The USA males’s basketball workforce enters the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in a relatively unfamiliar place.
Staff USA, who has gained 15 gold medals in Olympic historical past and journey to Tokyo because the three-time defending gold medalist, has not stomped out the worldwide competitors like earlier groups had. Staff USA completed seventh place on the World Championships in 2018. And most not too long ago, Staff USA misplaced to Nigeria, the identical nation it beat by 83 factors in 2012, and Australia throughout an underwhelming .500 efficiency in Las Vegas.
Does Staff USA boast sufficient expertise to deliver again gold? Nicely, sure. After all it does.
In any case, the 2021 group rosters a number of NBA superstars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Draymond Inexperienced, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum.
There’s loads of expertise. The problem pertaining to Staff USA is getting that expertise to mesh collectively, to seek out cohesion amongst a star-studded group. It additionally might be a problem for Staff USA to beat its lack of measurement, though the group’s scoring depth is unmatched.
SCHEDULE
(All video games can be held at Saitama Tremendous Area, Japan)
Preliminary Spherical/Group A Play
Sunday vs. France, 8 a.m. ET
Wednesday vs. Iran, 12:40 a.m. ET
July 31: vs. Czech Republic, 8 a.m. ET
*Every group’s first- and second-place groups advance to the knockout spherical together with the 2 finest third-place finishers. The remaining 4 groups are eradicated after the group stage.
Quarterfinals: Aug. 2 & Aug. 3
Semifinals: Aug. 5
Finals: Aug. 6
Bronze Medal Sport: Aug. 7
LOCAL TIES
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum can be representing Staff USA. Tatum, 23, defined how he’s wanting ahead to his first Olympics. Lately employed Celtics head coach Ime Udoka additionally has been serving to out the teaching workers.
TOUGHEST OPPONENTS
Spain: The Spaniards are legit maybe finest depicted by the very fact they’re ranked No. 2 within the Worldwide Basketball Federation (FIBA). Spain possesses the dimensions — Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol — that might show a tricky matchup for Staff USA whereas level guard Ricky Rubio is among the many finest playmakers within the NBA. Spain additionally has the expertise and information on the best way to play Staff USA, who earned an exhibition win over the Spaniards final week.
Australia: The Aussies, No. 3 in FIBA, have by no means gained a medal however got here near profitable bronze in 2016. Australia’s roster accommodates an in depth quantity of NBA gamers with Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Aron Baynes, Matisse Thybulle, Dante Exum, Matthew Dellavedova and Josh Inexperienced.
France: It might be considerably shocking if France and Staff USA weren’t the 2 groups to advance out of Group A. It is a group headlined by Utah Jazz middle Rudy Gobert, however France has loads of different NBA skills like Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Frank Ntilikina. France completed sixth within the Rio Olympics however might flirt with the medal stand this time round.
