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A22 SPORTS
Friday 16 august 2019
USA, Spain set to meet in a World Cup warmup

By TIM REYNOLDS about experience.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) "We just want to get better,"
— The U.S. and Spain are U.S. coach Gregg Popo-
facing off Friday night, a vich said. "We're trying to
matchup of the two top- form a basketball team.
ranked basketball teams So familiarity and camara-
in the world and a possible derie is important, under-
precursor to a medal-round standing who they're play-
meeting next month at the ing with, what each other
World Cup. does on the court, that's
That might sound exciting. all new to our guys. Under-
To the teams, not so much. standing how we want to
Both the Americans and play and the system we
the Spaniards are going think we need to play to
into the game in Anaheim win, just taking further steps
feeling the same way — hopefully without skipping
that they are still in the for- any."
mative stage, working out The U.S. is ranked No. 1
kinks on the way to setting in the world by basket-
a final roster. That's why ball governing body FIBA,
the teams also are making while Spain is ranked No. 2.
this much clear: What they Spain's roster features Marc
show Friday won't be what Gasol of the NBA cham-
they're hoping to show in pion Toronto Raptors, plus
China when the World Cup Phoenix guard Ricky Rubio
gets going. and former NBA guard and
"For sure, it won't be on our longtime Spanish national-
side," Spain coach Sergio team standout Rudy Fer-
Scariolo said. "We still have nandez.
14 players. Not all of our In this July 26, 2018, file photo, head coach head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with the media DURANT, GREEN VISIT
players are in 100 percent during a training camp for USA Basketball, in Las Vegas. The U.S. practice Thursday
shape yet, and most of had a couple of visitors
them are kind of in a load cans went through their won't play while he works that plane takes off; the — Brooklyn's Kevin Durant
management in terms of last practice on U.S. soil his way back from a calf U.S. plan is to take at least and Golden State's Dray-
their playing time. I think it's back at the Los Angeles strain, and Denver's Mason 14 players to Australia for mond Green. Durant, the
going to be a nice game Lakers' practice facility. It's Plumlee left practice Thurs- three exhibitions and at MVP of the 2010 World
between good teams ... expected that the U.S. will day after his mouth got least three practices there, Cup gold-medal run for the
but the final product, not have most of its 15 remain- bloodied. then set the final World Cup U.S., milled about and ad-
at all." ing players available Friday The Americans will leave squad before heading to dressed players. Green ex-
Spain worked out Thursday — Boston's Marcus Smart for Australia on Satur- Shanghai around Aug. 28. changed a warm hug with
at a high school in Playa (who did some on-court day. The 12-man roster for So Friday will be in part his Warriors coach and U.S.
Del Rey, while the Ameri- work Thursday) probably China won't be set when about evaluation, part assistant, Steve Kerr.q

Continued from Page 17 NBA Finals, Games 2 and ed," Cousins said in June,
Those previous injuries cost 5, were not coincidental- during the NBA Finals when
him a lot of games and a ly games where Cousins he and the Warriors lost in
lot of money. played particularly well for six games to Toronto. "I've
This injury is only going to the Warriors. seen how quick this game
add to those totals. "Injuries are part of the can be taken away from
"He was going to be a big game but when you are you. So every chance I get
part of what we're go- talking about a player who to go out there and play,
ing to do," Lakers forward has now dealt with the I'm going to leave it on the
Kyle Kuzma said after USA two most feared injuries for floor."
Basketball practice at the NBA players — the Achilles This could have been a
Lakers' facility on Thursday, and ACL — each basically massive year for Cousins,
shortly after the severity knocking you out for an who was going to get a
of Cousins' injury was con- entire season, to deal with chance to play with LeBron
firmed. that over a 2 ½-, three-year James and reunite with his
Plenty of players from span, it's unheard of," Kerr former New Orleans team-
around the NBA turned said. "So I don't know. What mate Anthony Davis with
to social media to send a blow for him, for the Lak- In this Jan. 26, 2018, file photo, then-New Orleans Pelicans the Lakers — a team with
Cousins messages of sup- ers. He's going to have to center DeMarcus Cousins lies on the court while being tended major aspirations after an
to after an injury during the second half of an NBA basketball
port, including Pau Gasol, process it all and start all game against the Houston Rockets in New Orleans. offseason roster overhaul.
who wrote "You will come over again." Associated Press A big year could have set
back stronger brother." The Achilles tear preceded Cousins up for a significant
Golden State coach Steve Cousins' 2018 trip to free en State. and 10 rebounds per contract next summer. It is
Kerr — a U.S. assistant — agency, where he could And this summer, again game for his career. He now unclear if he'll play at
said he was devastated for have commanded a multi- after dealing with injury, signed with the Lakers on all before he returns to the
Cousins. Kerr also pointed year deal exceeding $100 Cousins had to settle for another one-year deal, this open market.
out that the two games million. He wound up hav- much less than the going time for $3.5 million. "It's been a couple years
Golden State won against ing to sign a one-year, $5.3 rate for someone averag- "I've told y'all before I don't of hell for DeMarcus," Kerr
Toronto in last season's million contract with Gold- ing more than 20 points take any of this for grant- said.q