Paris 2024 Olympics: Team USA men's basketball eyes top seed, prepares for final group game vs. Puerto Rico

Coach Steve Kerr emphasizes the importance of getting top seed, shows his team all the scenarios and point differential numbers to prove his point.

Team USA's final Group C game against Puerto Rico in men's basketball carries great significance despite the Americans clinching the group and a berth in the Tuesday, 6 August quarterfinals at Paris 2024.

Coach Steve Kerr met with his team Friday and stressed the importance of earning the top seed in the tournament, which would mean facing the weakest of the third-place teams when play resumes off at Bercy Arena.

“We talked to them this morning,” Kerr said Friday, 2 August. “We showed the standings. We showed them the point differential. We want that. It gives you the best matchup in the quarterfinals. 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.”

Team USA may have to play Saturday 3 August without key defensive ace Jrue Holiday, who Kerr listed as questionable with a sprained ankle. Holiday, coming off winning an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, has been an indispensable piece for Kerr during the exhibition games and two Group C matchups. The coach said his rotations are yet to be determined if Holiday is unable to go.

The coherent theme for Team USA has been defensive prowess during the tournament. The club has put together back-to-back 100-plus point games, so scoring is no issue. But Kerr wants to see consistent defense, preventing interior baskets and fast-break points.

“Defense, defense, defense — that’s it,” he said. “We know the history of USA Basketball. We win when we defend well. Our guys are really defending at a high level.”

Kerr admitted he likes the defensive lineups that include Holiday, Celtics teammate Derrick White and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, who has blended well from being a prolific NBA scorer to utility man for Team USA.

“Being together for a month, you could see the impact,” Kerr said. “Derrick White, Jrue Holiday are making, Book, the on-ball pressure because our identity is defense starts with ball pressure. Those guys are doing a great job, as is Anthony Edwards. With Derrick, with Jrue, they are accustomed to being complementary players to other stars.

“For us, it’s very obvious watching games that having guys in their usual roles is very helpful. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for us to put our five leading scorers on the floor from an NBA season because those guys don’t complement each other well.”

Booker averaged 27 points this past season for the Suns but is averaging just six shots per game in the tournament. That has not diminished his impact. Booker is averaging 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 24 minutes. He’s a combined plus-17 in the two games.

“Devin Booker is probably a guy that’s been the most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here,” Kerr said. “He’s such a big scorer in the league. But just like in Tokyo [2020], he’s adapted to being an on-ball guy, ball mover and the offense clicks when he’s out there and the defense is really good. That’s why he’s started every game and seems to be good with every combination.”

Gary Washburn is an Olympic Channel correspondent and national NBA writer for the Boston Globe.