USA Basketball vs. Mexico: Game Grades, Analysis for FIBA World Cup 2014 Matchup
The United States defeated Mexico 86-63 during the first round of elimination play in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Stephen Curry netted a team-high 20 points, sparking the game-sealing run with a personal 11-0 run during the third quarter. NBA teammate Klay Thompson contributed 15 points and six rebounds and combined with his Splash Brother for a 50 percent clip from distance.
For Mexico, Gustavo Ayon led the round of 16 matchup with 25 points, adding seven rebounds and two steals to keep a severely outmatched squad competitive.
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A USA team that Grantland's Zach Lowe calls "probably the weakest" since the third-place-finishing 2006 World Championships squad struggled to bury its opponent once again. Mexico hung around with the States until the Curry-sparked run built the American advantage in the second half.
Mexico Grades
Gustavo Ayon: A-
Marco Ramos: B
Jorge Gutierrez: C+
Francisco Cruz: D+
Rest of Team: C-
United States Grades
Stephen Curry: A
Kenneth Faried: A-
Anthony Davis: C
Kyrie Irving: C-
Rest of Team: B+
Mexico
Gustavo Ayon: A-
The most recognizable player on the Mexican team, Ayon had a stellar game despite picking up two first-quarter fouls and being guarded by Anthony Davis. The current NBA free agent certainly showed his worth against a stout American frontcourt.
Ayon was physical near the rim, utilizing a few post moves to attack the rim and continuously forcing his way into rebounding position. He tallied 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting along with seven rebounds and two steals.
Marco Ramos: B
Tasked with the unenviable responsibility of keeping up with Kenneth Faried, Ramos was simply outworked by the Manimal's aggressiveness, which wasn't much of a surprise. A valiant effort by Ramos resulted in four points and seven rebounds.
Jorge Gutierrez: C+
Similar to Ramos, Jorge Gutierrez was placed in a bad individual situation. Mexico employed man-to-man defense early, and the former Cal star dealt with a slew of elite American guards.
Gutierrez still remained assertive, accounting for seven points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals against Curry, Thompson, Kyrie Irving and the others.
Francisco Cruz: D+
If someone besides Ayon was needed to keep Mexico in the game, Francisco Cruz sure tried to make it himself. The former Wyoming player forced a few shots, capping a 3-of-11 day with six points and four rebounds.
Rest of Team: C-
Ramon Martinez, Orlando Mendez-Valdez and Paul Stoll each added a three-pointer, but that was just about the extent of their contributions. The remaining players combined for 9-of-30 from the field, including a 25 percent mark beyond the arc.
Then again, it's not overly fair to expect much from players who face a second unit of perennial NBA all stars.
United States
Stephen Curry: A
After an ice-cold start to the tournament from deep, Curry has started to find the range. The NBA's highest-volume three-point shooter, he buried six of nine attempts Saturday afternoon—three of which started the 11-0 run to pull away.
Additionally, Curry threw some excellent passes while driving into the lane and also defended well, adding four assists and two steals to his final line.
Kenneth Faried: A-
As DeMarcus Cousins continues to struggle putting together a complete game for various reasons, it's becoming more apparent how important Faried will be when the States presumably meets post-heavy Spain in the championship.
Faried's energy—especially on the glass—is a crucial part of this team, and he snared eight boards along with eight points.
Anthony Davis: C
Davis had been a key player for Team USA, but Saturday wasn't his most efficient game to say the least. He finished with four points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals while Ayon consistently challenged him on both ends of the floor.
Kyrie Irving: C-
At times, it feels like Irving forgets four of the best players in the world are his running mates and goes full Andray Blatche on the opponent.
Irving is flashy, but the point guard can be so reckless offensively and can force his way into a terrible shot. He managed just four points on 2-of-5 from the field, committing two turnovers as well.
Rest of Team: B+
Klay Thompson played solid defense on the Mexican guards, helping limit the backcourt to 5-of-18 in the first half. James Harden had a very respectable two-way game, and Rudy Gay competed well in scattered minutes and netted 10 points.
Cousins turned the light on during the third quarter, finishing a six-minute stretch with nine points, three rebounds and one block. Following a resurgent 11-point, seven-rebound performance, he will be a crucial player as Team USA moves toward the championship.
Coming Up Next
The United States advances to the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday, Sept. 9, awaiting the winner of Dominican Republic vs. Slovenia.
Mexico has been eliminated from the tournament, ending with a 2-4 overall record.
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