Steve Kerr laments slow start as US crash out of Basketball World Cup

MANILA : The United States basketball team faced a disappointing loss to Germany in the Basketball World Cup semi-final, failing to reach the final for the second consecutive tournament. The US lost 113-111 to Germany in a hard-fought game in Manila. Coach Steve Kerr expressed his disappointment in the team's performance, particularly their defensive efforts. He mentioned that the US was unable to make Germany feel their presence defensively, and he lamented the team's mistakes, especially at the beginning of the game. Kerr emphasized the importance of setting a defensive tone early in the game. Despite leading by a point at half-time, the US allowed Germany to take control of the game in the third quarter. Kerr acknowledged the players' response to falling behind but noted that Germany made crucial plays and hit big shots when needed. Anthony Edwards was the top scorer for the United States with 23 points, followed by Austin Reaves with 21 and Mikal Bridges with 17. The US will now face Canada for the bronze medal in their next game, while Germany will compete against Serbia for the tournament title. Kerr acknowledged the high-level competition in the tournament and expressed pride in his team's effort, even though they fell short of their goal of reaching the final. (with AFP inputs)