OT: USA vs France Mens BB SPOILER

[AmeriConn]

USA loses 83-76. Total embarrassment. Your thoughts?

 

[Kaizen]

SAITAMA, Japan -- Team USA's invincibility in men's basketball is long gone, and the journey to a fourth consecutive gold medal is already fraught with adversity.

France gut-punched the Americans with a brilliant finish for a 83-76 victory to open the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. It snapped a 25-game Olympic winning streak dating back to 2004 for Team USA.

The final blow came when Evan Fournier drilled a 3-pointer with a minute to play to give the French the lead for good, completing its comeback after the U.S. had a six-point lead with four minutes to play. It was the biggest of his 28 points in one of the finest games he has played in his career.

Fournier's big game helps France stun Team USA

The United States men's basketball team faltered down the stretch Sunday in an 83-76 loss to France at the Olympics, its first loss at a Games since 2004.

www.espn.com

 

[Ct Dog]

Total embarrassment. Your thoughts?

Great game by the French, team play and a great job coaching.

 

[Kaizen]

Yes team play is the key.

Look Brooklyn Net they have 3 super stars, Kevin Durant (40M salary), James Harden (41M) and Kyrie Irvine (31.7M) but still cannot even enter the NBA conference final.

 

[triaddukefan]

Yes team play is the key.

Look Brooklyn Net they have 3 super stars, Kevin Durant (40M salary), James Harden (41M) and Kyrie Irvine (31.7M) but still cannot even enter the NBA playoff.

What are you talking about? The Nets made the 2nd round of the Playoffs.... and if Kevin Durant wears a size 16 shoe... they would have knocked off the Bucks to advance to the conference final. They definitely would have been favored to beat the Hawks to advance to the NBA Finals. Not sure you realize that Hardin and Irving were both injured in that series with the Bucks.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

USA loses 83-76. Total embarrassment. Your thoughts?

Not an embarrassment at all. This is far from the best team they could have sent.

 

[triaddukefan]

Tell me which 2 teams are in the NBA conference final?

I don't care Kevin Durant wears a size 16 or size 26 shoes. Injury is not an excuse. Which team does not have injury players? To win the title is the fact.

Ok, whatever you say.

 

[Scoe]

Not an embarrassment at all. This is far from the best team they could have sent.

Nope it’s an embarrassment, KD and Lillard play well the US wins, Jrue Holliday showed up less then a week after winning a championship and has no where near the talent of the other star players.

 

[eebmg]

We knew coming in the rest of the world has caught up with a US All Star team without any real preparation and little recovery from a tough season. But I am surprised at such a low score. I would have thought Durant and Lillard would have 76 by themselves.

 

[AmeriConn]

Not an embarrassment at all. This is far from the best team they could have sent.

Every player on the team is in the NBA. These are elite professionals even though they’re not all super stars.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Every player on the team is in the NBA. These are elite professionals even though they’re not all super stars.

And? France has professionals as do other countries. Some...are also in the NBA.

 

[Scoe]

And? France has professionals as do other countries. Some...are also in the NBA.

Right some not all.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Nope it’s an embarrassment, KD and Lillard play well the US wins, Jrue Holliday showed up less then a week after winning a championship and has no where near the talent of the other star players.

Who plays well every game? I think there's a certain arrogance that the average NBA player is many miles apart from these European/Asian/etc. professionals. Many of the current NBA elite...aren't Americans. The US should win, but that's no longer a guarantee. More exciting if you ask me. I expect many surprises to take the medal stand with all this covid stuff...in more than basketball. This doesn't even have the feel of the Olympics.

 

[Wbbfan1]

USA Men will not Medal in this years Olympics. They may not make the Medal Round.

 

[fireford]

It appears a lot of the USA athletes are there more to promote their own brand as opposed to representing their country out of national pride. They also seem to think they can just show up and win. Not a good formula for success.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

It appears a lot of the USA athletes are there more to promote their own brand as opposed to representing their country out of national pride. They also seen.to think they can just show up and win. Not a good formula for success.

That's why NIL scares me...even though it was the right thing to do. No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[AmeriConn]

And? France has professionals as do other countries. Some...are also in the

Not an embarrassment at all. This is far from the best team they could have sent.

 

[Adesmar123]

USA loses 83-76. Total embarrassment. Your thoughts?

When a team gets outplayed and out hustled like that, you have to ask if the coach had them prepared. I guess the obvious answer in this case is a no.

 

[eebmg]

When a team gets outplayed and out hustled like that, you have to ask if the coach had them prepared. I guess the obvious answer in this case is a no.

Apparently Popovich does not feel the need to hold his players accountable while trying to cover his posterior. Fine to say the other teams are good but when will he say our guys are underperforming

 

[FairView]

I agree that it's not the best team the US could have sent, but it's still pretty darn good. Why some better players chose not to go, I don't know. But it's the team we've got representing us in Japan.
And I read there were some other issues, like a couple of late arrivals.
It sucks that they lost – I'd prefer them to be bad for International Basketball.
That said, we will now see what kind of people/players/teammates/coaches are there.
Will this game inspire and light a fire or will we see more of the same of simply being outplayed at times.
I've got to hope it's the first. I'm rooting for them to pull their shorts up a little higher and kick ass.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Right some not all.

I believe all their starters played in the NBA or currently play. My point is...they aren't scrubs. I won't second guess POP, but that starting lineup has me baffled. I don't coach, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night. lol

 

[baggerbob]

I believe all their starters played in the NBA or currently play. My point is...they aren't scrubs. I won't second guess POP, but that starting lineup has me baffled. I don't coach, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night. lol

Really believe going from College coaches to having a NBA coach was a mistake. College coaches have no allegiance except to win. An NBA coach doesn't have quite the same reasoning.

 

[Kaizen]

Am watching the NBC replay now.
At half, US lead 45 - 37 by 8 pts. How can we end by losing 7 pts? Wow ...

 

[EdSaid]

This is what happens when you beat down on someone for years. USA was 6-0 over France in Olympic play. France, and most countries, have a great deal of pride for the uniform they are wearing. Other countries are catching up. Are the US players playing for the right reasons?

We could see the same thing happen on the women's side Australia, Boom. Hopefully, "we have Diana Taurasi and you don't" will come into play.

 

[triaddukefan]

U.S. women's gymnastics team in 2nd place for first time in more than a decade after qualifying



Perhaps I overlooked the thread about the US Gymnastic team's disappointing effort. Total embarrassment.