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The defeats in the exhibition games against Nigeria and Australia in Las Vegas earlier this month set the tone for Tokyo’s “Dream Team” nightmare. This is exactly what happened.
The U.S. team lost irrelevantly. Now they have lost.
The defeats in the exhibition games against Nigeria and Australia in Las Vegas set the tone for Tokyo’s “Dream Team” nightmare. This is exactly what happened in the Saitama Super Arena later on Sunday, because what France did quickly became very easy: defeat the 12 best players that the United States could call.
If the basketball world needs to prove that the American team is no longer the reliable giant they once were, this is it.
Didn’t switch to flicking — or at least they couldn’t find one — because some of the NBA’s greatest stars disappeared when they needed it most.
Kevin Durant can’t save America. Neither Damian Lillard nor any other member of the men’s basketball team that won the last three Olympic Games gold medals.
In fact, the best player in the world couldn’t even score a goal in the last four minutes. He ran home because the French team shot below par on the night.
Jrue Holiday arrived less than 24 hours before the game, and may still be celebrating the second half of the NBA championship hangover in Milwaukee. problem? He is the best player on the American team.
Head coach Gregg Popovich once again said the same route.
“When you lose a game, you won’t be surprised,” said the mastermind behind the San Antonio Spurs dynasty.
“You are disappointed. I don’t understand the word’surprise’-so to speak, it is demeaning the French team, as if we should beat them by 30 points.”
No one suggested that the United States should win before the age of 30. You know, most people just expect them to win. As they have done at the Olympics 25 consecutive times since losing to Argentina in 2004.
Popovich added: “If you think the Americans should just roll the ball and win, I think it’s a bit arrogant.” “We have to work for this like everyone else.”
Then work. Or choose a team that knows how to play together. Or take responsibility when it does not fall off.
This is a similar argument that Popovich made when telling a reporter about the changes in the international game. Nigeria defeated the United States earlier this month, and then Nigeria defeated the United States by 83 points at the 2012 Olympics before Australia fell into trouble.
“You just mentioned blowing up these teams. That never happened. So, I don’t know where you got it from,” Popovich made a comment during a long exchange.
This is a coach deliberately denying reality, trying to do his best to pretend that he does not have a roster full of NBA All-Stars.
Has the US’s international opposition attitude improved? certainly.
In some way, is this an excuse that the US team still has the best team? Do not.
It is still too early, and you are stupid to say that the United States should be written off. But there is blood in the water, and competitors including Australia are circling.
“Their personal performance is better,” Evan Fournier, who defeated the U.S. team by 28 points, made it clear after the victory.
“But they can be defeated as a team.”
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