Team USA basketball coach Steve Kerr says his side are determined to be the top seed heading into the knockout stages of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Expectations are notoriously high around Kerr’s side but the players want to live up to their tags as predicted gold medalists and that would start with a win against Puerto Rico this weekend.
Kerr has urged his players to try and win by as many points as possible to give them the best chance of having an ‘easier’ path to the final in Paris.
Team USA currently sit at +43 points, the best in the tournament and a commanding week in the final group game could be enough to secure that desired top seed.
Kerr said: “We want the No. 1 seed.
“It gives you the best matchup in the quarterfinals.
Consistency is King. 👑
LeBron joins the 🇺🇸 #USABMNT 300-point club & helps secure the dub in Lille!#Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/KyAKjB28Fy
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 31, 2024
“So if we drop down to two or three – which I think is unlikely, but we’ve got to take care of our business – we possibly have a much tougher opponent.
Points differential was adopted by the NBA last season so the players are aware of how it works, but it is very rarely considered by the players on the court.
Puerto Rico were not expected to qualify for the Olympic Games but won a qualifier against Lithuania, although have so far lost their two games.
Derrick White added that the differential is a big deal and that he wants to help his side win by as many points as possible.
He added: “he point differential is a big thing, and so even the first two games we were focusing on not taking our foot off like you do in the NBA sometimes.
“So it’s a little different than what we’re used to, but that’s all part of the tournament.”
Team USA will be without guard Jrue Holiday, who has a minor ankle injury, but both Anthony David and White, who picked up knocks against South Sudan, will be available.
