Olympic Basketball OpenThread: Team USA looks to not beclown itself on an international stage

USA Basketball got off to a rough start in the Olympics, falling to France 83-76, snapping a 25-game Olympic winning streak and falling for the first time since Athens in 2004. Detroit Pistons Jerami Grant played zero minutes in Team USA’s loss. Coincidence? I think not.

In reality, Team USA’s roster construction has always been under a microscope. There are few players with size, zero specialists, and a lot of star players used to having the ball in their hands and making something happen, but playing with international rules and international refs that allow for a much more physical game.

Team USA is still the most talented team, and they are still the odds-on favorite to win Gold. But it’s no sure thing. International play is always getting stronger. There were half a dozen players at least on France with NBA experience.

Here is the schedule for Team USA. Use this thread to talk with others during U.S. games (if you have access to them live on the Peacock streaming App or on tape delay on one of NBC’s myriad channels. You can also comment on any game you come across (Luka Doncic, anyone?).