Longtime hoops observers have made a big deal out of the United States last week losing for the first time in international competition since 2006, and rightly so. It experienced its maiden setback against Australia, in the process breaking a 78-match win streak covering six tournaments and all exhibitions in between. Moreover, the development underscored the fragile state of USA Basketball heading into the World Cup this weekend; over the last year, all but four of the 35 players USA Basketball included in the national team pool saw fit to drop out of consideration for one reason or another, leaving the final roster devoid of star power.
Needless to say, Australia’s stalwarts rejoiced in the outcome along with 52,079 fans who packed Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Meanwhile, those who toiled for the US wasted no time moving on and chalking it up as inconsequential in the grad scheme of things. “At the end of the day, this game doesn’t count,” said Donovan Mitchell, by far and so far the best in red, white, and blue. “Obviously, it hurts to lose, but I look at this as more of a learning experience.” And, true enough, head coach Gregg Popovich’s charges bounced back on their very next outing, making short work of Canada to win pulling away at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
Granted, the US remains far and away the favorite in China over the next fortnight. For all the big-name withdrawals, its lineup is still the most skilled and athletic. The problem, as its five tuneup set-tos have highlighted, is cohesion — or, to be more precise, lack thereof. On paper, it appears capable of taking the measure of any of the other 31 teams in the World Cup. In practice, though, it has been anything but sharp. Against Canada, for instance, it couldn’t buy a bucket from long range and coughed up the ball too many times for comfort.
And so the US will be at its most vulnerable in a long while. The gap between it and its competition boasting of 50 heralds with National Basketball Association experience is closing anew, and nothing short of a concerted effort will keep it at the top. If there’s anything Popovich is proficient at, though, it’s squeezing the most out of the talent he has at his disposal. It’s why confidence continues to ooze in the locker room, and why, for as long as said confidence doesn’t turn into cockiness, Gold should still be the most likely finish.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
