After Sunday’s game, Nicolas Batum was eager to point out that part of the U.S.’s problems is the improvement that’s taken place with other national teams – even though the US won by more than 30 points per game as recently as the 2014 World Cup.
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And the trend continued as the U.S. closed out pool play on Monday against a France side that elected to rest star guard Tony Parker to allow a toe injury to heal ahead of the knockout rounds.
Even if you discount the first two lopsided contests against China and Venezuela, Team USA’s 122 points per 100 possessions bests all other countries’ performances versus fellow quarterfinalists. Against Australia and Serbia, the offense was an issue.
Both the United States of America and France are through to the quarterfinals beginning Wednesday. France cuts the lead down to single digits, 55-46, to end the first half, thanks to free throws from center Kim Tillie and a layup from Nando De Colo.
It’s likely this three-game stretch will be looked back at as the nadir of the 2016 Olympics for Team USA.
It’s much easier to switch, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing for players such as Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, who are used to guarding multiple positions.
Parker’s replacement Thomas Heurtel helped keep France in it, scoring nine of his 18 points down the stretch, but Les Bleus ran out of time as the Americans came up with big plays late. Klay Thompson scored six of those points for his fourth and fifth three pointers of the period.
There is much more player movement in these Olympic Games. US will play the fourth-place finisher from Group B on August 17.
Kevin Durant, the newest star on the Golden State Warriors, felt the same way. “Maybe us”, he said.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the Serbia game that the newly assembled squad of National Basketball Association players was still learning how to handle global teams that use constant ball movement to work deep into a possession for good shots. He could have said it on Sunday, too, when the USA again almost coughed up a lead, giving a France a chance at a late comeback before sealing a 100-97 win. “I like coming in as the X-factor, and kind of getting a feel for the game and letting the flow”.
It was the second straight game a much less talented squad played right with the USA and seemed completely confident in their ability to win the game.
Whatever the problem, Team USA has just days to figure it out. This, after entering the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead. There’s no question that Team USA has made these last three games more hard on themselves than they’ve had to be, but, having said that, can you really complain about close, competitive basketball when you’re given the chance to watch it?
Venezuela missed 15 shot attempts in the first 9:34 minutes when they scored only two points until Gregory Vargas made two consecutive field goals for a 16-6 trailing. Another Carmelo Anthony three-pointer pushed the lead to 10 as the United States tried to pull away.
After the group stages, Team USA came out undefeated but will have the toughest road to the gold medal after the quarterfinals knockout pairings were set on Monday. “We can’t say we didn’t play defense, just they are unbelievable on offense”.
It speaks to our expectations of post-2004 USA Basketball that a 5-0 preliminary round feels like a mild disappointment.
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As the No. 1 seed, Team USA will play the No. 4 seed in Group B.
