Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Is it time for undefeated Team USA basketball to panic?
Good morning. We have that and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
THIS IS GETTING UNCOMFORTABLE: The Team USA men’s basketball had a pair of close calls over the weekend. On Friday, the Americans snuck out a 94-91 win over Serbia as Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a tying three at the buzzer. On Sunday, Team USA needed every bit of Klay Thompson’s 30 to beat France 100-97. Oh, and Tony Parker didn’t even play. So here we are: the United States swept its group 5-0 but looks to be in serious danger of actually losing a game in the knockouts. Paul George thinks it’s a pace issue. To me it looks primarily like a “no one wants to play defense in the summer” problem. Here’s Marc Stein on how survival has become the name of the game.
MEANWHILE, THE WOMEN ... The Team USA women’s team is having no problems whatsoever. On Sunday, they beat China by 43 as Maya Moore led the way. Per usual, Geno Auriemma has no patience for arguments a dominant team he coaches is hurting the game.
TEODO-SICK: I could watch Milos Teodosic highlights all day.
BARNBURNER: Saturday’s Argentina-Brazil match was one of the best international basketball games in memory, especially factoring in the location and stakes. Here’s Michael Lee on how the game edged up to the line of bedlam in the standings and on the court.
THE STAKES: Monday is the final day of group play. Spain, a medal favorite, is on the bubble. They need a win over Argentina or a Brazil loss to Nigeria to advance. If Spain loses and Brazil beats Nigeria, Brazil is in and Spain is out. Croatia can get knocked out only if Spain wins and Nigeria beats Brazil. Nigeria needs a win, a Spain win and a Croatia loss. Anyways, the knockouts begin on Wednesday, and Team USA is going to get one of those four teams followed by France, Lithuania or Argentina in the semifinals on Friday.
THE OTHER OSCAR: How good would Oscar Schmidt have been in the NBA?
MONTY AND INGRID: Powerful piece on Team USA assistant coach Monty Williams and his late wife Ingrid, who always said he’d be an Olympian. More from Brian Mahoney.
SAME: Carmelo Anthony would be happy with three gold medals and no NBA championship. Dan Devine defends Melo’s personal feelings about success, which really shouldn’t require a defense but alas.
COMING TO THE HALLMARK CHANNEL THIS FALL: That dude who dressed up in full mid-90s Jordan Bulls gear for a pick-up game and became a meme? He got a crate of Jordan gear.
WHAT ABOUT THIS AUTUMN? Four reasons the Kings shouldn’t trade Rudy Gay this summer.
Happy Monday. See you next time.
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