'SELECTION DILEMENTS. NO PROBLEM' USA Dream Team Beat Serbia by 29 points. Curry scored 24 points. Dream Team has a separate "Hidden Power"

Jul 18, 2024

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Stephen Curry #4 of the United States strikes a pose after falling out of bounds after he was fouled by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of Canada in the second half of their exhibition game ahead of the Paris Olympic Games at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The United States defeated Canada 86-72. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: LeBron James (L) #6 and Stephen Curry #4 of the United States are interviewed on the court by Kristina Pink of Fox Sports after the team's 86-72 victory over Canada in their exhibition game ahead of the Paris Olympic Games at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Stephen Curry exploded. The United States was powerful. The 'selection Ryan dilemma' continued, but it didn't matter.

The United States defeated Serbia.

The U.S. Dream Team defeated Serbia 105-79 in a warm-up match held at Itihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on the 18th (Korea time).

It was a close game at the beginning of the game, but he caught the win from the second quarter and eventually won by 29 points.

Curry, who exploded six 3-pointers, led the offense with 24 points, and Bam Adebayo (17 points, 8 rebounds) and Anthony Edwards (16 points) were also good. In addition, Anthony Davis, who has been raging every day in warm-up matches, led the U.S. defense by taking full control of the defense under the basket. Serbia's ace and NBA's best big man, Nikola Jokic, struggled with 16 points, but lacked the support of the rest of the players.

The U.S. Dream Team has already played two warm-up matches. It won 86-72 against Canada and 98-92, six points behind Australia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

It has been evaluated that it has struggled compared to its power. Embiid, who had been agonizing over the selection of France and the United States for the national team, was sluggish, and some said that the starting lineup (Curry, LeBron, Embiid) was less efficient than the backup.

However, the United States was strong.

Curry exploded on this day. He is capable enough to do so. LeBron also showed off his strength with a strong breakthrough. The real power of the United States is the backup team.

Adebayo and Davis take full control of the basket, and top NBA players such as Devin Booker, Zru Halladay and Tyreece Halliburton are constantly rotated.

In the end, Canada, Australia, and Serbia all collapsed as they failed to overcome the difference. This structure is very stable, and it is not easy to find weaknesses.

This is because even if the starting lineup is sluggish, the backup team can fill it, and in the third and fourth quarters, they can play a combination of players in good condition and press them with power.

sfryu@sportschosun.com