Despite exhibition win over Aussies, flaws remain for Team USA - ESPN

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — For all the popularity of the 3-pointer, competitiveness in international basketball often comes down to the trenches. And in recent competitions, Team USA has lost this battle too frequently.

Fixing that issue was paramount when assembling Team USA as it tries in Paris to win a fifth consecutive Olympic gold. Early in the process, challenges remain on this front.

Team USA beat Australia 98-92 in an exhibition Monday in Abu Dhabi in front of a record crowd of 12,217 fans at Etihad Arena. It's a second straight win over a medal contender for the U.S., but there were a few things to pay attention to that the Aussies, always a very good test in run-ups to big events, showed.

Perhaps most important, Anthony Davis displayed why he's such a vital player to the American effort. His presence on the inside was a difference in the outcome as he had 17 points and 14 rebounds in just 18 minutes while playing some strong interior defense.

Anthony Edwards continues to show his value in international play, moving into the starting lineup and looking explosive, as has become his trademark, as he put up 14 points.

Though there's still signs of unfamiliarly, Team USA's work in practice on smoothing out its offense and finding early signs of rhythm did show. They put in 32 points in the 10-minute first quarter, for example, with LeBron James and Jayson Tatum showing signs of being a dynamic forward combo.

«I think we made a big improvement on both ends of the floor,» Davis said. «You got 12 guys on the team who all elite players, the best guys on their team and so it gets tough when you're trying to play with each other and trying to figure it out and you're trying to make the right reads and make the