The United States, candidates for the title, easily dominated a catchy but quickly resigned Greek team (109-81) in Group C of the World Basketball Championship on Monday in Pasay, near Manila.
Team USA, in diesel mode, struggled to enter the match, hampered both by the ardor of the uninhibited Greeks around the pivot Papagiannis and by their skill at half mast at long distance shooting. Although deprived of the captains Giannis Antetokounmpo and Konstantinos Sloukas, forfeited for this tournament, the Greeks gave a hard time to the five American majors who used and abused the forced shots.
Coach Steve Kerr then relied on the substitutes, who were more aggressive in the one-on-one, an exercise in which his team took a real advantage over their opponent. More skilful, they inflicted a scathing 13-2 to break away and lead midway through the second quarter (42-25). But the Greeks hung on and, in turn, took advantage of their strong moment to return to -9 (37-46, 19th) thanks to a good series initiated by Papagiannis, the only one to compete with the American stars.
But this improvement was short-lived, the Greeks paying for their debauchery of effort and it is quite logical that Steve Kerr’s men returned to the locker room with a comfortable lead (50-37).
As soon as the resumption, the Americans with their five major this time more concentrated put the turbo, chaining basket on basket in the wake of the trio composed of Reeves (15 pts), Edwards (13 pts) and Brunson (13 pts).
Physically dulled, the Greeks lowered their flag as during the previous confrontation between the two teams, ten days ago in Abu Dhabi, concluded with a quiet success for the Americans (108-86).
The victory being acquired, Kerr took the opportunity to offer minutes to additional players, just to involve everyone for the second round. With two successes, the United States occupy the head of their group, and face Jordan on Wednesday for their last pool match.
