Team USA’s Olympic Warm-Up: A Reality Check for the Favorites?

The US men’s basketball team survived a scare against Australia in their Olympic warm-up contest, but the close call has raised concerns about their chances of bringing home the gold.

The USA led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter, but the Boomers fought back to narrow the deficit to 86-80 in the fourth. It was a nerve-wracking finish, but back-to-back three-pointers from Tyrese Haliburton sealed the win for the Americans.

I’ve often wondered what makes Team USA so vulnerable in these international competitions. On paper, they have the most talented player pool in the world, but somehow, they always seem to struggle against more cohesive units.

According to Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns guard, performances like this won’t win them the gold medal. And he’s right. With 18 turnovers, the USA’s lack of chemistry and hustle was on full display. It’s a problem that’s plagued them for years, but one that they’ve often been able to overcome with sheer talent alone.

The team’s lack of continuity was evident in their struggle against Australia.

Coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, saying, ‘We stopped playing mid-third quarter and started turning the ball over… The game shifted.’ It’s clear that the team needs to adapt quickly if they want to succeed in the Olympics.

Fortunately, they have the talent to make it happen. Anthony Davis scored a team-high 17 points to go with 14 rebounds in just 18 minutes, while also playing some crucial defense. Devin Booker added 16 points, and Anthony Edwards had 14.

The Australians, led by Jock Landale’s game-high 20 points, put up a good fight, but ultimately fell short.

Jock Landale led the Australians with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the USA.

As the Olympics approach, it’s clear that Team USA has some work to do. They need to find a way to gel as a unit and overcome their mistakes if they want to bring home the gold.

Will Team USA be able to overcome their struggles and win the gold medal?