Team USA Basketball got off to a rough start at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday, and the Twitter world was more than happy to laugh at their misfortune.
After two stunning losses in exhibition games leading up to the Olympics, Team USA blew a late lead to France and fell 83-76. Gregg Popovich’s team was a 13-point favorite in the game. The loss was Team USA’s first since Argentina defeated them in the semifinals in 2004. The Twitter memes were ruthless.
Some of the best memes were about Carmelo Anthony, who has one of the strongest Olympic resumes of all time. Carmelo was with Team USA in 2004 when they won a bronze medal, and he then helped the team win three consecutive golds. Fans think Popovich should consider giving the 37-year-old a call.
The loss is hardly a death sentence for Team USA. They now need to beat Iran and the Czech Republic to advance to the knockout stage, and they will be heavily favored in both games. Still, it was not the start they were hoping for.
Some NBA players have also taken shots at Team USA, so the pressure is building in a hurry. Anything less than a gold medal would result in a lot of criticism.
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