'We were embarrassed at halftime': US relieved after escape against underdogs South Sudan

[sl8]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/21/we-were-embarrassed-at-halftime-us-relieved-after-escape-against-underdogs-south-sudan

‘We were embarrassed at halftime’: US relieved after escape against underdogs South Sudan

US eke out 101-100 win on late LeBron James layup
Two teams will meet again at Paris Olympics

Associated Press
Sun 21 Jul 2024 07.57 EDT

LeBron James saved the US from what would have been a stunning loss.

James’s layup with eight seconds left was the go-ahead basket on Saturday, and the US Olympic team that’ll soon head to the Paris Games escaped with a 101-100 win over South Sudan in London, rallying from a 16-point deficit to avoid perhaps the biggest upset in the program’s history.

“[It was] a good reminder that when we play against teams, it’s the biggest game of their lives,” US coach Steve Kerr said. “We have to expect everyone to play like that.”

[...]

[underpants]

1. I was surprised they had a team considering what's going on there

I heard they were playing South Sudan on Friday and thought it sounded like a good warmup. Looks like it was more of a wake-up.

[Srkdqltr]

2. Seems like the US team thought all they had to do is show up because they were that good.

Surprise. All the team s will be bringing their A game. The US team had better be prepared.

[calguy]

3. The women's team received a stark wake up call last night

The WNBA All Stars, who were for reason or another snubbed or not picked for the team, flat out embarrassed the supposedly 'best' women players in the world.

[moniss]

5. I thought it was funny how Cheryl Reeve

went on after the game about how they only had the short time to practice. Well Cheryl so did the All Stars. I was unsure about Cheryl Miller stepping in as coach rather than using a current W coach but she more than put my concerns to rest. I thought it was also really cool that Arike played so well. I think Caitlin getting 10 assists and 2 steals in 26 minutes was pretty cool. I think she is showing a little fatigue from the long grind she has been through since last fall and her shooting is off I think because of that. I noted an air ball on a late 3. She usually is not going to air ball if she misses. She usually hits iron. The upcoming rest should do her good.

[calguy]

7. Yeah, I think that's why she's in a shooting slump right now

When your muscles get fatigued, it throws off your timing and the strength of your shots. You saw it with the Olympic team last night in the fourth quarter when the younger WNBA All Stars ran them into the ground.
It'll be interesting to see how Caitlin does after a .month to rest and get her shooting game back in tune with her mind.

[moniss]

4. I watched the end of the game and the media

actually missed most of the story by just talking about the Lebron drive to the bucket. It was an incredible drive putting them up by one point but after that South Sudan had rebounded their missed last shot attempt to go ahead but excellent defensive play by Anthony Davis partially blocked the attempted put back by South Sudan and then the clock ran out. If Davis had not made that stop the put back was going to be a dunk and we would have lost by one. Likewise if he had fouled then we could have been looking at losing it that way on free throws. Excellent play by AD and when you see him go to the bench his teammates recognize him for that.

[sl8]

6. Thanks for that. nt