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Post by Admin on Jul 11, 2021 4:42:12 GMT
USA Basketball's road to Tokyo has started with a flat tire. More specifically, it started with one of the biggest upsets in recent international basketball history. The American men's team — headlined by NBA stars such as Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal — fell 90-87 to Nigeria in its first of five exhibition games before the Olympics in Tokyo. It goes without saying that USA was the overwhelming favorite entering the game. It is only the team's third exhibition loss since the Dream Team in 1992. Nigeria rode a torrent of 3-pointers to victory, making 20 attempts from deep to shock the overwhelming gold medal favorites. While the American team featured NBA All-Stars throughout its rotation, Nigeria had the likes of Precious Achiuwa and Gabe Vincent of the Miami Heat and Chimezie Metu of the Sacramento Kings, all headlined by former Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown. The Nigerians, ranked 22nd in the FIBA world basketball rankings, weren't without talent though, as Durant found when he drove on Achiuwa. That's a marked difference from when the Americans met Nigeria nine years ago, a 156-73 USA win. Should Team USA be worried? There's obviously little excuse for Team USA to lose the game, even if NBA superstars such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry opted against playing for the team in Tokyo. Any international team with Durant, Lillard, Beal, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Draymond Green and Zach LaVine is going to be expected to run roughshod over its opponent.
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Post by Admin on Jul 13, 2021 6:33:18 GMT
Team USA might indeed win its fourth consecutive Olympic gold next month in Tokyo.
But if the Americans do, it will be a story of overcoming adversity.
They lost their second consecutive exhibition Monday, this time bested by Australia 91-83 in Las Vegas. Dating to the 2019 World Cup, where they finished seventh, Team USA has lost four of its past five games. It also has lost two in a row now to Australia, a team expected to contend for the gold in Japan.
It was a better showing than the loss to Nigeria on Saturday, but just reading those words is a little mind-boggling considering the pedigree of this roster and coaching staff. Their chemistry and execution, particularly in late-game situations, is holding the Americans back in their early stages of defending their title.
"I thought we got better tonight," said Team USA coach Gregg Popovich, continuing his stance of emphasizing process over results. "After a short time together, there's a lot of things that have to be covered."
Damian Lillard, who had 22 points, and Kevin Durant, who had 17 points, definitely looked more like All-Stars in this game than in the Nigeria loss. They combined to shoot 10-of-20 on 3-pointers, the type of shooting this roster has been designed to deliver.
The Americans had an 11-point first-half lead and played effective physical defense at times, holding Australia to just 13 points in the second quarter. After giving up 20 3-pointers in the exhibition opener, there was a clear effort to challenge them better and Australia had just 10.
Those are the signs Popovich was talking about. But moral victories in losses are a new sensation for Team USA. The loss to Nigeria was deemed one of the great international basketball upsets on record. When this one was over, the Australians gave each other routine congratulations and moved on.
"We walked into this game expecting to win," said Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz, who had 17 points for Australia. "No disrespect to them, they're a hell of a team, obviously the guys they've got on their roster and Pop standing up there is always nice to see, but we came in here expecting to win the game and that's what we did."
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Post by Admin on Jul 14, 2021 20:10:11 GMT
“Every time we’ve created an Olympic uniform, we know (the world is) looking to see, ‘What is America about?’” Lauren told USA TODAY Sports. The jacket is similar to the uniform Kokumai wore every day to work — with an essential innovation for what could be the hottest Olympics on record. Ralph Lauren is debuting its RL COOLING jacket, which includes a device that allows wearers to self-regulate the temperature. The battery-powered device, located on the back of the neck, creates a cooling sensation that lasts, even in the most oppressive heat. For Lauren, the challenge was creating something that celebrated American style and craftsmanship – a classic and smart look – while making sure athletes feel comfortable. Ralph Lauren athlete Sakura Kokumai in the opening ceremony outfit. “I’m very excited to wear (the jacket),” Kokumai said. In addition to the navy blazer (made from US-grown wool), the uniform includes a T-shirt, a printed scarf, shoes and – it’s still a pandemic – mask. All materials have an element of sustainability and environmentalism. Ralph Lauren athlete and Olympic fencer Daryl Homer in the opening ceremony uniform. That is also part of the inspiration behind the cooling jacket, Lauren said, a product that “looks like it could change the way we think.” A study from the U.S. Department of Energy suggested that personal, portable thermal management could one day reduce the reliance on mass-energy cooling systems, such as HVAC. The company first began exploring the technology ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where the Ralph Lauren Heated Jacket debuted. “The way in which we dress,” Lauren said, “cannot only look great, but be great. “We all have to become more conscious, that we can push the boundaries, that we can bring about innovation to solve problems in new ways.”
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Post by Admin on Jul 15, 2021 4:43:43 GMT
Jordan Chiles is preparing to represent Team U.S.A. at the Tokyo Olympics. However, the Oregon-born gymnast's big moment comes at the same time as a member of her family faces a life-changing period in their life. The 20-year-old's mother Gina Chiles revealed Wednesday she will report to prison on the day that the women's team is expected to compete in the final if they make it through qualifying. Gina recently opened up about watching her daughter achieve greatness during a trying time for their family, as she appeared on Today with the other moms of the gymnastics women's team. "Every moment that I watch Jordan is the most amazing moment as a mom," Gina told Hoda Kotb, as she fought back tears. "And so I just am looking at it as not bittersweet, but just sweet, period, that she's here." According to court documents obtained by CBS 42, Gina previously admitted to stealing from clients and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on personal expenses through her commercial properties management business, Inspire Vision Property Management LLC. Gina, who pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, the outlet reports.
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Post by Admin on Jul 15, 2021 23:18:26 GMT
Team USA is fighting a challenging scenario with COVID-19 as it tries to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics
The Americans lost a player Thursday and put another in the health and safety protocol, and sources told ESPN that they are in discussions about canceling the men's basketball game Friday against Australia.
Bradley Beal, who was placed in the protocol Wednesday, was ruled out of the Olympics on Thursday. Jerami Grant was also placed into the protocol out of caution, though coach Gregg Popovich expressed optimism that the forward would be able to remain with the team.
Friday's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. The Australian team is under even stricter protocols than the Americans, which could play a factor, sources said. Team USA's final exhibition game is scheduled for Sunday against Spain, with a charter to Japan set for Monday.
"Our goal overall is we're trying to get everybody safely to Tokyo," Popovich said, "and at the same time prepare a basketball team to be successful. We're trying to be vigilant about what we do, where we go."
Beal said earlier this week that playing for the Olympic team had been a dream since he was a child. Teammate Bam Adebayo said Thursday that Beal was not experiencing any symptoms. Players are being tested daily.
"I'm dying for [Beal]. We all are," Popovich said. "Since he was a little kid, this has been a dream of his, and he was playing great. ... For him and his immediate family, it's devastating. We just feel horrible about it."
There are limits to their movements, but players have been free to move around hotels and casinos. With family and friends not permitted in Tokyo, USA Basketball invited them to be in Las Vegas and put them into testing protocols.
"It's costing people opportunities of a lifetime. It sucks," forward Draymond Green said. "We all came in hoping we wouldn't be affected by it. It's just not the way it's gone."
USA Basketball officials were meeting Thursday and reaching out to potential replacements for Beal. It is possible that a player from the 57-man roster announced earlier this year could be selected.
Popovich said a consideration would be a player's conditioning level. With numerous players in their offseason, some have been on vacation or just resting and not playing. The team hoped to have a replacement lined up by the end of Thursday, sources said.
"We have to make sure somebody is in shape because we don't have time once we get there with just a couple of practices," Popovich said. "It's going to take a certain individual that we think can pick it all up quickly."
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