USA to play in FIBA World Cup tuneup

USA Basketball has finalized its schedule of exhibition games leading into this summer’s Fiba World Cup, announcing on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) that it will open the five-game slate against Puerto Rico in Las Vegas on Aug. 7.

It will be the only World Cup warmup game in the US for the Americans, a team that will be coached by Golden State’s Steve Kerr. His assistants are Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.

The roster of NBA players is still being assembled.

“Puerto Rico, obviously, we’re familiar with them,” said

Grant Hill, managing director of USA Basketball’s men’s national team. “We’ve competed in the World Cup qualifiers, although neither team had their full heavy roster, if you will, its strongest roster. But it’s an opportunity to throw our guys into the fire. The games, the exhibition games, the lead-up, we’re going to get a lot of basketball in us before we play for real. And that’s good.”

After the Puerto Rico game, the US will leave for Malaga, Spain, and games there against Slovenia on Aug. 12 and Spain on Aug. 13. The final two preWorld Cup games for the Americans will be held in Abu Dhabi, against Greece on Aug. 18 and Germany on Aug. 20.

From there, the Americans head to Manila, Philippines, where they will remain for the entirety of the World Cup. Half of the 32-team World Cup field will have group-stage games in Indonesia or Japan; the Americans are among the 16 that will open the tournament in the

FRED C. LUMBA

SPORTS KEN

With extensive championship experience, the Miami Heat are heavily favored over the Denver Nuggets.

Thus, the leadership of each of Jimmy Butler (for the newly-crowned Eastern Conference victors) and Nikola Jokic (for the Western Conference titlists) will be tested to the hilt.

Butler has proven his mettle, scoring 28 markers to keep his promise to win Game 7 for Miami, and oh in a blow out fashion even, 103-84 in enemy territory.

Denver is a hungry team and is going into championship battle for the first time in decades (is it 47 years?)

This is the principal motivation for coach Michael Malone and his boys who brilliantly dispatched Lebron James and his Hollywood-based gang via a four game sweep in the Western Conference finals..

(After the embarassing fourgame loss, LJ is reportedly thinking of retirement?).

If this Denver feat does not scare Eric Spoelstra, it might be because he has the very reliable Aden Adebayo.to tangle Jokic in the middle, this aside from the prolific Butler who will be

Philippines, which will also play host to the medal rounds.

The game against Puerto Rico will coincide with the end of the US team’s training camp in Las Vegas.

“Our preparations for the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup begin in Las Vegas and we are excited to return to a city that regularly and graciously welcomes USA Basketball,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball’s CEO.

The men’s national team played four exhibitions in Las Vegas in 2021 before the Tokyo Olympics, going 2-2 in those games. The Americans opened with losses to

BUTLER ET AL VS JOVIC & CO

matched against Jamal Murray in the production chore.

Until we get to watch Game 1 though can we be able to size up each team’s weaknesses versus their strengths.

We have to observe how the team’s first five perform against their counterparts.

If you ask me, I praise the Nuggets for a very outstanding performance with Jokic pouring in with regularity a double double against the Lakers.

Murray is the man to watch. He explodes like a dynamite and takes charge especially when the Nuggets are trying to catch up.

I did not quite see this with the Heat who succumed to consecutive losses in Games 4, 5 & 6 when they could have done the finishing touches at home.

Spoelstra and his boys are seeking a fourth NBA crown since 2013 and the first since losing to the Lakers in 2020.

Ergo, Miami has a name to preserve and an integrity to protect.

On defense, Adebayo will have his hands full guarding Jokic and a double team by Miami when the latter gets inside the paint is necessary.

Nigeria and Australia before beating Argentina and Spain prior to departing for Tokyo.

“The Nigeria game was important,” Hill said. “It let everybody know that we can’t just show up.”

In Japan, the US won its fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

The US opens World Cup play against New Zealand on Aug. 26, followed by group games against Greece on Aug. 28 and Jordan on Aug. 30. The tournament — one of the major qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics — runs through Sept. 10.

Conversely, on offense the Miami center is a bruiser and much shiftier than Jokic.

I love the defense the Heat displayed against the Celtics.

Tatum was limited to 14 points (although he hurt his ankle early in the game) and Jaylen Brown committed several turnovers to allow the Heat to maintain a two-digit bubble in the fourth.

Jokic should be the Big difference.

Or the Heat will torch the Nuggets alive. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!