RIO DE JANEIRO -- Somethings wrong in Rio.The team that usually wins big is barely winning.An unheard of two straight close games for the U.S. Olympic mens basketball team has created a question that few dared consider just a few days ago: Is the best team in the world not good enough for gold?Im not concerned, were not concerned with things we could do a little bit better, four-time Olympian Carmelo Anthony said. But were OK. Were fine.OK and fine arent the U.S. standard.Great. Dominant. Those are the standards the Americans have set.The problems seem to center on a lack of international experience and time to prepare for the Rio Games.The Americans are still unbeaten, but theyre far from unbeatable going into their final game of the preliminary round Sunday against France.Were going to play a team who struggled the last two games and Im sure theyre not too sure, like, who they are as well, France forward Nicolas Batum said. So its going to be big matchup Sunday.The U.S. team that many considered a gold medal lock wouldnt even win its group outright with a loss Sunday, either tying France or sharing first with the French and Australia at 4-1. In fact, the Americans could even end up finishing third in Group A.The Americans supposedly left third-place finishes behind long ago.But after needing to pull away late to beat Australia 98-88 and holding on to edge Serbia 94-91 on Friday when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a 3-pointer, anything seems possible.Again, well figure this out, Paul George said. Its good that were finding ways to win these games right now. Hopefully these will be the ones that help prepare us later on for the style of this tournament.The Americans dont seem stressed, canceling practice Saturday. But some extra time in the gym would seem to benefit what is the most unprepared U.S. Olympic team since the 2004 squad that managed only bronze in Athens.Like then, the Americans were hit hard by player withdrawals and were still putting together a roster right up until their deadline. Instead of bringing experienced Olympians to Rio de Janeiro, they have 10 rookies, players who look more like lost tourists when it comes to the ways of international basketball.The 2008 and 2012 powerhouses were filled with players who had competed previously in the Olympics or FIBA competitions, and understood the nuances even better than some of their opponents. This group is learning on the fly, and theyre not giving themselves high marks.Again, as good as we are, if we continue playing like this, this games going to get even tougher, George said.No teams can match the Americans talent, and they dont pretend that can. But a team like France has a familiarity this U.S. team can never attain.These French have been playing big games for years, winning bronze in the 2014 Basketball World Cup, and after falling short of qualifying for the Olympics when they lost in the semifinals of last summers EuroBasket they were hosting, winning a tournament in July to secure their spot.Maybe, maybe got more chemistry than they are, because I played with this team for eight years now, the same group of guys, every summer, Batum said. So we know each other well, same coach, too, so we know the plays and everything. So that may be sometimes.Batum and his teammates -- along with everyone else in Brazil -- quickly point out that the U.S. is talented enough to overcome that.The U.S. is the U.S., France star Tony Parker said. Theyve been the standard for a long time and they are the best team in the tournament, and until somebody beats them they still are the best team.Nobody has done that in a decade, with the Americans seeking their 50th consecutive tournament victory Sunday. Few teams have even come close to beating them and before this week the U.S. had never played consecutive games decided by 10 points or fewer under coach Mike Krzyzewski.Krzyzewski knew things would get tougher once the opponents did. The Americans arrived in Rio untested after a tame exhibition schedule that included China and Venezuela, the two teams they crushed to open the Olympics.But Australia and Serbia were much higher quality and so are the French, who are ranked fifth in the world. They all have offensive systems and players who can make them work.We never saw that in any exhibition game or whatever, Krzyzewski said. Were seeing it right now for the first time, so we just have to learn from it and getter better.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Cheap Authentic Air Max 720 .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Cheap Air Max 720 Wholesale .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. http://www.cheapairmax720freeshipping.com/ . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Cheap Air Max 720 China . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Cheap Air Max 720 .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. MINNEAPOLIS -- Through 18 meetings this season, the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians are all square at nine wins each after Minnesotas dramatic 12-inning 2-1 victory on Saturday night in the second of a four-game series at Target Field.Joe Mauers run-scoring single in the bottom of the 12th inning plated Brian Dozier after the Twins second baseman was advanced to second on a balk called on Indians reliever Joe Colon.Since Mike Napolis impressive 456-foot home run to Target Fields upper deck on Friday gave Cleveland a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth, the two teams have scored a total of three runs in 16 1/2 innings. Both bullpens have been outstanding in the series, combining to allow just one run and 10 hits in 21 2/3 innings to go with 10 walks and 13 strikeouts.They kept marching guys out there and we couldnt find a way to score, Twins manager Paul Molitor said of the Indians bullpen after Saturdays game.Cleveland catcher Chris Gimenez credited both teams with what he called a very, very well-pitched game after they played 9 1/2 innings of scoreless baseball. He also said the extra workload could be beneficial to the Indians not just for the short term but in the bigger picture.Its really good for a lot of our younger guys to get some of these experiences, especially in these types of games, Gimenez said. Were coming down to the end of the season and any type of expeerience can help like that for the long run.ddddddddddddBut fatigue could be a factor, as Cleveland and Minnesota prepare to play their final two games of the season against each other beginning with Sundays matinee. Its not going out on a limb to say both managers would likely prefer to see their starters pitch deep into Sundays game.Indians manager Terry Francona appears to be the most likely to get his wish granted with starter Corey Kluber (15-9, 3.16 ERA) taking the mound. Kluber is 1-1 this season and 7-5 in his career with a 3.73 ERA against the Twins.More impressively, Kluber is 7-1 in his last 11 starts and has struck out at least seven batters 10 times during that span, including a season-high 11 in Clevelands 8-4 win over Minnesota on Aug. 31.Molitor will counter with rookie Jose Berrios (2-5, 9.21) who was dominant for Triple-A Rochester this season, going 10-5 in 17 starts with a 2.51 ERA while striking out 125 and walking 36.But the major leagues have been a different story for Berrios, who has struggled mightily at times for the Twins and is 0-4 in his last five starts. Berrios, 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA against the Indians this season, picked up his most recent victory with a six-inning effort in a 12-5 Minnesota win at Cleveland on Aug. 1. ' ' '