Even with their reputation as the globe’s finest team, Team USA is facing a new challenge: the dissatisfaction of many fans. These fans are not content with simply seeing their team win; they yearn for dominance, regardless of the opposition.
When Team USA emerged victorious in just two of their preparatory matches, with slim margins, it raised concerns. While they have since bounced back impressively in the Olympics, Shaquille O’Neal has been vocal about the lofty expectations placed upon them.
“If you don't win by 20, I'm not impressed,” O'Neal said bluntly. “Just think about it. You got the best players in the world on one team. If they win, they're supposed to win. But if they don't win by 20, people are going to talk about them.”
Throughout history, Team USA has been a dominant force in the Olympics and international basketball events.
The 2012 Olympics saw the United States secure gold with an average winning margin of 32.1 points. While they have faced some tight matches, they have always emerged victorious.
However, in recent years, Team USA’s dominance has begun to wane. In the 2019 FIBA World Cup, they were eliminated early, finishing seventh after a quarterfinal loss to France.
In 2023, Team USA fared slightly better in the FIBA World Cup, but they still missed out on the podium.
They were eliminated by Germany in the semifinals and lost to Canada in the third-place match.
Despite retaining their gold medal in the 2020 Olympics, Team USA’s undefeated streak was broken by a surprising loss to France in their first game. As a result, all eyes are on this year’s team.
They have started off on the right foot, comfortably defeating Serbia and South Sudan with an average margin of 20.5 points. Their final group stage game will be against Puerto Rico, with the chance to secure the top seed on the line.
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