MONTEVIDEO (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - They dominated Group C in Montevideo. On their own account, the United States —a solid team in the defensive aspects— reached the Final Four. The rosters’ extension allows Coach Van Gundy to maintain the side’s intensity during the game’s 40 minutes, a fact that makes them a serious candidate to the title.

Throughout the three competition days, they showcased different game abilities that made them thrive. They condemned Panama to lose the game, they worked Uruguay and their ample roster allowed them to strongly arrive to the end, while at the game’s closure against the Dominican Republic, the US were superior from the start and controlled the entire game.

Several aspects may be highlighted of a team that surprised everyone with their defensive fortitude. Nine players exceeded the average 18 minutes at the floor, something that clearly distinguished the team's large rotation. Williams, Jr. was the player who played the court more (24.3 minutes); while Plumlee —although a starting player— accumulated the less amount of time (17.9).

A change in style

The United States evolved throughout the tournament —especially in their attacks. In their game against Panama, the team shot 32 triples, scoring 11. When they played against Uruguay, the game was worked in another fashion, and although it ended 9/28 in triples, the attacks weren't as fast; they tried the rotation and the extra pass to find their shooters. Considering the game that the locals proposed, and with his mind set on the Final Four, Van Gundy completely changed the strategy against Dominican Republic. He set forth an intense match in the defense, running the court; and so they only shot 16 triples —achieving 3.

Numbers might seem cold and distant sometimes, but in this case, they demonstrate a team's game style. This National Team in average only allowed 59.3 points by their rivals. The defense ended up being, in key moments, the support to successfully attack. Their big players are also a factor to take into consideration. Their athletic state allows them to quickly transition from the offense to the defense to promote a consistent half-court game.

Uruguay showed, however, that the USA can be vulnerable. They changed their marks, they altered their rhythm, and this cause them to take bad decisions in several streaks. However, the individual aspects ended up weighing in to win the complex game.

Something to consider

Beyond the collective game, there are individual aspects that must be considered in this National Team. Their best shooter was Hilliard, who averaged 14.3-points per game. He’s a player that runs the court well and feels comfortable there. Hilliard is not a particularly good outside shooter (he only scored 1 of 9 attempts) but he does have mid-distance impact.

Williams Jr., with 11.7-points in average is the best 3-point shooter: A 37.5% says so. Free throws are not essential for his game: his speed allows him to shoot at any moment.

In the inside game, Plumlee is strong on the defense. He positions well, but when the game changes to the one-on-one, he may have a deficiency. For this reason, Warney's performance shone in that zone. He also contributed in the attack; his final average of 10.3-points and 10 rebounds made him the team's most determined center.

In the internal rotation, Van Gundy surely will not count on Holmes, who sustained an injury against the Dominican Republic) ankle sprain and whose participation in the Final Four is still unsure.

Throughout the games, Marshall demonstrated that he was the player that most thought of every move and yet, he didn't impress with his performance. The most remarkable performance was against Uruguay, where in many moments he didn't miss the chance to make the shot.

The United States kept adapting to the games’ requirements. Since Van Gundy built his roster, he considered what FIBA Basketball is like. That's why he looked for men that had experience in this type of competition. The Montevideo series allowed him to draw his own conclusions and know he seeks to be the Americas’ new monarch.

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