While the 2021 NBA Finals are taking place this week in Milwaukee and Phoenix, there is other basketball going on as the United States men’s basketball team has a series of exhibition games against Argentina, Nigeria, and Australia in Las Vegas. These exhibition games are taking place to help prepare these four basketball programs for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
This past week one might have been completely stunned that the United States was beaten 90-87 to Nigeria on Saturday, and then 91-83 to Australia on Monday. However, one must realize that before Nigerian and Australian basketball fans get all excited, you need to remember four things.
First, the United States does not have a complete team at the moment as Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are in the NBA Finals. Second, the United States finally put things together on Tuesday in a dominant 108-80 win over Argentina thanks to 30 points from Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards. Third, these games are exhibition. This means that USA Men’s Basketball Head Coach Gregg Popovich is studying different schemes and combinations. Winning is not extremely important. Fourth, these games take place at the ULTRA Arena in Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the party capital of the world. There is a great saying to all who have been in Vegas, “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
The bottom line is these exhibition losses mean nothing. Zilch. Nothing. Now if the United States were to lose a game at the Olympic Games, you will hear the news first on The Sporting Base. That is guaranteed. Even though I am based in Canada, I will be up all night long for over two full weeks watching and reporting on the Olympic Games.
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