Kenneth Faried and Klay Thompson Emerging as Team USA's Unexpected Weapons

All 12 members of Team USA's roster scored in Tuesday's quarterfinals 119-76 victory over Slovenia, but two of those Americans looked particularly ready to bring home a gold medal.

Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson scored a game-high 20 points off the bench while Denver Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried continued his standout play with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Thanks in large part to the duo's efforts, the United States now advances to a semifinals meeting with Lithuania that's scheduled for Thursday.

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski will continue to employ an ensemble approach in which everyone gets his touches, but the emergence of some leaders doesn't hurt—even if not especially leaders who weren't expected to play prominent roles.

Faried's unyielding motor has made him the unintentional centerpiece of the United States' attack. He's averaging 13 points and 8.1 rebounds through seven games, including four offensive rebounds per game. 

The numbers tell at least part of the story. That presence on the offensive glass has sustained the United States an edge when perimeter shots aren't falling and eased some of the burden on premier shooters like Stephen Curry and James Harden.

But the hustle hasn't stopped there. Faried's willingness to run the floor has repeatedly made him the benefactor in fast-break situations, and his above-the-rim prowess consistently translates into alley-oop opportunities that leave defenders helplessly looking on.

The three-year veteran proved once again on Tuesday to be the perfect complement for the United States' up-tempo assault.

The seemingly endless point-blank looks at the basket have resulted in Faried converting on 71.7 percent of his field-goal attempts.

As ESPN Insider's Tom Haberstroh recently put it (subscription required), "Faried has become the darling of the 2014 FIBA World Cup. After bursting out of exhibition play as the starting power forward for top-ranked Team USA, the 25-year-old has made the most of his golden opportunity."

There's no X's and O's explanation for Faried's unanticipated success. If you're looking for answers, start with his passion for the game.

"I just love to play basketball," Faried told reporters earlier in tournament play. "Every time I step on the basketball court, you never know it could be your last game, so I like to play my hardest in every game. When you love the game like that it tends to reward you back."

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It's rewarding Team USA, as well. The United States secured 24 offensive rebounds against Slovenia, of which Faried accounted for four. Those second chances were pivotal in a first quarter that didn't exactly go according to plan.

"Team USA missed 10 of its first 11 shots and trailed 10-8 early on, with James Harden (0-5), Stephen Curry (0-4), Kenneth Faried (2-6) the worst offenders in the first quarter that they led 29-22," writes USA Today's Sam Amick. "If not for the monumental size advantage that allowed the Americans to clean up on the glass (16 offensive rebounds to Slovenia's five in the first half that they led 49-42), they could have been in real trouble."

Meanwhile, Thompson has inflicted a different kind of damage—though his seven first-quarter points were also instrumental to the United States' early lead.

After dropping 15 points on Mexico in the round of 16, the 24-year-old was 7-of-12 from the field against Slovenia, converting on 4-of-8 three-point attempts in the process. The strong perimeter showing compensated for an off game from fellow Warrior Stephen Curry, who went just 2-of-9 on Tuesday.

For the tournament, Thompson is averaging 12.3 points per contest—fourth best on the squad.

He's even applying himself on the defensive end, cementing his emerging reputation as a diligent two-way contributor.

One play in particular epitomized that defensive effort.

Any doubts that the Washington State product belongs among the NBA elite representing their country have been erased in short order.

Indeed, this isn't his first go-around on the global stage.

"Thompson is no newcomer to international basketball, although this is his first appearance on the USA senior men's national team," notes ESPN Insider's Fran Fraschilla (subscription required). "In 2009, Thompson was a member of the United States' FIBA Under-19 World Championship team coached by Pittsburgh's Jamie Dixon."

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Neither Faried nor Thompson were expected to be the United States' principal stars.

With accomplished guards like Curry and Harden headlining the starting lineup, one might have expected a different narrative seven games into the tournament. 

Instead, as CBSSports.com's Evan Hilbert notes, "Steph Curry and James Harden, specifically, had a rough first half, missing their first 13 shots combined."

Curry and Harden haven't struggled that much on average, though Curry's 41.1-percent mark from the field leaves something to be desired. But nor have they taken the reins of a team that's missing usual superstar suspects like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony.

For his part, Anthony Davis has certainly lived up to the hype (leading the team with 13.7 points per game), and no one is especially surprised.

Faried and Thompson have been the nightly notables, and they'll be needed for the challenges that await—or anyway, the challenge that awaits.

Lithuania isn't likely to threaten the United States' march toward the finals, but Spain—should it reach those same finals—will give Team USA everything it can handle. Its stockpile of NBA talent, top-shelf big men and exceptional chemistry shouldn't be taken lightly.

As it turns out, however, neither should the U.S.'s unexpected heroes.