It is not common to hear that United States basketball team lost. However, in the previous Olympic Games the Dream Team not only fell 90-87 against Nigeria, where he cut a 29-year streak unbeaten in friendly matches, but this Monday he suffered a new setback against Australia and finally it was defeat by 91-83.
Thus, before this irregular start in the preparation matches heading to Tokyo, those led by Gregg popovich They will face tonight, at 19, to Argentina, who did not win in the two friendlies he has played so far.
Patty Mills and Kevin Durant, two figures of the meeting (AFP Photo)
Las Vegas was the city chosen by several teams, including the National, to train in the final stretch for the Games. It has first-class facilities and infrastructure, which also make competition between different countries possible., without disarming its bubble and taking all the necessary precautions to lower the chances of contagion of Covid-19 before traveling to Japan.
But even with locality, the United States fell twice, which is surprising for the few days he has to revert his image for the Games, in which he will go out to defend the gold for the fourth time in a row (he has just been consecrated in Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016). In the first place, the adverse result was with the Nigerians by three points, and he could not raise his head with the Australians, who stretched the final lead to eight points.
“Our rivals have experience and we are still working to become a team. We are not going to jump onto the pitch and just beat these teams, who now come out with five starting players in the NBA.“, reflected post game the base Damian Lillard, top scorer of his team on the night with 22 points. Of course, because the oceanic have figures like Patty mills (Spurs point guard, who hit 22 points), Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz forward, who scored 17) and Matisse Thybulle (Philadelphia 76ers guard, who was left with 12).
Lillard, top US scorer of the night with 22 points (AFP photo)
While those of Gregg popovich they wait for the incorporation of Devin Booker, Khris Middleton Y Jrue Holiday, engaged in the finals of the NBA, the experienced coach of San Antonio will have to find harmony again in a team that did not do a good job in the China World Cup 2019, after being eliminated by France in the quarterfinals.
He still has three friendlies to regain confidence before the Games: Argentina (this Tuesday at 19), Australia (Friday 16) and Spain (Sunday 18). The Dream team will share the Group A at the Games with France, the Czech Republic and Iran.
The path of Argentina
Those led by Sergio Hernandez they also need the victory against the United States as they come from lose 84-87 to the Boomers (on the last play of the game) and 71-94 against Nigeria. After the last meeting, Oveja acknowledged in a press conference: “We couldn’t. They had a lot of merit, they just didn’t let us play.” Tonight they will go for the feat at the Michelob Ultra Arena, on a date with a special reminder: 35 years since that Argentine victory against the Americans in the World Cup 86 … A sign?
Argentina is in the Group C Tokyo 2020, where it will be measured with Slovenia (Monday, July 26, from 1.40 am), Spain (Thursday 29/7 at 9am) and Japan (Sunday 1/8, from 1.40 on).