LAS VEGAS— Team USA has announced the 17 finalists for the 2019 FIBA World Cup team. There were no real surprises with the exception of point guard Derrick White of the San Antonio Spurs, a Select Team player who played himself onto the group with strong scrimmages and an outstanding performance in Friday’s Blue-White scrimmage at T Mobile Arena. The 17 include 15 players from the National Team roster and two players from the Select team.
The finalists includes two 2016 Olympic gold medalists– guard Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors and forward Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings; forward Marvin Bagley III from Sacramento; wing Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics; point guard De’Aaron Fox of Sacramento; wing Joe Harris of Brooklyn; center Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks; forward Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks; guard Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz; center Mason Plumlee of Denver Nuggets; guard Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics; forward Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics; forward PJ Tucker of the Houston Rockets; center Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers; point guard Kemba Walker of the Boston Celtics and White.
“We’re bringing a couple young players (Bagley and White) from the Select team, so we’re going to be patient with the rest of the squad because we have plenty of time, we have two weeks to be decide who will be the final 12,’’ said Jerry Colangelo, USA Men’s National team managing director. “Forty-eight hours before Game I in China is when we have to submit a roster, so we want to make sure everybody gets a shot.’’
Team Blue, which was made up of the national team players, outscored Team White Select team, 97-78, in the scrimmage. The final score made the game look closer than it was, as Team Blue was ahead, 78-48 after three quarters. Gregg Popovich started guards Kemba Walker of Boston and Donovan Mitchell of Utah, forwards Jaylen Brown of Boston and Kris Middleton of Milwaukee and center Kyle Turner of Indiana.
Forward Jayson Tatum of Boston, playing in front of his college coach Mike Krzyzewski, came off the bench to lead the Blue with 17 points on 6 of 8 shooting with four assists. Walker, who should be the leader of this team, had 14 points on 6- of 11 shooting with 4 assists in 16 minutes for the Blue, which played 11 players at least 10 minutes and got good effort from everyone. Forward John Collins led the White with 12 points and 8 rebounds in 20 minutes while Derrick White had 12 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds.
Team Blue shot 56.7 percent and 40.7 from three, both impressive statistics fueled largely by success in transition. But there is still room for improvement. Team White outrebounded the Blue, 45-37. “We have to take a little more ownership of keeping guys off the glass,’’ Harris said. “Making sure we get a body every time down because we are so talented offensively as long as we get the ball and get out in transition, we’re going to allow ourselves to get some easy baskets.’’
The rebounding margin and the fact there are only five personals instead of six in international basketball may force Popovich to keep three true centers– the active Turner and Lopez and Plumlee, who are big bodies. “One thing I know we can work on is not fouling so much,’’ Tatum said. “We fouled a little bit too much tonight. The more time we spend with each other the better we’ll get. ‘’
The players will have three days off, then report to Anaheim, where they will start practice for an Aug. 15 exhibition game against Spain at the Pond before leaving for another round of exhibitions in Australia.
“There has been absolutely no problems with the effort and physicality,’’ Popovich said. “Now, it’s just a matter of getting wiser, becoming more habitual, everybody reacting correctly more often.’’
