Team USA started their Olympic journey the worst way, losing against a dangerous rival that never gave up. France put up a big fight against Gregg Popovich’s squad, ultimately getting the shocking 83-76 win.
After winning their last preparation matches, the expectations for this team were high. Still, France gave them a reality check, just like Nigeria and Australia in prior weeks. This is terrible news for this team and a major blow in their quest for the gold medal.
Of course, this didn’t sit well with fans, who blasted the team on social media after letting the game slip. They dominated most of the match, but the European team stayed close until they took the lead on the scoreboard. Right now, Twitter is flooded with people calling out Team USA for such a poor performance.
“Best player on the planet” just went 0-6 in the 4th quarter and fouled out. pic.twitter.com/v6Eos1opfN
— † (@HoodiHachimura) July 25, 2021
The current NBA product has devalued team basketball. Awful, watered down “drive and kick to spot-up shooter” all game long has taken the beauty and craft away from the sport.
The rest of the world doesn’t play that terrible style, they respect the game.
— jimmi (@jlambmanprod) July 25, 2021
KD’s 2021 resume:
NBA playoffs = lost with a superteam
USA Basketball = lost with a superteam
— Bandemic Steven 🦅 (@StevenStuntin) July 25, 2021
USA’s Men’s Basketball just lost in the Olympics for the first time since 2004 and honestly they were beat by a better team. the days of just showing up and running pickup and having the other team ask for pictures after getting waxed by 40 is over.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) July 25, 2021
— 🔥 (@AbbasT22) July 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/homiesloveryan/status/1419297098537783298
really woke up this early in the morning to see team USA miss 3 wide open 3’s to take the lead and lose to baguette biyombo. i’m sick.
— Perc Bayless (@bblbayless) July 25, 2021
Jayson Tatum seeing Evan Fournier playing well pic.twitter.com/6Y2b7Mhavt
— 🌨️ (@NotLikeRuss) July 25, 2021
Team USA rn pic.twitter.com/38n0bKznb8
— Site (@YoSitee) July 25, 2021
We scored zero points in the last 3:41 of the game. Nice coaching Pop
— Rapidpenguinz (@Patrick___29) July 25, 2021
Team USA whenever it’s time to hit big shots pic.twitter.com/gzYC76RNkT
— BBK (@xBBKx) July 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/katszn_/status/1419297352104529921
I'm just going to say what everyone already knows to be true:
Coach K and LeBron would never have let this happen.
Pop and Kevin Durant though…
— Zach W. Lambert (@ZachWLambert) July 25, 2021
Orlando Magic legend Evan Fournier owns team USA pic.twitter.com/SBLncYQUAa
— E2 (@Thats_Dub) July 25, 2021
I woke up at 5am for this shit 😐
— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) July 25, 2021
they need to build chemistry. This is why Jrue Holiday is the best USA player to ever exist.
— emily☻ (@Taebucks34) July 25, 2021
Where tf is Steph and Bron when you need em pic.twitter.com/KJI3PSkn7O
— † (@HoodiHachimura) July 25, 2021
0 chemistry and leadership play they are nowhere near as talented as the 08-16 teams
— Kwame Brown (@KwameBurnerAcct) July 25, 2021
Team usa losing to Evan Fournier
— Zak (@dloisthegoat123) July 25, 2021
Team USA has dropped to the level of everyone else. Post play, height & size advantage is non existent in today's basketball. That's what gave USA the edge over everyone else. It's not practiced today because they prefer to jack threes.
— Wesley (@wesleyH982) July 25, 2021
I love how normal basketball rules and refs affect them
— Nora (@Fire_Darvin_Ham) July 25, 2021
Fournier today pic.twitter.com/uE5RZX8033
— v (@notvmedina13) July 25, 2021
USA getting exposed hard for their 3 point ball philosophy, Gobert clearly the best player on the court
— Hannah (@JuventinaHannah) July 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/wolfiezy/status/1419290678291537925https://twitter.com/ReadTheBioNgga/status/1419297734905970691
"Ya, I'll be there tomorrow." pic.twitter.com/fzEBvgYYeE
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) July 25, 2021
There are several things to improve for Gregg Popovich’s squad. They don’t have the best players in the NBA after LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and more skipped the tournament for different reasons. Only Kevin Durant is part of that squad that can defeat any team in the world.
France did a very good job reading USA’s offensive plays, limiting them to less than 80 points. Damian Lillard only looked to get 3-pointers, hurting the team’s chances to get the ball moving to create more chances.
This is USAB’s first Olympic loss since 2004 vs. Argentina, where they lost in semifinals against the South American side. Moreover, this is the second consecutive loss against France after losing in the 2019 FIBA World Cup quarter-finals, 89-79.
Team USA loss to France today is USAB’s first Olympic loss since 2004 vs. Argentina.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 25, 2021
Evan Fournier finished with 28 points, leading the way for France. They finished the game on a 16-2 run, snatching the win in the last minutes of the game. This is a wake-up call for this team; they have a lot to improve if they aspire to win the gold.
