Steve Kerr shared his impressions after the victory of the USA national team over Montenegro at the beginning of the second phase of the FIBA World Cup.
The American coach spoke with great respect about the opponent who gave his team a tough challenge.
“Montenegro is a fantastic team with a very good coach. They prepared for the game excellently; everyone knew their role. They had 22 offensive rebounds. I am proud of my players, but we faced problems with ball movement. Such games happen, but you have to be ready to fight.”
In the fourth quarter, Steve Kerr found a lineup that gave the USA a double-digit lead and effectively “broke” the opponent.
“I think I chose a good lineup that has brought us good results in the past, if I’m not mistaken. It’s a lineup we believe in, sets a good rhythm, and gets the job done.”
Steve Kerr doesn’t hide the fact that every game teaches him new things, and the match against Montenegro was of great significance.
“Every experience, whether gained in the NBA or during FIBA competitions, is invaluable. As a coach, you are always learning. I have the best basketball coaches with me, and this experience means a lot to us as we learn from each other.”
Anthony Edwards finished the first half without scoring a point but scored 17 in the second half, leading his team to victory.
“He’s a great player; he had a tough first half but got into it in the second with some made shots, and everything started to go well. He’s a player with confidence, regardless of the situation on the court; he will always continue to attack and be aggressive. He did a great job, and an excellent second half is behind him.”
Kerr also received a question about whether a world champion is made by winning the NBA or FIBA World Cup.
“Both,” Steve replied briefly.
The coach of the USA national team praised his players’ performances and behavior once again.
“The right path is when you represent your country in the right way. One of the reasons why I enjoy being here is the quality of the guys I lead from the bench. They respect everything.”
Steve believes that the differences between FIBA and NBA basketball are significant, and such games are not surprising.
“Here, you simply play a different kind of basketball, and Montenegro had a great plan for us. We kept playing until the end, remained competitive in every possession, stayed good, and eventually celebrated.”
The American coach thinks that the match against Montenegro will be an important experience for his players in the continuation of the competition.
“We definitely get better with games like this; it’s an experience where every possession means a lot. It means a lot to us when we have close games.”
The USA remains the leader in Group J with a 4-0 record, while the Montenegro national team suffered its second defeat in the FIBA World Cup.
In the next match, Montenegro will face the Greek national team, while the USA will vie for the top spot in the group against Lithuania.