Estados Unidos cumple con su papel de favorita / FIBA World Cup Day 2: Team USA defeats Czech Republic
SHANGHÁI.- La selección estadounidense cumplió este domingo con su papel de favorita a levantar la Copa del Mundo de baloncesto tras ganar a una combativa República Checa por 88-67 en un partido descafeinado en el que no hubo actuaciones brillantes.
El técnico Gregg Popovich, heredero del legendario Mike Krzyzewski y uno de los entrenadores más prestigiosos de la NBA (cinco anillos con los San Antonio Spurs), apostó por un quinteto inicial formado por Harrison Barnes, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Myles Turner y Kemba Walker.
Pese al fuerte comienzo de los norteamericanos, que tienen la presión de revalidar el título de campeones que ostentan desde 2010 en Turquía (más 2014 en España), los checos contraatacaron y lograron primero igualar el marcador a siete, con un 2+1 del base de los Chicago Bulls Tomas Satoranksy.
Estados Unidos acabó el partido venciendo por 88-67 y ya espera a su próximo rival, Turquía, que este sábado se impuso a Japón.
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The first big celebratory reaction from the U.S. bench in this World Cup came just a couple of minutes after tipoff, when Myles Turner blocked a shot at the rim. And with that, the tone was set.
There is an emphasis on defense with this U.S. team, and it was evident from the outset of its Group E opener on Sunday. Donovan Mitchell scored 16 points to lead a balanced scoring night, and the Americans steadily pulled away to beat the Czech Republic 88-67 to begin their quest for a third consecutive World Cup title.
“That’s got to be our calling card,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said. “We’re going to try to execute better and better as time goes on, but defensively we’ve got to put our money there. It’s what we have to be about to have an opportunity.”
Harrison Barnes added 14 points, Kemba Walker scored 13 and Jayson Tatum finished with 10 for the Americans. Turner had seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
“As long as we win, that’s all that matters,” Tatum said.
Tomas Satoransky, the former Washington forward who was traded to Chicago over the summer, led the Czechs with 17 points.
While the Americans’ 78-game winning streak in international games with NBA players ended last month with a loss at Australia, their long winning streak in major tournaments continued. It’s now at 54 games, starting with the bronze- medal game of the 2006 worldchampionships and continuing with gold-medal runs at the 2007 FIBA Americas, 2008 Olympics, 2010 world championships, 2012 Olympics, 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
COURTESY: FOX SPORTS