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After the first-week that lacked notable matchups, Team USA's game versus Greece was widely dubbed the game of the tournament so far. The Game 4 matchup pitted the NBA's reigning MVP against a widely criticized United States team - and many experts backed Giannis Antetokounmpo to come out on top.
However, after a well-contested first-quarter, Greece were outplayed by the United States and eventually fell to a 69-53 defeat. The Greek Freak led the game in points and rebounds, however, his team shot just 36% from the field and finished with one of its lowest World Cup point totals in history.
The result sees Gregg Popovich and his USA team remain undefeated, while Greece will need at least a 13-point win over the Czech Republic to move on to the quarterfinals. So, with the game now behind us, here are 3 Talking Points from USA vs Greece.
#3 Kemba Walker remains vital to the USA's hopes
Kemba Walker is the biggest name on the USA roster, and the point guard has managed to make a tremendous impact during the first week of the tournament. Walker has spoken about his responsibilities as the senior figure in the locker room, and he has also led the USA on the court.
Walker managed 15 points and 6 assists against Greece and also knocked down three of his six three-point attempts. His ball movement and willingness to get his younger teammates involved was excellent, and the Boston Celtics man has stepped up as the leader that this much-criticized young roster needed. Bigger tests will come for the USA next week, although it appears that Walker is up to the task.
#2 Giannis Antetokounmpo's presence is not enough to put Greece into contention
Greece headed to China with the belief that they could compete thanks to the presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, while the 2019 MVP recorded another double-double against the USA, Greece's lack of overall quality was on show as the team slipped to a second defeat of the tournament.
When taking away Antetokounmpo's 15 points, the rest of the roster managed just 38 points with only Kostas Sloukas reaching double figures (13). Even with Antetokounmpo on the court, Greece were outscored by 17 points, and it is evident that the nation lacks the depth and quality to compete with the likes of Serbia and the USA. While they could still sneak through with a big win over the Czech Republic, Giannis and company won't be contenders in the second week in China.
#1 Gregg Popovich's coaching expertise shines through
While the USA have won their four opening games, there is no doubting that the current World Cup roster is among the weakest in team history. Nevertheless, the Americans still boast the NBA's best coach, and Gregg Popovich's genius was on show once again vs Greece.
The San Antonio Spurs head coach repeatedly went with a small lineup - forcing Greece to shoot from the outside. Greece finished the game shooting 7 for 27 from beyond the arc, and Popovich occasionally sent on Myles Turner for devastating effect.
Popovich also continued to give Derrick White a decent amount of minutes, and the guard responded to his head coach with another fine performance as he continued his rapid development. Ultimately, the USA can't match the Serbian's roster, however, they remain in contention thanks to the presence of Popovich.
