Does Team USA's stunning loss to Nigeria prove American exceptionalism in basketball is dead?
LAS VEGAS  In the aftermath of what was merely the latest, although most stunning, embarrassment for the gold-standard brand that is Team USA basketball, coach Gregg Popovich was lamenting that everybody expects us to win every game.And that puts some pressure on you, he said.The American NBA players sent to represent their country in international play havent handled that pressure so well lately, although it was never starker than in Team Nigerias 90-87 win over USA Basketball on Saturday night in the Olympic exhibition opener for both teams.Never mind that the game didnt count toward any Olympic standings, or that Team USA could lose its remaining four practice games in Las Vegas before heading to Tokyo and still wind up with the gold medal. Those facts couldnt be more beside the point.