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U.S. forward Paolo Banchero (8) is fouled by New Zealand forward Hyrum Harris (22) during the second half of a Basketball World Cup group C match in Manila, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — It was late in the first quarter of the U.S. team’s opener at the FIBA World Cup. Austin Reaves was in transition and tossed a lob to Cam Johnson, who got sandwiched in midair by two New Zealand defenders and took a hard fall.
Steve Kerr expected such plays to happen.
The U.S. coach knows that every opponent awaiting the Americans in this tournament will likely be very aggressive, hoping that tactic works to derail the only team in the World Cup with a roster composed entirely of NBA players. New Zealand tried; the U.S. shook off a slow start to win 99-72 and now faces Greece on Monday.
“I know everybody walked in this morning a little frustrated,” Kerr said Sunday as the Americans got loose for practice. “But we won by 27 points. And so, that’s the lesson. In FIBA, it’s so physical. Everybody is going to try to beat the crap out of us because that’s their best chance to beat us.”
It’s an adjustment for the Americans, but so far, so good.
“We understood that this would be part of the process,” Johnson said.
It wasn’t quite like that in the five exhibition games the Americans played on their way to the World Cup because, well, they were just exhibitions. A game against Spain earlier this month against the reigning World Cup winners and FIBA’s No. 1-ranked team — the U.S. is ranked No. 2 — got physical at times, but that was to be expected and nothing got out of hand.
But in the World Cup, the stakes are higher and so is the intensity. Johnson stayed down for a few seconds after the big hit, then made his way to his feet uninjured. He said Sunday that he was fine and didn’t show any…
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