2014 United States FIBA Basketball World Cup team
The United States had automatically qualified for the World Cup by virtue of the gold medal won by their 2012 Olympic team.
[2] Despite having many newcomers, the Americans were expected to win the World Cup,[3] and advanced to the knockout phase after starting the tournament 5–0 during the group stage.
Combined with their 2010 World Championship along with gold by their 2008 and 2012 Olympic teams, they also became the first country in FIBA basketball history to win four consecutive major titles.
[3][7] Holdovers included 2012 Olympic gold medalists James Harden and Anthony Davis, in addition to Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose, and Rudy Gay from the 2010 championship team.
[3] In January 2014, USA Basketball announced their initial 28-man list of players to be considered for their roster for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
[9] Players on the list who withdrew themselves from World Cup consideration were LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, LeBron James, David Lee, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams.
[11] On July 25, Blake Griffin pulled out due to concerns with his back, and John Wall was named as a replacement.
[12][13] Mired in unresolved trade talks between his Minnesota Timberwolves and other teams, Kevin Love withdrew on July 25.
The day before, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said that final squad members could also potentially come from the Select Team that is scrimmaging with the main camp roster in Las Vegas.
[16] During a scrimmage on August 1, Paul George suffered a compound fracture of both bones in his lower right leg, and underwent surgery hours after the injury.
George's injury was similar to one suffered by Louisville Cardinals player Kevin Ware during a 2013 NCAA tournament game against the Duke Blue Devils, coached by Krzyzewski.
[20] Kyle Korver, Chandler Parsons, Gordon Hayward, and Damian Lillard were the final cuts on the team.
The U.S. had few problems advancing to the knockout round, though they habitually started games slowly, and their guards had yet to meet expectations to consistently excel on offense.
The Americans held Finland without a field goal in the second quarter, outscoring them 29–2 in the period en route to a 114–55 blowout victory.
The Americans quieted the vocal Finnish fans, who filled an entire side of the arena, by holding their opponents to 0-for-17 shooting in the second quarter.
The Turks effectively slowed the pace of the game for much of the first three quarters before Team USA used a 17–1 run to pull away.
[28][29] The game was unexpectedly tough after Team USA's 59-point rout against Finland and Turkey's needing to rally to win 76–73 against New Zealand.
[29] Harden added 14 points, and Kyrie Irving scored 13 while playing extended minutes with a struggling Rose on the bench until Team USA was safely ahead in the fourth quarter.
Rose started the second half in place of Irving, as Krzyzewski wanted the former NBA MVP to receive more playing time with starters.
[34] The Dominican Republic was playing without injured Francisco Garcia, who was averaging a team-high 21 points per game, but remained close after Team USA missed five free throws in the first period.
[34] The U.S. led by seven in the second quarter when Faried scored three consecutive baskets and Davis hit a jumper to build a comfortable 44–29 lead.
[34] Ukraine slowed the pace of the game for most of the first half before Team USA overcame another poor start for a 95–71 win.
[23] They remained ahead 27–25 midway through the second until Curry made a pair of three-point field goals during a 19–5 spurt in the last 4:43 that gave the U.S. a 44–32 lead at the half.
Irving left the game with 1:12 remaining after slipping and falling hard on his tailbone; he walked off holding his lower back.
[36] The U.S. advanced to the knockout stage in which the top four teams from the respective preliminary round groups qualified in the single-elimination tournament.
[41][42] Late in the half, Cousins was elbowed in the throat by Lithuanian center Jonas Valančiūnas while boxing out for a rebound.
He scored the first field goal of the second half, and finished a 10–0 U.S. run with a three pointer that put the team ahead 53–35 in under two minutes.
The Americans also became the third team, along with Brazil and Yugoslavia, to successfully defend the world title, and tied the Yugoslavs with having the most championships, with five.
