Tokyo Olympics

SCHEDULE: Team USA Basketball at the Tokyo Olympics

JR Isaga

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SCHEDULE: Team USA Basketball at the Tokyo Olympics

USA Basketball Twitter page

USA Basketball Twitter page

(3rd UPDATE) Team USA Basketball faces a daunting task in the Tokyo Games as other countries seek to end the reign of the three-time defending Olympic champions

It is time for basketball in the Olympics, and once again, all eyes are on Team USA.

But this time, they are must-see TV for a different reason.

(UPDATE: Team USA bucks slow start vs Australia to clinch Olympic finals berth)

(UPDATE: France escapes Doncic, Slovenia to set up Olympic final with USA)

Far removed from the days of utter domination by LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and the late great Kobe Bryant, Team USA has fallen flat and actually lost in two exhibitions to Australia and Nigeria, a team it once beat by 80 points in 2012.

Invitation refusals, injuries, COVID protocols, and a long six-game run by three Olympians in the NBA Finals have ravaged the roster and its chemistry in the buildup for international basketball’s biggest tournament.

Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, and Draymond Green are expected to lead the way along with NBA finalists Devin Booker, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday.

Rounding out the roster are Jerami Grant, Zach Lavine, and late additions JaVale McGee and Keldon Johnson, who replaced the injured Kevin Love and the COVID-hit Bradley Beal.

This roster under legendary head coach Gregg Popovich is by no means led by a bunch of pushovers, but they certainly look far from untouchable demigods who cannot be wounded on their way to a guaranteed gold medal.

As 2004 proved where Team USA slipped to an unthinkable bronze medal finish, the rest of the world has the Americans dead center in their sights, and will come from all angles trying to be the lucky one who can trip them up on the way to the top.

Will the kings of international basketball once again strike gold or will Tokyo be the site of another historic dethroning? – Rappler.com

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