All 12 members of Team USA's roster scored in Tuesday's quarterfinals 119-76 victory over Slovenia, but two of those Americans looked particularly ready to bring home a gold medal.
Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson scored a game-high 20 points off the bench while Denver Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried continued his standout play with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Thanks in large part to the duo's efforts, the United States now advances to a semifinals meeting with Lithuania that's scheduled for Thursday.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski will continue to employ an ensemble approach in which everyone gets his touches, but the emergence of some leaders doesn't hurt—even if not especially leaders who weren't expected to play prominent roles.
Faried's unyielding motor has made him the unintentional centerpiece of the United States' attack. He's averaging 13 points and 8.1 rebounds through seven games, including four offensive rebounds per game.
The numbers tell at least part of the story. That presence on the offensive glass has sustained the United S ...
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Article written by Stephen Babb
Kenneth Faried and Klay Thompson Emerging as Team USA’s Unexpected Weapons
September 9th, 2014 by Stephen Babb Leave a reply »
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