By Mark Bacon
Team USA held off France 100-97 to finish 5-0 in group play and clinch the top seed headed to the quarterfinals knock-out stage. They will face either Spain, Croatia, or Brazil on Wednesday.
The good news? Klay Thompson finished with 30 points. The majority of the game Team USA played better defense. Kyrie Irving really helped get the passing going and the bench provided a much-needed spark.
The bad news? France was without Tony Parker, who sat with a "toe injury" as France prepared to focus on medal round play. Also, Nando De Colo barely played in the second half yet France only lost by three points, and cut the lead to four under two minutes remaining as the Team USA's offense once again stalled.
Team USA is undefeated, their margin of victory in the five games was 117, but there are serious concerns about how many more times they can play lifeless ball on both ends and survive, especially when they start to get the best efforts from the best teams in the tournament.
They look beatable, and the world knows it. But they haven't been beaten yet.
Positive signs.
It doesn't seem like it based off the fourth quarter, but Team USA's defense was better and the bench was great. DeAndre Jordan was active on both ends. He made some great passes when the defense collapsed. Paul George continues to show excellent leadership. His six-point performance doesn't show how good he was at setting an aggressive tone.
And of course, Klay Thompson, who had been dreadful shooting coming in, got warmed up, and the shots started falling. Getting 30 points from any Team USA member probably means they're going to win, and if he can stay hot, that's going to help.
What happened to the defense?
France shot 56 percent from the field and this is a team that was without Parker and DeColo for much of the game. They continue to have zero coverage in pick and roll situations as Kyrie Irving and Carmelo Anthony are useless in helping down from the corners. When DeMarcus Cousins gets put in space, he's really struggling and there's no LeBron James to cover up those issues.
It makes me wonder if either DeAndre Jordan shouldn't start for Cousins, or Draymond Green (who has been ineffective but showed some things Sunday) should start for either Durant or Anthony -- a prospect that is never going to happen because of politics. They need better secondary recovery when a big has to attack a ball-handler because they've gotten past Irving or another wing.
They showed flashes of disruption with the second unit, and looked like they were finally going to swarm with their athleticism, but then they shrank back and looked tired.
This remains their biggest threat in medal round play. If they face a team that shoots the lights out, Team USA is going down.
The late-game offense once again a problem.
You know how Kevin Durant would dribble away the clock in Oklahoma City and everyone blamed Russell Westbrook? Well, Durant's doing the same thing late in these games and it's hurting Team USA. Smaller defenders are attacking his 6-foot-11 dribble and it's giving him problems. The rest of the team is just spotting up and waiting for the ball-handler to force help.
Kyrie Irving threw a phenomenal late-game alley-oop to Durant to help put the game away, but the offense continues to be an issue.
Team USA is the No. 1 seed and undefeated, but there's a confidence problem.
On average, they should win every game and get gold. It may not be dominant, but it'll be good enough. However, if they face a team that gets red hot from the outside, they could get bit. They won't have a 30-point comfort zone to play with.
This is looking like the most disappointing team since 2004, and if they do get caught, it will be considered an outright disaster. It's on them.
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