Steve Kerr has been under fire recently despite Team USA still being unbeaten this year in exhibition and Olympic games. His decision not to establish a rotation and base his lineups on the opponents has not sat well with some folks , including his Golden State Warriors star, Draymond Green.
The former NBA Coach of the Year hears all the chatter. Even so, he doesn't plan on changing his strategy anytime soon, given how well it has worked.
"Being in this position, you do what you have to do to win," Kerr told Rachel Nichols on "Open Run." "Who you play every game is a little different, based on your opponents. We've been practicing every single day with this group for a month. We know how to put our best foot forward."
"None of that stuff matters, but it's all part of the gig," Steve continued. "All 12 of these guys are worthy of playing the entire game. But it's just not how it works. So, we're gonna keep doing what we're doing and hopefully keep winning."
Team USA still dominating
One of the criticisms about how Kerr has coached the U.S. men's national basketball team is his ever-changing starting lineup and shifting rotation.
In the opener against Serbia, Jayson Tatum never left the bench before getting the call as a starter against South Sudan in the next contest. On the other hand, it was Joel Embiid who got the DNP-CD, with Steve attributing the move to match the African squad's fast-paced style.
The longtime Warriors tactician's strategy is seemingly working, as the Red, White, and Blue is one of only two unbeaten teams in the tournament, Germany being the other. It blew out opponents by an average of 21.3 points per game in the group phase before routing Brazil 122-87 in the quarterfinals.
Considering how tough the competition has been recently, winning by that much margin is certainly an impressive feat.
Kerr also implied that he knows the roster better than anyone else, having practiced with them for quite some time now. And none of them has complained so far. Perhaps Green and other critics should just put their trust in the nine-time NBA champion.
Related: “He literally had nothing left at the end of practice every single day” - When Kevin McHale knew Kevin Garnett was destined for success in the NBA
Team USA's toughest challenge yet
Still, Kerr and his wards are not out of the woods yet because awaiting them in the semifinals is Serbia. While they defeated the Serbs in the group phase, the Europeans are entering the next round with significant momentum.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist overcame a 24-point first-half deficit against Australia in the quarterfinals, which should have Team USA wary of taking its foot off the gas pedal if it runs to a huge lead early in their matchup. Moreover, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic remains a huge threat to its hopes of booking a trip to the gold-medal round.
If the Americans do make it that far, a battle with either the 2023 FIBA World Cup champion Germany or hometown squad France lies ahead.
Related: "He's so physical, he's so strong" - Steve Kerr calls Stephen Curry Team USA's "modern-day John Stockton"
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