USA vs. Brazil: Grades for Top American Performers in Narrow Exhibition Win

The US men's Olympic basketball team was lost early on Monday night in an exhibition matchup with Brazil in Washington, DC, but then it found LeBron James.

James led Team USA to an 80-69 win with 30 mighty points. 

Picking right up where he left off in the 2012 NBA Finals, James quickly realized he was the best player on the floor against a quality Brazil squad who fought the entire way.

So, who aced Monday's exhibition and who must show improvement? Here are the grades for the top American performers against Brazil. 

LeBron James 

On a night when Team USA struggled to find any sort of consistent rhythm, the NBA's reigning MVP delivered a brilliant effort, scoring 30 points on only 20 shots, while also racking up six rebounds and four steals. LeBron's 33 minutes on the floor Monday night were by far the most productive of any American player. 

James led the Americans in points, rebounds and steals on Monday night, proving that he is the best all-round player in the game today.

LeBron's dominance from beyond the arc (2-of-3), in the paint (four offensive rebounds), defensively (four steals) and even at the foul line (6-of-7) proved he was the top performer and hungriest player on the court for Team USA. 

Grade: A

Kevin Durant

I am on the record having stated the Americans will go as far as Kevin Durant takes them this summer at the 2012 London Olympics, but the 23-year-old's performance on Monday night certainly delivered a crippling blow to my argument. Far too many times Durant looked content to settle for a long-range jumper, or throwing something towards the backboard off the drive. 

Durant finished with 11 points and three rebounds on 5-of-13 shooting from the field in nearly 25 minutes of action.

There will be off nights, but there is never an excuse for Durant to go an entire game without getting to the free throw line. Monday night against Brazil, the three-time NBA scoring champion looked flatter than usual and his performance showed. 

Grade: C-

Chris Paul 

Although Chris Paul scored 10 points and tallied four steals on Monday night, his inability to get his teammates involved certainly held him and the Americans back. Paul recorded just three assists in nearly 23 minutes of play (fellow points guards Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook combined for just three).

The United States only recorded 11 assists as a team compared to Brazil's 21. Surprisingly, Brazilian point guard Marcelo Huertas, who dished out 13 assists, had more dimes than the entire Team USA.

Paul made an impact with his defense and intensity, evidenced during a scuffle with Anderson Varejao after he was fouled by the Brazilian big man. Paul's leadership will only take Team USA so far however. As the top point guard moving forward, Paul must set the tone by getting others involved early and often. 

Grade: B

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