Team USA men’s basketball team has confirmed their spot in the knockout stages at the Paris Olympics 2024. After having to come back in the last two friendlies, the two games so far at the Summer Games have shown their dominance. However, Stephen Curry has struggled with his scoring efficiency so far. ESPN analyst, Brian Windhorst covering from France talks about the problem.
The longtime analyst was speaking with his colleagues back home through video conferencing on First Take. When asked about Curry missing all six of his three-point attempts in the last game, Windhorst said:
He’s actually had a four-game run here where he’s just been off. He’s shooting under 25% from three over his last four games. Four games isn’t that much obviously but six games are the whole Olympic tournament. He’s struggling a little bit with his shots really being cut down. He even admitted last night that he’s forcing some shots a little bit, because he doesn’t know when his shots are coming.
Brian Windhorst on First Take
Windhorst’s explanation suggests that Stephen Curry knows what is going wrong. He is not used to this format, especially with the way the ball has to be shared.
Brian Windhorst did add that the 4-time champion usually takes a lot more shots to get comfortable. But with the players surrounding him, it has become difficult to get to his spot as often as he would do with the Golden State Warriors.
“There is no doubt, Steph’s struggling. … Team USA’s greatest strength is their depth and they can survive a game where Steph goes 1-9.”@WindhorstESPN says the men’s national team isn’t worried about Curry’s recent offensive struggles. pic.twitter.com/Sk1G9JWuUY
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 1, 2024
When he told Windhorst that he is forcing his shots, it suggests he is taking whatever is coming his way. But for him to make the most of his minutes, Curry might have to study film and practice in sets to enable him to go off. But it is not like his struggles are affecting Team USA at these Olympics.
Team USA’s depth covers Stephen Curry’s problems
In the same episode of First Take, Brian Windhorst also talked about what he has seen from Team USA‘s performances up front. He added to the above situation regarding Curry by saying:
Team USA’s greatest strength is their depth. And they can survive a game where Steph goes 1-9. I don’t think it’s something to really get worried about just yet.
Brian Windhorst on First Take
Suggesting that even if Stephen Curry continues to struggle, it will not matter to Team USA. In fact, just because Curry is struggling, it has come to everyone’s attention.
Windhorst does have a point here as with the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and the other superstars on the squad, Team USA can breeze over any national team. It is evident when one looks at the entire men’s tournament point differential leaderboard, they top at this Paris Olympics 2024.
That has given them the luxury to rest most of their superstars if they want to in the final group game. Maybe in that game, Curry will get some additional shots to take and get back to his usual efficiency.
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