That of Steve Kerr it’s the simpler task and at the same time more difficult In the world of basketball. Simple because the Team USA version brought to Paris 2024 it’s probably that one with more talent since the legendary Dream Team of 1992. Difficult because bring together champions accustomed to playing the role of star in their teams every night can be complicated. So far the coach of the Warriors can be said to be satisfied with the results, even if after four dominated matches the semi-final with Serbia was a long suffering. And it is precisely the feat accomplished against Nikola Jokic and companions, as well as the prospect of a final against the hosts Francewere at the centre of the chat with the coach who will leave in a few hours on the hunt for gold which can be considered as a seal on an already extraordinary career, first as a player and then as a coach.

Your predecessor on the Team USA bench, Gregg Popovich, said that the pressure you feel coaching the United States is not even comparable to that of other competitions like the NBA. And when you won in Tokyo in 2021, Popovich said it was almost a liberation. Do you share his opinion? Do you also feel this pressure on the national team bench?

I’m guessing Pop told you about this after his time on the Team USA bench, not while he was still in charge. [ride N.d.A.]. I’m only thinking about France now, we just finished the meeting with the assistant coaches and then we met the team. We still have one match to win, that’s all. Then, obviously, there’s a lot of pressure in the role I play, but I knew that from the beginning and for those who do my job, after all, it’s something that motivates us. Right now, though, I repeat that I only have the gold medal in mind, maybe you can ask me those other questions again after we’ve won.

I don’t know if you had a chance to watch the game against Serbia and, if so, what did you learn from it? And, speaking of defense, what do you think needs to be improved in view of the game against France?

We conceded 54 points in the first half and only 37 in the second. We will have to show up in the final with our best defense, because it is the defense that brought us this far. I must also recognize the merits of Serbia, they scored a lot of goals, even with players that we did not expect to be so dangerous. After all, that’s how it works: in FIBA ​​some players turn into Superman. For sure, against France we will have to be much more physical.

After the victories in the semi-finals, both you and France celebrated with great enthusiasm. Kevin Durant said that the game against Serbia will be a game you will never forget. How do you, from an emotional point of view, regain your concentration and go out on the field in an even more important game two days later?

We do the things that have to be done: today, for example, we had a scouting session with the boys. And now it’s time to sleep, eat well and recover energy. Tomorrow we will play late, at 9:30 p.m., so we have time to leave the challenge with Serbia behind us and think only about winning the gold medal.

France and its rediscovered physicality

You said that in the opening game of the group against Serbia Jayson Tatum did not play because you wanted Kevin Durant to find his rhythm. Even in the semifinal, however, Tatum did not see the field. Obviously you have twelve stars at your disposal and someone must have been on the bench, but I wonder if there is something in the way he plays that has led you to use him so little so far.

There’s nothing wrong with Tatum, it’s more about what everyone else is doing. As I’ve said many times during this tournament, which is only six weeks, it’s hard to give everyone space. It’s not about anything Jayson is doing or not doing. It’s just the right combinations and the way this group has played together, the way Durant has come back to dominate after the physical issues he’s had. It’s really a matter of minutes. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

For France, playing this final against you is like playing the Super Bowl on top of Mount Everest. From your point of view, what is it like to face the national team that hosts the Olympics? What do you expect from the public and from the French team, which in the last two games seems to have found itself, especially in defense?

The prospect of playing against France in Paris with a gold medal on the line is exciting. What more could you want? Our guys love playing in hostile environments, we can’t wait. It’s a special moment in everyone’s career and we’re grateful to have this opportunity, that’s all.

France, as mentioned, seems to have reinvented itself in the last two games. Is there anything you’ve noticed in this new version of the team or an aspect you think will be important to pay attention to in the final?

It’s true: France doesn’t look like the same team as a week ago. It was impressive to see their evolution so complete in such a short time. The thing that stands out is the physicality they showed against Canada and Germany. A physicality that we can’t afford to just equalize, we will have to be more physical and aggressive than them.

Are there any players in France who have particularly impressed you or who you fear?

They are all great players. Isaiah Cordinier has changed the face of the team and Guerschon Yabusele is the other element who, by entering the quintet, has added physicality, physical strength and nastiness to France’s game. They all play with great emotional transport and we have great respect for them. Of course, it is also a possible rematch of the Tokyo final played three years ago, and there can be no doubt about the overall value of France as a team,

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