Harden, Davis take the lead for USA

NEW YORK (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - James Harden and Anthony Davis shone as USA Basketball rookies at the 2012 London Olympics.

Both came up with some eye-opening plays to help the United States go unbeaten and defend the title the country had won in Beijing four years earlier.

Neither played big minutes, though.

A couple of years later and it's a very different story.

The players now find themselves with far more important roles in the American squad which is 10 days away from competing at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Due to the absences of several others from this summer's team, including veterans Kevin Love and Kevin Durant, both are expected to be leaders.

"(It's) Totally different," Harden said, "a totally different role for me.

"Me and Anthony Davis, we really didn't play in 2012 in London.

"We learned a lot from those guys.

"Now, we are going to be playing heavy minutes. We are just going to take what we learned in London and bring it here… just trying to be a leader, make sure I'm talking every day and making sure my mindset is right going into every single practice and game."

Harden is a 1.96m shooting guard who celebrates his 25th birthday just four days before the Americans' first game in Bilbao, in Group C, against Finland, while Davis, 21, is a 2.08m center.

The former averaged nine minutes per game in London and played just a single minute in the USA's tight Gold Medal Game against Spain.

Davis averaged less than eight minutes at the Olympics and played one minute against Spain.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski has only positive things to say about both.

"James has been as good a leader as we've had for this team," said Krzyzewski.

"He has a great personality. He is an upbeat guy, smart, and he's obviously very, very talented.

"With this group, especially after Kevin left, he has asserted himself even more as an older guy."

As for Anthony's importance, particularly in relation to the injury that knocked Paul George off the team and Durant's absence, Krzyzewski said: "Anthony is one of the best players in the NBA.

"But with those two guys (gone), I think scoring-wise, he'll get more opportunities, because if you have Durant, you are going to put things in for him. So, when he is not there, then those things aren't in, so for everybody it becomes a little bit more available."

Davis' importance was there for all to see in the recent friendly against Brazil in Chicago, a game the USA won, 97-78.

He had 20 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.

"Anthony played a great a game against Brazil; not a good game," Krzyzewski said.

"He had an influence on every exchange, offensively or defensively, while he was in there."

Davis played 26 minutes and Harden 29 against Brazil.

"Obviously we need everyone to step up," Davis said.

"I think guys did that so far. It's not just one guy… it's all collectively trying to have the same goal."

On Wednesday night in New York, the USA take on their second opponent in the build-up to the World Cup.

The Americans host the Dominican Republic in Madison Square.

FIBA