Filed under: FIBA, USA Basketball, FIBA World ChampionshipISTANBUL -- Kevin Love had an off day Tuesday and decided off would go his scraggly beard.
Good timing. The Team USA big man went from being a non-factor two days earlier against Brazil to scoring a team-high 13 points and grabbing six rebounds in just 11 minutes Wednesday as the Americans beat Iran 88-51 at Abdi Ipekci Arena to raise their record to 4-0 and clinch Group B in the World Championship.
"Aerodynamics,'' Love quipped about the shave streamlining his play. "Somebody said that before. So I'll use that.''
Whatever the reason, one of the priorities for the Americans on Wednesday was to get the bench back involved. In the 70-68 escape over Brazil, two players didn't see action and three, including Love, were used for just five minutes apiece.
The Americans knew they weren't going to be challenged by Iran, and it will be the same story Thursday in the finale of group play against woeful Tunisia. So it's important for the reserves to regain their confidence heading into next Monday's knockout round, when Team USA will face the No. 4 seed in Group A, which will be the loser of Thursday's Angola-Australia game.
"We thought we would be able to play our roster (Wednesday) and (Thursday), and that it is important to get people involved,'' said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, who said that was one of the issues discussed in a team meeting earlier Wednesday.
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