The USA basketball team was booed by its own fans after losing to Australia, also being slammed online after falling to a second straight defeat in preparation for the Olympics Games in Tokyo.
After losing 90-87 to Nigeria last time out, Team USA this time fell 91-83 to its visitors on Monday in Las Vegas.
Leading by as many as nine points at halftime, the hosts blew their advantage and have experienced a major dent in their previously proud 54-2 record in exhibition games.
While Kevin Durant scored 17 points and Damian Lillard matched the San Antonio Spurs point guard on 22 points, Patty Mills was the standout player for Australia with Joe Ingles also putting 15 on the board.
"We’re not satisfied. we’ve got a long way to go," he told ESPN afterwards.
"We can still get a lot better. But defense is where we’re going to hang our hat this whole campaign."
"We believe in our entire team, and everyone being able to step on the floor and make an impact," Mills added.
The US will play their third and final exhibition game on Tuesday against Argentina, and open their Olympic campaign in Tokyo on July 25 against France.
Yet despite the poor run of form, Gregg Popovich remains optimistic.
Australia takes down Team USA.
They have now lost back-to-back exhibition games for the first time since pros started playing in 1992. pic.twitter.com/qnwixFbHO3
— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) July 13, 2021
"I thought we got better tonight," he said.
"After a short time together, there’s a lot of things that have to be covered, but the first half and the second half were two different beasts."
“We’ll learn from it,” he vowed.
Yet some fans clearly do not share his confidence, and booed Team USA off the court which is believed to be a first in almost three decades of NBA icons playing for the national team.
They also took to social media to voice their dismay.
"I just watched Patty Mills cook everyone on Team USA with ease. I’m sick with all due respect," lamented one user.
"Now I'm seriously considering giving up my citizenship to a kid at the border. WTF is this?" asked another.
"Moving to Canada," it was also said along similar lines.
"This team lacks chemistry, motivation and effort on defense!" began a deeper analysis than most.
"A lot of these teams have experience playing together and have NBA players. They want to and believe they can beat this USA team! USA better wake up or they will not win a medal let alone gold!"
"Too many individuals on this team, to be real they need a guy like LeBron [James], Steph [Curry] or even Chris Paul. There is more to the game then just scoring the ball!" was another criticism.
Beal, dray, and bam are the only players on team us that want to play defense or even try with all due respect it’s getting ridiculous
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) July 13, 2021
This team lacks chemistry, motivation and effort on defense! A lot of these teams have experience playing together and have NBA players. They want to and believe they can beat this USA team! USA better wake up or they will not win a medal let alone gold! #USABMNT
Others laid into Durant for being unable to carry the team against a supposedly weaker foe, and worried about other countries finally catching up to the US in talent and development.
Yet while a separate party noted the absences of Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker and Khris Middleton, who are currently competing in the NBA finals, it is clear that anything less than gold will be considered an "embarrassment" to the American public used to their dominance on the game through being the home of its most elite championship.
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