On Thursday, USA basketball announced the 2023 USA Men’s National Team, which will compete at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in Manila.
The 12-man roster includes, Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Josh Hart (Knicks), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Cameron Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks) and Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers).
“On behalf of USA Basketball, I’m thrilled to introduce the 2023 USA Men’s National Team, which features some of basketball’s brightest talent,” USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill in a press release. “We are excited for the challenges ahead and look forward to the opportunity to compete at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup. I am confident that working together, and under the leadership of our outstanding coaching staff, this team will proudly represent the United States this summer in Manila.”
Before arriving in Manila, the USA Men’s National Team will hold training camp August 3-6 in Las Vegas before playing a series of exhibition games as part of the USA Basketball Showcase, which tips off August 7 vs. Puerto Rico at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. The USA will also face Slovenia on August 12 and Spain on August 13 in Malaga, Spain, and Greece and Germany on August 18 and 20, respectively, in Abu Dhabi.
As part of Group C, the U.S. opens the 2023 FIBA World Cup against New Zealand on August 26, followed by Greece on August 28 and Jordan on August 30.
The Cleveland Cavaliers(50-30) hoped to accomplish two things on Tuesday night as they began a two-game set in Orlando against the Magic(34-45).
First, secure homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a win, and next, win 50 games for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Mission accomplished!
The Cavs defeated the Magic 117-113 at Amway Center.
With the loss, the Magic are officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Here’s the Great, Not So Great, and the Bottom Line of the Cavs’ win over the Magic.
The Great:
-Donovan Mitchell went over 40 points for the fourth straight game as he had 43 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
According to the NBA, Mitchell is the fourth player over the last 25 seasons to record four straight 40-plus point games.
After Paolo Banchero’s layup gave Orlando a 109-108 lead with just under four minutes to go, Mitchell would score six of Cleveland’s final nine points. He came up big when needed.
-Caris LeVert was huge for the Cavs, and he added 19 points, including five threes off the bench. With Cleveland trailing 109-108 with just under four minutes to go, LeVert hit a three that would give the Cavs the lead for good.
LeVert has been in double figures in 11 of his last 12 games.
–Darius Garland had a solid floor game with 16 points and 10 assists. This was Garland’s 18th double-double of the season.
Not So Great:
Rebounding: Orlando did a solid job on the boards as they outrebounded Cleveland 47-30 and outscored the Cavs 14-4 in second-chance points.
Bottom Line:
Coming into this season, on paper, three teams in the East were better than the Cavs, the Bucks, Celtics, and the 76ers, and in terms of the standings, those three teams are better than Cleveland right now.
However, that does not take away from how great it is to win 50 games, which was expected after the acquisition of Mitchell.
With homecourt advantage, the Cavs will probably be the favorite when they face the fifth-seeded Knicks(likely opponent) in the first round, which should be a lot of fun.
For now, Cleveland should enjoy winning 50 games, but there is most definitely more work to be done.
What’s Next:
Cleveland concludes their two-game set in Orlando against the Magic on Thursday night.
Best of the Rest:
Evan Mobley had 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Jarrett Allen had 12 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
For Orlando, Markelle Fultz led the way with 23 points and eight assists; Banchero had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Cleveland was 15/31 from three-point range on Tuesday night.
The 2022 NBA Draft is Thursday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the top three picks are set, Auburn’s Jabari Smith to the Magic, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren to Oklahoma City, and Duke’s Paolo Banchero to the Rockets.
Smith(Auburn):
-2021-22 National Freshman of the Year by NABC and USBWA (Wayman Tisdale Award)
-2021-22 consensus All-America Second Team selection
-2021-22 All-SEC First Team pick (coaches, media)
-One of five finalists for the 2021-22 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award
-One of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy and one of 15 selections for the Wooden Award National Ballot in the 2021-22 season.
-Became the first player in Auburn history to be named SEC Freshman of the Year.
Holmgren(Gonzaga):
-2021-22 All-America Second Team selection by AP and Sporting News
-Third Team by USBWA and NABC.
– Finalist for the 2021-22 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year.
– One of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy and one of 15 on the Wooden Award National Ballot.
– 2021-22 WCC Defensive Player of the Year, WCC Newcomer of the Year and All-WCC First Team pick.
– 2020-21 National High School Player of the Year by Gatorade, Naismith, Morgan Wootten and MaxPreps. • Gold medalist and MVP at the 2021 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
Banchero(Duke):
-2021-22 All-America Second Team by NABC and USBWA and Third Team by AP and Sporting News.
-One of five finalists for the 2021-22 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award.
– 2021-22 All-ACC First Team selection and ACC Freshman of the Year.
– One of 15 players named to Wooden Award National Ballot as a freshman.
– Ranked No. 4 by ESPN in the 2021 high school class
