The biggest criticism now revolves around the focus and defensive mind-set of Team USA. The failure to close out games has been an increasingly concerning weakness for Team USA in the final few games of group play. Yes, the Americans can get beat. I don’t care if I shoot 10 percent if we win the gold medal. “You can’t let up against an explosive team like France”.
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Kevin Durant battles Frances’ Mickael Gelabale for the ball. Maybe it has one more run left?
Thompson was the biggest benefactor of a decidedly more pass-happy American offense. He had come into the game with just 11 points on 4-for-26 shooting in the first four games.
Prior to the game, U.S. had cancelled Monday’s practice, but after another disjointed performance it’ll be interesting to see if practice is back on. Each of the United States’ last three opponents are unique, but the one constant was the Americans’ abysmal defense.
Even with all of the talent on Team USA, opposing teams have been keeping the games close as they try to pull off the improbable upset.
Does the ghost of the 1972 defeat hang around this Rio team?
“We’re not intimidated”, Ingles said following the teams’ matchup in the preliminary round.
In Seoul, the Soviets beat the Americans for the second time, this time in the semifinals. Unlike the 1972 game, there were no referee or clock miscues – the United States was simply beaten with no controversy.
USA Basketball can take some comfort in seeing Thompson get on track, along with the rest of a previously stagnant offense.
France played like a team that wasn’t scared. The youth showed as the United States of America didn’t go after loose balls and was rattled by the cagey Soviet Union. Cousins is having trouble with staying in the games though, averaging 3.8 fouls a contest, and International Basketball only allows 5 per game.
How does this loss in 1988 compare to our guys this year?
“This isn’t a tournament that we’re going to just dominate”, Team USA swingman Paul George said.
When it happened, this was an absolute mind-blower. They will play tomorrow at 3:45 p.m.
Draymond Green: 0 points (0-of-1), one assist.
OK and fine aren’t the US standard.
When looking at the 2004 Summer Games in hindsight, this isn’t such a shocker. “So if you don’t score with them, the game is over”. Pool play is now complete; lose and you go home. But despite their struggles, the team remains undefeated in the Olympics and will advance to the knockout stage of the tournament as the top-seeded team.
He uttered that sentiment after the U.S.’s first real test of the Olympics, back on Wednesday of this week.
“That’s how it was in “92 with the ‘Dream Team” but now we step on the court and want to compete”. The program shifted course, wanting players to commit to multiple years and trying to bring back the best National Basketball Association players to the Olympics. Yet he’s continued to start, showing Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s faith in him. But we’ve seen precious little progress from the Americans over these past three games, starting with the Australia scare.
But still, it’s not like we sent a bunch of scrubs down to Rio. “Their athleticism, talent, and any given night they can get hot”. In 1988, the global teams were as good or better than a team made of college players. Despite solid play, Serbia is now just in fourth place in Group A and tied in points with Venezuela. He said the time spent together helped the Aussies better appreciate what it means to play for their homeland. “If we get the gold medal, that?s all that really matters”, said Klay, who finished 9-for-16 from the field.
That makes two consecutive three-point victories against France and Serbia, whose gritty style forced the U.S.to “grind it out”, as Durant put it, as the team of superstars tries to learn a different brand of basketball on the fly. They finished things off by posing a real threat to Team USA without Tony Parker.
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They have not lost a game in the Olympics since Athens, or internationally for a decade. “They are struggling but they are winning”. The Americans continue their journey with breathtaking victories against Serbia and France, where they only win by three points.
