PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS: TEAM USA MEN'S BASKETBALL EYES TOP SEED, PREPARES FOR FINAL GROUP GAME VS. PUERTO RICO

Coach Steve Kerr emphasizes the importance of getting top seed, shows his team all the scenarios and point differential numbers to prove his point.

Team USA's final Group C game against Puerto Rico in men's basketball carries great significance despite the Americans clinching the group and a berth in the Tuesday, 6 August quarterfinals at Paris 2024.

Coach Steve Kerr met with his team Friday and stressed the importance of earning the top seed in the tournament, which would mean facing the weakest of the third-place teams when play resumes off at Bercy Arena.

“We talked to them this morning,” Kerr said Friday, 2 August. “We showed the standings. We showed them the point differential. We want that. It gives you the best matchup in the quarterfinals. If we drop down to two or three, which I think is unlikely but we’ve got to take care of our business. We possibly have a much tougher opponent.”

Team USA may have to play Saturday 3 August without key defensive ace Jrue Holiday, who Kerr listed as questionable with a sprained ankle. Holiday, coming off winning an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, has been an indispensable piece for Kerr during the exhibition games and two Group C matchups. The coach said his rotations are yet to be determined if Holiday is unable to go.