RIO DE JANEIRO — The start was a disaster. The start was everything we’ve feared about this version of Team USA, with every weakness laid bare, every deep perimeter shot a brick, every defensive possession a greased turnstile to the rim.
When Andres Nocioni made a 3-pointer on the right wing with 3:58 to play, putting Argentina up by 10 points here at Carioca Arena, it was his team’s ninth made field goal in 11 tries. Seven of those field goals had been layups.
The Americans looked dizzied by Argentina’s ball movement and cohesion. But amid the chants and bouncing and singing coming from the sizable Argentine contingent, something clicked for the U.