S/H just have the will, the fire and the desire, even when they aren't at the top of their game.
So the Americans will be in the next to final group. What has helped them, even despite not performing to their capability, is the fact that both of K/F and C-G/LD are actually quite talented. And when we break down the quality of their overall elements with a lot of the other teams, it's just that those teams altho' they may have landed jumps, etc., they just don't hold up in terms of lines, speed, and quality of overall elements. That's a fact, and that is what has helped keep K/F and C-G/LD within fighting distance. Still, they would have needed not to lose the points they did in order to try and beat say P/J and/or M-T/M, both of whom they are competitive with. Plus, both teams have more experience than the two of the Russian teams.
So we'll see. For my money, so far, I enjoyed Mishina/Galliamov, S/H are always dynamic, the Japanese team is good. And I love the programs of both American teams, but disappointed in them not holding it together. Hopefully, it might take the pressure off them for the fp with the fact that they are at least still in the second to last group and if they give it their all, they have a fighting chance to do well overall, whether or not they can pull up from 7 and 8 places.