Paul George poses for a Team USA photo in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo : Getty Images / Nathaniel S. Butler)
One of the easiest gold medal wins to predict was Men's Basketball. Team USA has not lost a game in over a decade.
The week saw two close calls-described as being "too close for comfort." One gallant stand by a tough as nails Australia team could be dismissed as a fluke or a glitch, but when the next game against Serbia was one missed open-three point shot away from overtime, perhaps there is real cause for alarm.
According to the Washington Post: "The rest of the world isn't awestruck, not by this team. Despite still possessing superior talent, Team USA looks flawed and vulnerable and plays the way you'd expect a squad formed just last month to play. And the competition is organized, rigid and full of offensive ingenuity."
Paul George admitted that the team needs to step up. "As good as we are offensively, defensively is where we've got to really man up. What's killing us right now is pick-and-roll play and guys slipping out of it. It's a different game. Euros guys are phenomenal with movement and cuts and playing as a group. That's one thing they do well in our league. It's a different game for us."
While Team USA has been preparing for the traditional powerhouses like Spain and France, teams like Australia and Serbia have stepped up to challenge them. Even FIBA Americas champion Venezuela who had no active NBA players took them to a 18-18 standoff in the first quarter before the Americans pulled away.
While Team USA has made efforts to organize their team with tryouts and practices, not just tag 12 random NBA players to represent the country, this tournament shows that maybe even more preparations should be made.
But for now, the Olympic tournament has more than enough challenges ahead to make them sweat. This is no longer the 1992 Dream Team who was challenged only in the Finals-and only for one half. Opposing players don't take pictures with this Team USA-they run them to the ground.
Which team has the best chance to beat Team USA? Australia really got their number and is projected to survive the quarterfinals and semifinals, booking another shot at Team USA. If Carmelo did not have a game for the ages, the Boomers would've taken them down. Of course, Coach K and his vaunted staff will make adjustments if the Aussies meet the Yankees again.
Serbia has not been consistent enough in the tournament and may face a rougher path in the quarters, possibly facing Spain. France, team USA's next opponent and favorites for the silver pre-tournament, have not looked impressive as well.
Fox Sports also listed Australia as the team most likely to upset Team USA followed by Spain. But the US has prepared too much against Spain and the absence of Marc Gasol maybe too much for them to overcome.
What is certain is that Team USA's practice session would no longer consist of hanging out and taking Snapchats or karaoke sessions. Coach K has always been serious and with these two close calls, the legendary Blue Devils coach will whip them into shape. Defensive coach Tom Thibodeau may also have to grind these All-Stars to play his tough D.
