One key number stands out from Team USA’s two second-round games at the 2023 FIBA World Cup: One. That’s how many rebounds starting center Jaren Jackson Jr. – reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year – pulled together in the win over Montenegro and the loss against Lithuania. One.
After getting through the group stage with an average margin of 36.3 points, the Americans ran into some trouble in the second round. They escaped against Montenegro, but failed to mount a comeback against Lithuania after trailing by as many as 21 points in the first half. The common denominator in both games was that the Americans were bullied on the glass, particularly on defense. While it’s certainly not just Jackson’s fault, his ineffectiveness as the team’s starting five-man stands out.
Here’s a look at the numbers:
Vs Montenegro
Vs. Lithuania
“The concern is turnovers and rebounds,” head coach Steve Kerr said Friday. “If we stay balanced in the possession game, I think we have a good chance against anyone. Teams can beat us if they have more possession and force a lot of turnovers and we are not sharp and do not box out.” . And that’s what I told our boys. …It’s not really a secret.
While it certainly wasn’t intentional to keep getting smashed against the glass, it is to some extent a result of Team USA’s roster formation. Jackson is best suited as a power forward, and the only other true bigs on the team are Bobby Portis, another power forward, and Walker Kessler, the second-youngest player on the team. In the current starting lineup, Jackson is the only player taller than 1.90 meters. This often puts them at a significant size disadvantage, particularly compared to some European teams who use more traditional forecourts.
Take this play from the opening minutes of the Montenegro game when Nikola Vucevic grabbed two offensive rebounds. On both occasions, Jackson was pulled away from the rim, leaving players like Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards to try to deal with Vucevic under the rim. The end result is no surprise.
However, there were also cases where the Americans were simply overloaded, such as in the last play of the third quarter against Lithuania. All five Americans were on the court, but Mindaugas Kuzminskas got to the loose ball after several tips and scored the decisive basket at the buzzer.
Team USA’s small-ball approach gives them a significant advantage in many areas, but to win this tournament they will need to bounce back. It starts with Jackson. Even if he is not known for his rebounding, he has to set the tone as a starting player. But when he’s not near the rim, either because he’s guarding someone at the rim or because he challenged a shot, the rest of the team has to help close the gap. Plays like Kuzminskas’s can’t happen.
You can also ask yourself whether it is time to give Portis or Kessler a few more minutes of play. Based on the 2022–23 NBA season, they are statistically the team’s best rebounders, but rank 10th and 12th on the team in minutes played, respectively. That’s understandable considering how Steve Kerr wants to play, but if Team USA continues to have trouble rebounding the ball, a personnel change might be necessary. Portis, in particular, has played in countless big games, can create space on the field and will always give his best.
The Americans’ first chance to improve on the boards comes Tuesday when they face Italy in the quarterfinals. While the Italians have come close at times in this tournament, they are the second-best rebounding team remaining and have averaged 11.4 offensive rebounds per game.
Team USA will have a talent advantage over every remaining team, but as we’ve learned time and time again in international tournaments over the years, that means only so much. In shorter games on smaller pitches against more experienced and battle-hardened opponents, you have to do the little things to win. And perhaps there is no little thing greater than relaxation.