• Prediction: The United States is no longer the favorite for the World Cup
  • Possible fraud: Australia will investigate the friendly against the US for cheating on viewers

From the last precedent, only great memories. In the United States, then, young LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade played , but they were so young and, above all, they were so disorganized that they ended up falling to the Greece of Vassilis Spanoulis, which already offered lessons as an organization. It was the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup that ended up winning Spain with that Pau Gasol to the limp leg and that Pepu Hernández with his hand to his chest. Since then, the USA Team had not lost any games with an NBA squad.

13 years later and 78 games later, this Saturday he lost to Australia (94-98) in a friendly preparation for the World Cup held in the immense Marvel Stadium in Melbourne to more than 50,000 people.

And the worst thing for the US team was not the stumbling block: it was the sensations. Because although last week against Spain (90-81) and this same week against Australia (102-86) favorites were presented to the title with two victories, this Saturday it was clear that they can lose to anyone. To close the victory Australia did not need the best game in its history, much less, just work under the rings to hold the score and, in the last minutes, Patty Mills . The base of the San Antonio Spurs was the torment that, with 13 points in the decisive fourth and 30 points in the total, ended the US streak. Gregg Popovich , who knows him better than anyone, gave constant instructions to stop him, but no one was capable.

In the other hoop, everyone began to make war on their part, Kemba Walker, Donovan Mitchell and Joe Harris , and thus, defeat. Although Walker is called to be the leader of the team - and was the top scorer of his team with 22 points - in the final moments they will suffer. "They wanted victory more than us," Walker himself admitted at the end of the game, "we learned the lesson."

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  • basketball
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Kemba Walker
  • Gregg Popovich
  • NBA

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