The_AT0 loss_NN1 to_PRP Nigeria_NP0 was_VBD supposed_AJ0 to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 wakeup_NN1 call_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 Americans_NN2 ._SENT But_CJC apparently_AV0 they_PNP hit_VVD the_AT0 snooze_NN1 button_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 mighty_AJ0 Team_NN1 USA_NP0 basketball_NN1 team_NN1 dropped_VVD its_DPS second_ORD consecutive_AJ0 Olympic_AJ0 warmup_NN1 game_NN1 Monday_NP0 night_NN1 ,_PUN 91-83_CRD ,_PUN falling_VVG to_PRP Australia_NP0 because_CJS Kevin_NP0 Durant_NP0 and_CJC the_AT0 offense_NN1 sputtered_VVD down_AVP the_AT0 stretch_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 good_AJ0 news_NN1 is_VBZ Gregg_NP0 Popovich_NP0 's_POS squad_NN1 still_AV0 has_VHZ about_AV0 two_CRD weeks_NN2 before_PRP the_AT0 Olympics_NN2 begin_VVB ._SENT The_AT0 bad_AJ0 news_NN1 is_VBZ it_PNP looks_VVZ in_PRP danger_NN1 of_PRF disaster_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 Americans_NN2 managed_VVD just_AV0 one_CRD point_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 final_AJ0 4_CRD ½_CRD minutes_NN2 Monday_NP0 ,_PUN with_PRP Durant_NP0 missing_VVG three_CRD shots_NN2 ._SENT Jayson_NP0 Tatum_NP0 's_POS airball_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 final_AJ0 seconds_NN2 symbolized_VVD a_AT0 brutal_AJ0 shooting_NN1 performance_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 Celtics_NP0 All-Star_AJ0 ._SENT On_PRP the_AT0 other_AJ0 side_NN1 ,_PUN Australia_NP0 's_POS Patty_NP0 Mills_NP0 turned_VVD dominant_AJ0 ,_PUN finishing_VVG with_PRP 21_CRD points_NN2 in_PRP 31_CRD minutes_NN2 while_CJS performing_VVG pirouettes_NN2 around_PRP USA_NP0 's_POS defense_NN1 ._SENT Before_PRP last_ORD week_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 Americans_NN2 lost_VVD two_CRD men_NN2 's_POS basketball_NN1 exhibitions_NN2 in_PRP 29_CRD years_NN2 ._SENT Now_AV0 they_PNP 've_VHB lost_VVN two_CRD in_PRP three_CRD days_NN2 ._SENT Still_AV0 ,_PUN they_PNP remain_VVB favorites_NN2 to_TO0 win_VVI the_AT0 gold_NN1 in_PRP Tokyo_NP0 ._SENT Individually_AV0 ,_PUN they_PNP 're_VBB undoubtedly_AV0 the_AT0 most_AV0 talented_AJ0 of_PRF the_AT0 field_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC also_AV0 hardly_AV0 the_AT0 Dream_NN1 Team_NN1 versions_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 previous_AJ0 Olympics_NN2 ._SENT LeBron_NP0 James_NP0 ,_PUN Anthony_NP0 Davis_NP0 ,_PUN Jimmy_NP0 Butler_NP0 ,_PUN James_NP0 Harden_VVB ,_PUN Donovan_NP0 Mitchell_NP0 and_CJC Chris_NP0 Paul_NP0 all_AV0 declined_VVD invitations_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 current_AJ0 roster_NN1 only_AV0 has_VHZ two_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 15_CRD All-NBA_AJ0 selections_NN2 in_PRP 2021_CRD –_PUN Dame_NP0 Lillard_NP0 (_PUL 22_CRD points_NN2 Monday_NP0 )_PUR and_CJC Bradley_NP0 Beal_NP0 (_PUL 12_CRD )_PUR ._SENT The_AT0 U.S._NP0 has_VHZ captured_VVN gold_NN1 at_PRP three_CRD consecutive_AJ0 Olympics_NN2 but_CJC bombed_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 2019_CRD World_NN1 Cup_NN1 ,_PUN where_CJS Popovich_NP0 ,_PUN coaching_VVG the_AT0 senior_AJ0 squad_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD time_NN1 after_PRP Mike_NP0 Krzyzewski_NP0 's_POS successful_AJ0 run_NN1 ,_PUN finished_VVD seventh_ORD ._SENT Durant_NP0 ,_PUN 32_CRD ,_PUN was_VBD the_AT0 unexpected_AJ0 and_CJC most_AV0 accomplished_AJ0 Team_NN1 USA_NP0 participant_NN1 ,_PUN having_VHG just_AV0 navigated_VVN an_AT0 injury-riddled_AJ0 campaign_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 Brooklyn_NP0 Nets_NN2 at_PRP 32_CRD years_NN2 old_AJ0 and_CJC about_PRP two_CRD years_NN2 removed_VVN from_PRP Achilles_NP0 surgery_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP finished_VVD Monday_NP0 with_PRP 17_CRD points_NN2 in_PRP 29_CRD minutes_NN2 but_CJC faltered_VVD down_AVP the_AT0 stretch_NN1 ,_PUN unable_AJ0 to_TO0 break_VVI America_NP0 's_POS game-sealing_AJ0 drought_NN1 ._SENT USA_NP0 had_VHD control_NN1 early_AV0 but_CJC lost_VVD it_PNP ,_PUN courtesy_NN1 of_PRF Australia_NP0 's_POS 19-6_CRD run_NN1 to_TO0 end_VVI the_AT0 third_ORD quarter_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 Americans_NN2 entered_VVD the_AT0 fourth_ORD trailing_VVG by_PRP 5_CRD and_CJC only_AV0 briefly_AV0 regained_VVN the_AT0 lead_NN1 before_PRP the_AT0 offense_NN1 went_VVD belly-up_NN1 ._SENT Australia_NP0 is_VBZ an_AT0 Olympic_AJ0 contender_NN1 with_PRP a_AT0 lineup_NN1 of_PRF NBA_NN1 players_NN2 ,_PUN most_AV0 notably_AV0 Patty_NP0 Mills_NP0 and_CJC Joe_NP0 Ingles_NP0 ._SENT 
