Team USA Drops First Game to France in Tokyo

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Yeesh, the woes for Team USA continue in Tokyo. Team USA loses their first game to France in Tokyo 83-76, their first Olympic loss since 2004.

Final.#Basketball #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/qDLZtikMC7

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 25, 2021

This loss comes after Team USA went 2-2 in exhibition games ahead of group play in Tokyo. The U.S. led with 74-67 with just three minutes and some change but suffered a major collapse down the stretch when Boston Celtic Evan Fournier ignited a 14-0 run for France. Fournier would finish with 28 points and Team USA would only score two points the rest of the way.

It seemed things started falling apart for Team USA when Kevin Durant picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter and had to miss a substantial amount of time in the second half. The former MVP would only finish with 10 points and the new NBA Finals hero, Jrue Holiday, led the way for Team USA with 18 points.

Bam Adebayo did his part, however, the former ‘Cat pitched in a 12-point 10-rebound double-double. The same cannot be said for the other two ‘Cats in Tokyo, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Booker. Johnson didn’t record a point and Dbook was a putrid 1-6 from the field, scoring four points in his Olympic debut.

So what is the problem with Team USA? Is it the NBA’s shift to a “softer” brand of basketball, the need for adaptation to FIBA rules in the league, or is the globalized movement of the game greatly minimized the talent gap between America and the rest of the world?

Who knows, but Team USA will be back in action for Game 2 of group play against Iran, Wednesday at 1:40 p.m ET.