron James game-winner to overcome South Sudan 101-100 in their first of two Olympic warm up games at the O2 Arena, London.
James led scoring on the night with 25 points, and left his fans fulfilled, with many attending to see the 39-year-old on what could be his last international rodeo.
For South Sudan, who only joined FIBA in 2013, Marial Shayok had himself a night with 24 points including 6 three-pointers while their point guard Carlik Jones posted a triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
“For this game, I did not do a great job preparing our team,” said USA head coach Steve Kerr.
Kerr added: “I think we weren’t focused enough on what they’re capable of and that’s on me. That really allowed South Sudan to gain confidence early.”
USA’s defensive intensity was evidently low in the first half and ultimately led to South Sudan winning both of the opening two quarters.
The Bright Stars had some defensive joy themselves via double-teaming Joel Embiid, leading to a couple of USA turnovers, despite the big man collecting 14 points and 7 rebounds in the end.
The third quarter is where it went south for South Sudan, as USA scored 37 points and recovered from a 14-point deficit that they had faced going in at the half.
“The whole team was embarrassed at half time,” said Kerr.
South Sudan head coach Royal Ivey said: “We knew they were going to respond. I told my team don’t be happy with the first half, it’s a 40 minute game.”
“USA were sleep walking in the first half.” – South Sudan head coach Royal Ivey
As it turned out, the third quarter was the only quarter that Team USA would outscore South Sudan but it was enough.
Towards the end of the quarter, they went on a damaging 16-point run that included an absurd Steph Curry steal and logo three and an Embiid buzzer beater, gathering his own miss.
In the fourth quarter, we got the answer to whose hands the ball would go in when it’s crunch time for this USA team.
JT Thor landed a big three-pointer with 20 seconds left to put South Sudan a point to the good, after a couple of clutch buckets from Shayok beforehand.
The next possession, it was LeBron James who the USA relied on with the game on the line, and the Laker attacked strongly downhill and got what turned out to be a game-winning lay-up.
Kerr said: “We wanted the ball in his hands. He is so powerful downhill, especially down one.”
These games were called the ‘USA basketball showcase’ games, but it was South Sudan who showcased their capabilities last night.
“They put on for the world. There’s no moral victory but all I ask is that they compete and that’s what they did,” said Ivey.
For Team USA, the narrow score line of the victory may create doubts as to whether they are as far ahead of other nations as people believed.
South Sudan, after all, are in their Olympic group along with Serbia and Puerto Rico.
‘Sleep walking’ in a shorter 40-minute FIBA game is a risk not worth taking, and leaves more to do to be able to make up score deficits.
However, they ultimately did enough to continue a perfect record in the build-up to Paris and on Monday will play the 2023 FIBA World Cup champions Germany in another test of their might.
