Team USA flashes potential in rout of Puerto Rico ahead of WC - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Team USA completed its five-day training camp ahead of the FIBA World Cup with a 117-74 thrashing of Puerto Rico on Monday night, leaving coach Steve Kerr thrilled with the work his team has put in as it begins what it hopes is a six-week quest culminating in a gold medal next month in the Philippines.

«It's a great night for us,» Kerr said after winning his first game as head coach of the senior national team. «I think the guys have really picked up what we're trying to install at both ends and we're slowly but surely getting used to the FIBA rules and interpretations — coaches included.

»It's all part of the process of getting accustomed to what we're going to be facing."

A sluggish performance in the first half — Puerto Rico opened with an early 6-2 lead, and Team USA led 50-43 at halftime — gave way to a frenetic second-half performance, one that saw the bigger, longer American team leverage those advantages to blow the game open.

Team USA outscored Puerto Rico 34-18 in the third quarter and 33-13 in the fourth, forcing 18 turnovers that became 31 points, allowing the Americans to score in transition at will and take control.

«It took us a while to get going, but when we're playing the defensive side of the ball and getting stops and turnovers and running, it's pretty fun for us,» said Jalen Brunson, who started at point guard and finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds in 22 minutes. «So we just got to try to continue to do that. Just not worry about offense at all, and we'll be all right.»

While Kerr spent several days declining to discuss his starting five, there were no surprises when the starters were unveiled shortly before tipoff. Brunson, the player Kerr has repeatedly labeled the team's leader,