Kyrie Irving notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 of Team USA’s 32 assists, and while Carmelo Anthony started cold, he hit several key threes in the fourth quarter to finish with 10 points.
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“We’ve just got to worry about us and focus on playing U.S. basketball, playing the right way”, Jordan said.
After close calls the past two games against Australia and Serbia that dented their aura of invincibility, the Americans once again faced a stiff challenge.
The USA has not lost an Olympic game since Athens 2004, or internationally for a decade.
Clippers center DeAndre Jordan posted seven points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal in 18 minutes, leading all US bench players in playing time.
With the quarterfinals starting on Wednesday, here’s a look at why this might be happening. It was down just 85-81 in the fourth quarter, and even after the United States extended the lead to 93-83, France made it 100-94 with 31 seconds left. “This is very open, that tournament is pretty open”, Batum said. Four players scored in doubled figures, led by Brittney Griner’s 18 points and 13 rebounds, as the Americans will take their flawless record into the quarterfinals. “We can outscore teams. We just got to win as a team”.
Perhaps we should acknowledge that this is the best USA Basketball can do given the circumstances. Allowing 91 points and 97 points in games with 10-minute quarters is the equivalent of allowing 109 and 116 points in an National Basketball Association game, and it’s something that could cause the U.S.to leave Rio in disappointing fashion. It was the first loss to anyone other than the USSR, which broke up in 1991, and it remains the worst beating the US has ever suffered in Olympic play. The U.S. has squeaked by on the strength of a few transcendent offensive moments and a little luck, but has looked about as discombobulated as an undefeated team can.
The team that usually wins big is barely winning.
“They read each other so well”, Paul George said.
Facts can be valid excuses.
Argentina and Lithuania, both 3-1, are already through in Group B but will seek wins Monday to decide the group victor and avoid the USA’s knockout bracket.
While talented individually, this group practiced together for the first time less than a month ago, and they’re playing teams with considerable global experience with core players. In their game against Team Australia, Team USA only wins by 10 points.
Ultimately, the Americans likely have too many good scorers to be defeated. It will take a near-perfect game from their opponent.
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France broke down the United States the same way Serbia did. Maybe they’re so talented on offense that it’s sustainable through the medal round, but you’d have to think a group this good will realize they need to find another gear, and then find it. “He’s one of the best players in the world”. When you know that you made it possible for one of your teammates to get an easy basket, that’s basketball. “So if you don’t score with them, the game is over”. “We’re just not finding ways to put a full 40 minutes together”. Instead came the battering they took from the Serbian big men, followed by the way they let guards Thomas Heurtel and Nando de Colo slice them up in the pick-and-roll on Sunday. “It’s Game 7s from now on”.
