Celtics

Kemba Walker: Team USA focused on 'continuing to get better' after loss

Kemba Walker: Team USA focused on 'continuing to get better' after loss

By Jacob Camenker August 25, 2019 10:05 AM

The Boston Celtics make not be playing right now, but some of their core players are getting some nice experience by playing for Team USA.

This year, the Celtics have four players on the international roster including Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and the newly-signed Kemba Walker. With those four in action, many view this a chance for the C's to develop some early chemistry after issues in that department plagued them last year.

However, Team USA isn't exactly off to a great start. They lost an exhibition match against Team Australia over the weekend, marking the first time in over a decade that they had been beaten. Despite the issues, Walker isn't worried about the team's capabilities in the lead-up to their first FIBA World Cup game on Sep. 1, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

They say Team USA doesn’t lose, I get it, they haven’t lost in a very long time, which I understand, but it happens. Teams lose. We are just going to take this loss and build from it, that’s all we can do is continue to try our best to get better.

The real thing doesn’t start until China, so we’ve got one more game. We’re going to head to Sydney and focus on Canada and from that point out the real thing starts. That’s all we are worried about, just continuing to get better, continuing to learn each other.

Walker does have a point, and this iteration of Team USA has only been playing together for a short period of time. Still, seeing Team USA succeed and develop chemistry early would likely be a good sign for the Celtics, as it could give their quartet some needed experience playing together while also proving that they can jell with any group of players. So, they will be watching closely to see how Walker, Smart, Tatum, and Brown are able to fit into the squad.

So far, Walker has been solid and led Team USA with 22 points against Australia. He could be counted on as one of their veteran leaders and may have a chance to be the USA's leading scorer.

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Team USA stunned by Australia, 98-94; Marcus Smart debuts for US

Team USA stunned by Australia, 98-94; Marcus Smart debuts for US

By Patrick Dunne August 24, 2019 8:45 AM

Marcus Smart made his debut for Team USA, which saw its 78-game international winning streak end in a 98-94 loss to Australia early Saturday in Melbourne.

Smart,  who had been bothered by a calf injury throughout training camp as the Americans prepare for the FIBA World Cup next week in China, started and scored seven points, had three assists and one rebound in nine minutes. Fellow Celtics guard Kemba Walker led Team USA with 22 points.

The other members of the Celtics contingent - a.k.a. "Team Shamrock" - Jayson Tatum (five points) and Jaylen Brown (eight points) came off the bench as the US, which had a 10-point lead in the third quarter, lost for the first time since 2006 with NBA players on its roster.

Former Celtics big man Aron Baynes, now with the Phoenix Suns, had 13 points for the Aussies, who were led by a 30-point performance from Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs. 

With an injury to the Los Angeles Lakers' Kyle Kuzma keeping him out of the World Cup, the 12-player US roster is set and it will include all four Celtics. The Americans open against the Czech Republic on Sept. 1 in China.

The last US loss with NBA players was in the 2006 world championship semifinals to Greece, a team that next week will feature NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. Team USA enters the World Cup No. 1 in the FIBA rankings 

“They wanted it more than us tonight,” Walker said. “Lesson learned for us.”

 

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