USA had 'best defensive effort' in win vs. Italy, says Kerr

For head coach Steve Kerr, Team USA's win against Italy on Tuesday in the 2023 FIBA World Cup was the game where they had their 'best defensive effort' in the tournament.

The United States outrebounded Italy, 51-33 and had six blocks in their 100-63 win to book a slot in the semifinals.

"Just a great defensive effort. Our guys got after it right from the beginning," Kerr said in a press conference.

USA coach Steve Kerr describes their win against Italy as the game with the best defensive effort #FIBAWC @gmasportsph @gmanews pic.twitter.com/nVHJcM90ig

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) September 5, 2023

"[They] put the pressure on, kept the pressure on, the next group came in and did the same thing. It was our best defensive effort of the tournament to this point and that's what it's going to take to win two more games," he added.

Kerr also said that his team has been getting the groove of a FIBA match after playing for more than five games, and he is certain that this will keep going until the end of the tournament.

"It's been a five-week journey for this group and there's five more days. That's how we look at it," Kerr said.

"Our guys are sensing that this is the end of the journey and the energy picked up tonight, the pace, the force, they know what's ahead."

"They know what the goal is, so I have no doubt they'll come out with the same energy, same force the next game."

USA will play the winner of the quarterfinals match between Germany and Latvia.

The semifinals game of the United States will be played on Friday.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News