John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
As the head coach of Team USA, Steve Kerr has faced criticism for his lineup decisions during the Olympics. In response, Kerr has emphasized the importance of keeping players in their usual roles, rather than simply putting the best NBA players on the floor together.
Prioritizing Role Familiarity
Kerr believes that having players perform in roles they are accustomed to can significantly benefit the team. “For us, it’s very obvious watching games that having guys in their usual roles is very helpful,” Kerr stated. This approach is aimed at ensuring that the team functions smoothly and effectively, leveraging each player’s strengths in a complementary manner.
Historical Context
Kerr drew a parallel with the legendary 1992 Dream Team, which played eight games at the Barcelona Olympics. Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly used six different starting lineups, with only Michael Jordan starting every game. This historical example highlights that even the most celebrated teams adapted their lineups to optimize performance.
Balancing Scoring, Playmaking, and Defense
To achieve a balanced team, Kerr and his coaching staff, which includes Erik Spoelstra, Ty Lue, Mark Few, and Jeff Van Gundy, have strategically mixed strong defenders with scoring specialists. For instance, Kerr has combined players like Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Bam Adebayo with scorers such as Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards.
Durant, who has been willing to come off the bench, echoed Kerr’s sentiments: “It’s about really who finishes the game, who put their impact on the game while they’re in the game.”
Adapting Roles
Devin Booker exemplifies the adaptability Kerr values. Despite being a star scorer in the NBA, Booker has embraced roles such as on-ball defender and point guard for Team USA, allowing other players like LeBron James and Steph Curry to play closer to their NBA roles. “Devin is probably the guy who’s been most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here,” Kerr noted.
Other players, like Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday, have accepted their roles without complaint, understanding the importance of team dynamics over individual accolades.
Conclusion
The approach of Steve Kerr to keep Team USA players in their usual roles underscores the importance of team chemistry and role familiarity in achieving success and by focusing on these aspects, Kerr aims to construct a team that can perform cohesively and effectively, regardless of individual NBA stats.
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