Team USA Survived Another Potential Disaster By Barely Holding On In The Final Seconds To Beat South Sudan

Joe Murphy. Getty Images.

EXHALE.

Sweet Jesus was that stressful. Never in a million years should South Sudan and Team USA find themselves in a dogfight on the hardwood, and yet today that is exactly what happened. After Team USA got off to a 12-2 start it was all South Sudan for about 85% of this game. They fully embraced Mazzulla Ball (14-33 from deep), and every single time Team USA tried to make a run South Sudan found a way to punch back. Their program is brand new and seeing as how they just went toe to toe with the best team on planet Earth, I'd say they are headed in the right direction.

But make no mistake, this was another near disaster for Team USA. It's not the first time they had one of these situations during these tune up games, but it's certainly they closest they've ever come to losing. They were this close to becoming the biggest joke on the planet

This coming off a botched White/AD lob that was sneaky a foul but instead was a FIBA no-call was quite the kick to the dick. That's also with Steph missing a WIDE OPEN 3PA to effectively end the game. Thankfully, Team USA has a cheat code for these must-have bucket situations. When in doubt, give the ball to LeBron and let him get downhill

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That single play has been unstoppable for what, over 20 years? Even after all this time, nobody can stop LeBron from getting to the rim when he puts his head down, lowers his shoulders, and plays with force. It's devastating when your favorite team has to stop it, but it rules when your team needs it. From there all it took was one last stop, and the NBA Champion backcourt of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday delivered. Jrue on the initial defense, White with a block on the putbacks

Given what White started in the 3rd quarter, then what Jrue/Tatum did in the 4th, many people are saying the NBA Champion Boston Celtics saved America today. I'm not saying that, but I can understand why people would.

On a day where Team USA went just 7-28 from three and couldn't stop turning the ball over for what seems like the 4th straight game

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This was your classic basketball game in 2024 where one side is hot as shit from three and the other can't buy a bucket. You add turnovers into the mix and that's exactly how you get a game like this. It's the perfect recipe for disaster, so it should be no surprise when you get said disaster.

Even though Team USA pulled it out, they still shouldn't feel all that great. On the one hand, it's good to get any sort of test before the real thing starts at the end of the month, but on the other hand, you should not be in a down-to-the-final possession battle with South Sudan. The talent levels aren't exactly all that close, but credit South Sudan for not being afraid and being willing to throw the first punch.

All I know is if this is how Team USA plays against Germany in their final tune up game, they're not going to be as fortunate. If we then see this type of performance again in the actual Olympics? All hell might break loose.