France 83 - USA 76. Olympic Men's basketball

[underpants]

https://www.espn.com/mens-olympics-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401344325

France has put together its own formidable team including the NBA’s current Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. Other NBA stalwarts on the French squad include former Blazer Nicolas Batum as well as Evan Fournier of the Boston Celtics and Frank Ntilikina of the New York Knicks. The French did not fare well in exhibition play, dropping a game to Japan and another one to Spain.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/7/24/22592295/olympic-mens-basketball-team-usa-vs-france-game-preview-damian-lillard

[dhol82]

1. What's going on?

[underpants]

2. USA is short staffed due to injuries and COVID protocols.

And France has the NBA defensive player of the year

https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/7/24/22592295/olympic-mens-basketball-team-usa-vs-france-game-preview-damian-lillard

[dhol82]

8. Well, that's unfortunate.

[Renew Deal]

3. It was painful

The US could barely hit a shot. Jrue Holiday did his best to keep them in the game. I think some of this is the failings of "small" lineups that are dominating the NBA. The US barely presented an inside threat other than occasionally by Holiday and Adebayo. There's not much that can help this team if they can't hit their shots. But I'm hoping Middleton can bring some energy and leadership to this team. Durant always looks sad and it's not helping.

[Anon-C]

4. That's just the way it goes.

[Clash City Rocker]

5. I don't think the USA team is put together very well for Olympic basketball

Not enough passers, not enough shooters.

[DinahMoeHum]

6. Methinks you mean the USA Men's team.

The men's team seems very slipshod and not well put together. They are also not used to the international rules, hence what is a strength in the NBA can be a glaring weakness in international competition.

The USA women's teams/WNBA, OTOH, play closer to the international rules, and are dead serious about winning from the start.

[Clash City Rocker]

7. Thanks for clarifying. You are correct.

I think the WNBA is a little closer in style to Olympic basketball, although it’s changing over time.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. They Also Lack...

...guys that can slash and finish.
And they only have one truly excellent on-ball defender. Well, 2 now that Holiday is there.
There's also no "this is my team" guy this Olympics. There's no Michael, or Lebron, or Kobe, or KG. So, there's no tone setter.
I still think they'll win the gold because the loss in a game that actually matters will be a wake up call.
But, this isn't going to be a walk to the top of the medal stand.