CHICAGO_Some of the best offensive basketball players in the NBA are on Team USA's roster, such as the Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant and the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony.
But you wouldn't exactly know it from watching the U.S. struggle to get anything from the outside to fall in an 80-45 exhibition victory over Venezuela at the United Center.
Sure, there were dunks, as there figured to be against an overmatched opponent, but the U.S. struggled to hit its perimeter shots, going just 4 of 25 from 3-point range. It was an especially ugly first half, with the U.S. shooting just 12 of 40 overall and 2 of 18 from 3-point range over the first 20 minutes.
"We didn't score well (Friday) ... " said Durant, who had just nine points on 3 of 9 shooting. "We did penetrate well but just need to find our rhythm. We're not lacking in any area as a team. Our chemistry is great and we love playing together. But our shots didn't go in."
The U.S. wasn't too concerned over the struggles. Coach Mike Krzyzewski said the team still is adjusting to playing with an international basketball, which is different in feel from the NBA's usual ball. Krzyzewski was pleased with how the U.S. played defense in holding Venezuela to 16 of 67 shooting (24 percent) and said his team's intensity on that end of the floor can pay off later in the Olympics.
"We're playing defense right until the very end," Krzyzewski said. "That is what I'm looking for. The fact that the ball wasn't going in and they were playing good defense against us did not stop us from giving a real quality effort, especially on the boards and the defensive end."
The U.S. has one final tuneup in Houston against Nigeria on Monday before it flies to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics. Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson had 13 points to lead the U.S. while Bulls guard Jimmy Butler had four points on 2 of 8 shooting.
