USA Basketball's Strategy To Lose For Bracketing Purposes
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Game on Sunday was basically a meaningless game
00:05 for the United States.
00:06 And in fact, it probably was better for them
00:10 from the standpoint of bracketing to lose the game.
00:12 Now I'm not saying they tried to lose the game.
00:14 I know USA Basketball, a senior men's national team
00:17 ever wants to lose a game.
00:19 And they went from 1936 to 1972 without losing.
00:24 And they didn't really lose in 72 either.
00:26 So I don't think that,
00:29 but I think that they came back today
00:30 and played extremely well,
00:31 but they've got to get off the better start, Scott.
00:34 They're not playing well with their starting lineup.
00:37 Jared Jackson's getting into foul trouble too quickly.
00:39 That's two consecutive games he had to be taken out
00:41 inside the first five minutes.
00:43 I know I'm complaining about something
00:46 that seems insignificant after they won by 40,
00:49 but they want to win this thing.
00:52 And in order to win this thing,
00:53 they have to be better from the jump.
00:55 They have to start taking leads.
00:57 So then the second unit of Tyrese Halliburton,
01:01 Austin Reeves and company,
01:02 isn't coming in to try to turn the game.
01:04 They're trying to come in and extend the lead
01:08 against tired players from the opposition.
01:11 (upbeat music)
01:13 (bells chiming)