The USA vs. Poland 2019 FIBA Basketball World Club Results - 87:74
As we continue our exclusive coverage of the World Championships, we’re down to the last four games. Thirty-two teams started this journey two weeks ago; as the top-four rest and get ready for medals’ matches tomorrow…
…LCB Live Blog covers today’s two games as fans anxiously await the results!
First one is Team USA vs. Poland, seventh-place match.
Coming out of the shocking defeat by the French, which took away the dreams of medals, and from Serbia, which pushed them down to the worst finish at a major international tournament since 1992, when NBA players were allowed to participate — until now, sixth-place at the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis was the most embarrassing — team USA had two days to embrace it all, rest, regroup, and prepare to at least walk away with a win.
Team Poland, on the other hand, never won a medal at the World Cup or Olympics; their best international achievement is the silver one at European Championship in 1963 (and three bronzes at the same competition in 1939, 1965, and 1967).
Thus, worldwide news outlets projected that beating Team USA would be “the greatest accomplishment in Polish basketball history [that] could mean everything to Poland.”
With a talent gap way too big to single them out as winners against Americans, although with similar shooting percentages and rebounds statistics entering this game, the pre-match estimations were 85 to 68 against Poland.
Right at the scene at Wukesong Sports Arena in Beijing, China, is our basketball correspondent — Instagram page kosarkanadlanu — and we’re taking you LCB’ers right there!
Team USA came out furiously in the first quarter. Appearing to have shaken off the last two games, they were a dominant force from the outset.
With half of their 2-point shots hitting the target and 71% for 3 points, including 9 rebounds, 2 turnovers, and 2 steals, Americans finished Q1 with 28-14.
Trailing fourteen points, Poland appears to be plagued with a lack of 3 pointers and assists. Facing solid defense from their opponent and, perhaps, a bit of weight on their shoulders, Polish players seemed not to be able to keep up the pace with Team USA.
Q2 only solidified the notion, though at a bit slower pace.
It took a couple of minutes for Poland to make the first score, as Americans controlled the pace. It was not until half of the second quarter that Polish players regained their touch.
However…
…after a few minor mistakes by Team USA — Jaylen Brown’s turnover and Harrison Barnes’ 3-pt miss — that could have boosted Poland’s hopes, head coach Gregg Popovich astutely noticed the potential shift and asked for a time-out. It turned out to be a good call.
A couple of almost scoreless minutes followed until Team USA concluded Q2 with 19-16. Although their efficiency was somewhat lesser than in Q1, the overall solid 17-point advantage in the first half (47-30) was telling.
Crunching H1 statistics, Polish struggle with three-pointers (7%) and 50 percent fewer assists than their opponent — while trailing 10% in overall 2-pt percentage — seems to have taken its tall in the first half, as two teams remained close in rebounds, turnovers, blocks, and steals.
As the players took a well-deserved half-time pause, we were left to wonder if the half-time and quick dressing room meetings can deliver some miracles on behalf of Poland or a steady conclusion by Team USA.
After all, it appeared this game was for Americans to lose.
As Poland started the second half with a few steals and dunks — a powerful booster — Popovich followed up with quick substitutions to keep the scoring gap intact. But, the Polish kept coming.
Several minutes later, Team USA advantage melted down to ten points (54-44). Sensing yet another drop-down in the performance of his team, Popovich called another time-out.
Are we to observe the turn-around here?
If so, Americans were not to go without the fight. After several strong plays and a three-pointer by Donovan Mitchell, they were back to 12-pt lead and Mike Taylor, Poland’s head coach took his time-out.
The strategic game between decision-makers on the benches was on!
While teams exchanged plays at a steady pace, the increase in Polish three-pointers was evident (29%).
The alley-oop by Mason Plumlee on Khris Middleton assist with 1:15 remaining in Q3 took Team USA a bit closer to the steady conclusion. Regardless of the 16-25 score, they ended up Q3 with a 12-point advantage (63-55).
However, Poland was not done yet!
With a couple of offensive and defensive rebounds at the Q4 start, they regained their touch and with 06:54 remaining, American’s advantage melted down to eight points.
Play of both teams was strong! Adam Waczynski blocked the shot, Polish had a team defense rebound but Mateusz Ponitka made the bad pass. Derrick White was the punisher with the driving layup regardless of Myles Turner’s missing the alley-oop.
Mike Taylor called another time-out — 05:44 ‘till the end and Americans lead 70-63.
While Q3 delivered much less scoring thus far, the flurry of the following activities resolved the game.
Jaylen Brown three-pointer opened the sequence; Harrison Barnes followed with the defensive rebound (75-63). Mateusz Ponitka had a chance to even the keel — turnover, bad pass! That just might have been too much for Adam Hrycaniuk, who made a personal foul on Donovan Mitchell; the latter then made a turnover and enabled Ponitka to redeem himself with a three-pointer.
Americans lead 75-66 with 3:54 remaining; this game is so not over and we’re watching the atomic basketball in Beijing!
A few personal fouls on the Polish side and perfectly executed free throws by Team USA later, it is 79:66 with 3:26 left.
Joe Harris two-point jump shot took Americans over the 80-point plateau, while the next minute-and-half gave us only two points in the whole game; it’s the art of stalling at play here!
Jaylen Brown’s hand was steady at 1:45 and Mitchell’s three-pointer at 1:16 sealed the whole deal! It was enough to conclude the game at a calmer pace, with the final result being 87:74.
As expected…
…Team USA turned out to be strong enough with talented players who gathered their strength and walked out of Wukesong Sports Arena with their heads high. This wasn’t their best championship, not even close, but they put out a good fight in the end.
Poland played as much as they could. Surely, in hindsight, they might regret missed opportunities, but they have nothing but great expectations and hopes to look forward to in the future.
The spectators and LCB’ers got a great game to watch and enjoy, at moments tense enough to wonder how it may all conclude, only to learn yet again that…
…there is only one way to have things finished around here — with great fun!
Until next time…