FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED from Team USA's 92-88 win over Germany (2024)

Team USA's final preparations for the Paris Olympics concluded with a narrow 92-88 warm-up win over Germany at the O2 Arena in London.

LeBron Jamescame up clutch for the gold-medal favourites as they avoided a shock defeat to the world champions on Monday night.

But Team USA still had some obstacles to overcome, as Kevin Durant is still absent for Steve Kerr.


And there was some issues on the offensive end as they continued to build chemistry on the court.

Mail Sport's LUKE AUGUSTUS and SONNY COHEN were in attendance to witness head coach Steve Kerr's side final warm-up game.

LeBron James led Team USA to a narrow win over Germany with an 11-6 scoring run in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter

Germany, the reigning world champions, pushed Steve Kerr's side all the way at the O2 Arena

KING JAMES REIGNS SUPREME

He is turning 40 in December, but Father Time is not catching up with LeBron James. In fact, it's the opposite.

The Los Angeles Lakers star wowed the sell-out 20,000 crowd with some highlight dunks early on before scoring the final 11 points for the Americans in the final quarter to see off their opponents. He outscored Germany 11-6 by himself in the final 3:57.

Announced earlier in the day as the male flagbearer for the Americans in Friday night's opening ceremony down the River Seine, it was telling that it was James who carried his country on his back - just like he did in the one-point win over South Sudan on Saturday night.

If there was any questions around whether James is going to slow down at 39, his dominant run to end the game may have put those to bed ahead of the Olympics

THREE-POINT STRUGGLES CONTINUE

The NBA is synonymous for it's three-point shooting but that hasn't correlated to the national team so far.

For the second-consecutive game, the US got outscored by 21 points from three-point range. And it nearly burned the Americans again.

Germany was 13 for 45 from beyond the arc, the US was six for 17, and that´s a 39-18 difference in points from deep.

Stephen Curry - the greatest shooter ever - was one from seven drop deep, while Devin Booker was nought from his two attempts.

South Sudan outscored the US 42-21 from deep on Saturday.

Stephen Curry shot just one-for-7 from beyond the three-point line in the win over Germany

HALIBURTON IS OUT OF THE ROTATION

If there's one player who could help with the above point then it is the man led the NBA in assists at 10.9 per game for the resurgent Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton.

For all their star talent, the USA are playing a lot of iso ball and their lack of ball movement is hindering them in getting off great shots - something Haliburton thrives on.

After Team USA's first three warm-up matches, Haliburton led the squad in assists, steals, +/- and proved the difference in beating Australia.

However, it's clear that he has been slowly phased out of the rotation playing 20 minutes, 15 minutes, seven minutes and then none in their last four matches.

The 24-year-old point guard and two-time All-Star has shown time and time again for Indiana he can deliver in the big moments but was a surprising DNP (did not play) on Monday.

Mail Sport weren't afforded the time to ask coach Kerr about Haliburton post-match, but if he wants to make their games a more comfortable viewing then calling No 9's number wouldn't be a bad start.

All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton did not register a single minute in the win over Germany

NO KEVIN DURANT DILEMMA

'That's KD, my boy' was the response of Jrue Holiday when asked about potential concerns surrounding Durant's inclusion into the rotation at the Olympics.

The former NBA MVP is yet to feature for Team USA in their build-up to the Paris Games, and that has sparked fears about his health ahead of the tournament and how he would fit in the rotation.

But Kerr was very relaxed when asked about Durant following their win, saying: 'Having coached him at Golden State, when he missed time he came right back and he is who he is.

'One of the most skilled players of all time, so we hope he comes back soon and I think he will fit right in.'

Kevin Durant joined up with Team USA with an injury and failed to play a single minute in any of their showcase games

TEAMUSAEXCEL IN THE OPEN COURT

As is to be expected from a team that boasts the sort of athleticism of Team USA, they are almost unstoppable on the fast break.

A missed German shot from the opening tip off provided the perfect springboard to showcase the dominance USA have on the break as James ripped down a powerful reverse slam dunk that ignited the O2 Arena.

Anthony Edwards put the exclamation point on more than one of Team USA's fast-break points

Once Kerr's team get moving in the open court they are almost impossible to stop, meaning opposition will have to keep the ball in front of them.

It is in the half-court where a team as little time playing together as this team has could struggle, allowing them to make the game a track meet will be disastrous for anyone in their path.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED from Team USA's 92-88 win over Germany (2024)

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