Team USA is becoming rather notorious for getting off to slow starts against their opponents here in Rio so far. In their opening game against China this week, they started 0-of-5 from the field. However, they went on to win that game by an astounding 57-point margin.
They started just as poorly and lethargically against Venezuela on Monday, and it was all tied up at 18 apiece after a dreadful opening quarter. They committed six turnovers and shot just over 46 percent from the field, including 33 percent from downtown. The players themselves couldn’t believe it.
https://twitter.com/_MarcusD_/status/762775050948780032
But it wasn’t just the USA’s poor play. The Venezuelans were out-hustling them, especially on the boards, where they held a 14-10 advantage early in the second quarter. Gregory Echenique, a burly 6’9 big man who played collegiately at Rutgers, proved especially tough for the Americans to handle.
— ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD_) August 8, 2016
Needless to say, keep an eye on this game. An upset still seems unlikely, but Team USA is exhibiting the weaknesses that could make winning a third consecutive gold medal more difficult than anyone’s anticipating.
