USA vs. Argentina: 3 Things Americans Must Focus on in Final Group Game

If Team USA plays up to its potential, or even close, it is not going to be beat, but there are no guarantees that the team will be on their game. With just one game against Argentina separating the U.S. from the elimination round, it needs to make sure it continues to get better.

Otherwise, its performance that earned them a narrow 99-94 win over Lithuania last Saturday may result in the shock of the London Games as Team USA is sent packing early.  

If the U.S. focuses on these next three keys, it will be ready to steamroll its way to gold. 

Pick-and-Roll Defense

As Lithuania was rolling up 94 points, on 58.5 percent shooting from the field, against the Americans they continually went to the pick and roll to create easy buckets, which made sense since Team USA was seldom in the right place to stop it, and why should they be? 

Playing against the pick and roll is all about team defense. These guys haven't had a lot of time to come together as a team, and let's face it, pick-and-roll defense is going to take a backseat to gelling as an offense they can dazzle England with their ethereal skills. 

Improvement in this area needs to start with communication. They need to be on the same page to take away the multiple options of the pick-and-roll offense.  

Easy Buckets

The Americans are so good at breaking down a defense one-on-one and hitting open jumpers. This is great, except there will be moments, quarters or even games when the shot isn't falling, but dunks always do. 

As good as this team is from the perimeter, its primary focus needs to be getting to the lane for close shots or dump offs to open teammates. The U.S. needs to establish that aggressively mentality. 

The other part of grabbing open looks starts on defense. This team knows how to play lock-down defense on the perimeter, which leads to turnovers and flashy dunks. 

Attention to Detail 

When everyone in the building, players included, know that the Americans have a huge advantage in talent, it can understandably lead to lack of focus from the squad. That realization just leads to a different intensity. 

This team needs to focus on the little things—the attention to detail. Everything else will fall into place.