Satoransky, Popovich concur: Defensive intensity made the difference for Team USA / News - Basketnews.com

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Team USA struggled a lot in the first half but eventually found the way to rout past the Czech Republic and get a much-needed win to advance to the Olympic quarter-finals.

Player of the Game EFF 30 Kevin Durant Points 23 Accuracy 8-11 Rebounds 8 Assists 6

USA head coach Gregg Popovich explained why his team was only up by 4 (47-43) at half-time and what changed in the second part.

"We played a very good second half against the team that executes very well and is doing that for 40 minutes. If you don't come ready, what happened to us in the first half is going to happen to you. The focus was better in the second half, at both ends of the floor, and the ball moved, we had good-to-great passes and more intensity defensively, and that's what won the game for us."

The Czech Republic guard Tomas Satoransky, who met with his Bulls teammate Zach LaVine and had a friendly chat after the game, added:

"I think we were playing smart in the first half. With our inside game, we were able to create penetrations, but obviously, they showed their strength. Their biggest strength is that anybody can light it up individually. That's why they are the best team in the world. Jayson Tatum and KD did amazing. It's tough to do any adjustments when the guys are able to shoot over seven-footers those long threes. Jayson Tatum can create his shots whenever he wants."

Satoransky, who played the Olympics with a groin injury suffered in the first game, also said he was feeling optimistic about the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, which his home country will co-host. The leader of the Eastern European squad agreed with Popovich that the American defense didn't allow much to his team in the second half, which ended on a partial score of 72-41.

"The biggest difference was their defense in the third quarter. They were able to pick it up, they were switching everything, and we ran out of gas a little bit there. But I have been proud of my teammates; if anybody would tell me that we'd be going to play against those stars on their roster, I would have never believed this."

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