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Cousins: Team USA has to be 'stronger mentally'

Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

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All of a sudden the Snapchats and Instagram videos are no longer considered cute. Having been taken down to the wire in both of their last two games, questions are starting to form about Team USA.

Despite missing six of its top players, the Americans were considered heavy favorites to steamroll through the competition in Rio 2016. But uninspiring efforts against Australia and Serbia made Team USA look sloppy and vulnerable.

DeMarcus Cousins says his team lacks mental focus.

"We got to expect this," Cousins told Michael Lee of The Vertical. "Every time we step on the floor, guys are going to give us their best effort."

"We know that coming in, but at the same time, we can't crumble the way we've done the past two games. Right now, we're hurting ourselves. Not taking away credit of how Serbia played, because they played amazing tonight. But we've got to be a lot stronger mentally."

That mental toughness starts with Cousins, who has often worn a sullen expression throughout the tournament. Limited by foul trouble, opposing bigs have taken advantage of Cousins' hesitancy on the interior.

Serbia's centers combined to score 43 of their 91 points Friday. Against Australia, power forward David Andersen, and center Andrew Bogut totaled 28 points on just 15 field-goal attempts.

It's not that Cousins, or the rest of the American roster, lacks talent. Every player representing the United States, save for Harrison Barnes, has been named an All-Star in the NBA. They're just not playing together as a team, and they're crumbling in the face of adversity when opposing nations bring their A-game.

"Everybody wants to beat Team USA," Cousins said.

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