Rio Olympics 2016: 5 weaknesses which can cost Team USA the Gold

4) Foul trouble

Andrew Bogut was generous with his elbows, but the USA has to hold it together

The Dream Team was revered by one and all, including their opponents who wanted pictures and autographs rather than blood. Back then, the USA had a dominant presence with names which were equivalent to adding a ten point lead to a contest before it even began.

The current team faces competition which is baying for their blood and isn't afraid to get dirty to win. Australia almost defeated the USA by pounding them at every opportunity. How many more blows will it take before DeMarcus Cousins or Kevin Durant or Draymond Green lose their cool and get into foul trouble?

DeAndre Jordan was clapping all the way down the court when he was called for a foul on Baynes when the latter walked down to shoot two free throws. Paul George pushed Delly down in frustration early in the game. Both Jordan and Cousins finished with 4 fouls. Cousins was limited by foul trouble and only played 10 minutes.

In spite of Andrew Bogut manhandling Team USA, he finished with just 2 fouls. This is the Australian team in 2016, not the Bad Boys Pistons of 1989. But Andrew Bogut came pretty close to earning a spot on that wrestling squad. It was clear that his antics got under the skin of some of his opponents, and his superb on-court play didn't hurt either.

If one is taking exception at how he's making unnecessary contact, we just have to look back to Kobe Bryant body-checking Pau Gasol in the 2008 Olympics for no reason to see that this is a tactic pursued by every team.

The NBA superstars are not going to get the superstar calls they are accustomed to in the home arenas where the crowd can influence the whistles. Also, five fouls can get you thrown out in international play.

Stephen Curry's ejection in the NBA Finals led to the greatest regular season team of all time losing the championship. It won't take many whistles to land Team USA in foul trouble.