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Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior AuthorJul 26, 2024, 07:51 AM ET
Close- ESPN.com NBA author since 2010
- Coated Cleveland Cavs for seven years
- Writer of two books
PARIS — Probably the most aggressive worldwide males’s basketball event in historical past is lastly right here.
Simply being one of many 12 groups to qualify for the 2024 Olympics is a significant accomplishment. There are loaded groups and world-class gamers who’re wishing they had been in France now, together with the Luka Doncic-led Slovenia squad that reached the semifinals in Tokyo three years in the past, however misplaced in a pre-Olympic qualifying event earlier this month.
This is a have a look at what it’s essential to know to prepare for the event, which suggestions off Saturday with Australia vs. Spain (11 a.m. native time/5 a.m. ET).
The 12 nations competing for gold will likely be divided into three teams of 4 groups for the opening spherical. Every group performs the opposite three in its group. The groups with the 2 greatest information in every group will advance to the quarterfinals. Ties are damaged by head-to-head competitors after which level differential.
The 2 greatest third-place squads of the three teams additionally advance, which is the place level differential typically makes the most important distinction, so profitable issues, however profitable massive issues too (one thing NBA followers grew to become accustomed to throughout final season’s inaugural in-season event).
The eight groups that ultimately advance to the quarterfinals that begin on Aug. 6 will seemingly create an unpredictable and talent-rich knockout spherical.
MORE: Everything to know about Team USA
The favourite
Staff USA is the betting favourite (-400 at ESPN BET). The Individuals have gained the previous 4 gold medals and 7 of eight since NBA gamers had been allowed to compete in 1992. Staff architect Grant Hill has introduced arguably the deepest 12-man membership in this system’s historical past to Paris. Nonetheless, Staff USA’s gold in Tokyo in 2021 was very hard-fought run and illustrated how the margin for error has shrunk. Three years in the past, the Kevin Durant-led squad misplaced to France within the group stage and managed only a five-point victory within the gold medal recreation.
Within the lead-up to the Olympics this summer time, three of the group’s 5 exhibition video games weren’t determined till the ultimate minute or two, together with a one-point win over a South Sudan group it should see once more subsequent week. Head coach Steve Kerr, who was an assistant three years in the past in Tokyo, referred to as on the group to lift its depth degree because it arrived in Paris.
“That is what at present is about,” he mentioned on Thursday after the group’s movie session. “It is the reminder. It is time. We’re right here. So it is obtained to be 40 minutes of power and a focus and focus, and we won’t let groups outplay us effort- and energy-wise.”
Even by Staff USA requirements, this group has minimal time to jell. Solely two gamers, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, performed within the World Cup final summer time. Solely 5 — Durant, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum — performed in 2021 in Tokyo, and Durant missed your entire exhibition schedule nursing a sore calf. LeBron James has not performed for Staff USA for the reason that 2012 Olympics in London, and Stephen Curry is enjoying in his first Olympics (he did play within the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Cups).
The highest contenders:
• Canada has 10 present NBA gamers on its roster and a loaded backcourt with NBA MVP runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and NBA champion Jamal Murray, plus a bunch of wings who — not coincidentally — are splendid to beat the Individuals. Maybe equally as necessary, the Canadians have pressured continuity and have logged extra time collectively than their American counterparts as they attempt to bridge the expertise/chemistry divide that Staff USA all the time fights. Nonetheless, they headline the “Group of Loss of life” and face a brutal highway to the gold medal recreation.
• Serbia has Nikola Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP who has saved Staff USA up at night time worrying. It additionally possess NBA-level guards, one thing many European powers cannot say. Jokic and Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic have a ton of nationwide group expertise courting to Rio 2016, when the Serbs took the silver. Additionally, and maybe most necessary, they might get three seems at Staff USA. As soon as within the exhibition season, as soon as in pool play and probably as soon as for a medal. The coach is previous grasp Svetislav Pešić, who shocked many final yr in main the group to a silver within the World Cup with out Jokic.
• Australia gained its first medal in Tokyo — a bronze — however this yr’s group had barely decrease expectations. However it was very spectacular throughout pre-Olympic video games, which has elevated Australia’s possibilities in France. Josh Giddey has established himself because the centerpiece of the group and he racks up stats attacking the rim and distributing. Veteran coach Brian Goorjian has expertly ready the group and veteran guard Patty Mills, enjoying in his fifth Olympics, stays harmful as an explosive scorer, placing up 28 factors in an exhibition win over Jokic and Serbia earlier this month.
Might steal a medal
• France took the silver in Tokyo, however has had a disappointing 12 months. Final yr, it did not make it out of pool play on the World Cup. Then, even when including Victor Wembanyama to the group for the primary time in a significant competitors, it appeared much less spectacular in shedding 4 instances in pre-Olympic video games though all of them had been performed in France. The entrance line of Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert — the top-two finishers in NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting final season — is horrifying for opponents, however the French are missing within the backcourt and it actually reveals on this stage. Solely three of the group’s guards — Frank Ntilikina, Nando De Colo and Evan Fournier — have NBA expertise. They’re enjoying at house they usually have to be revered, however they aren’t as feared as 4 years in the past — or if they’d secured the providers of Joel Embiid, who’s as a substitute enjoying for Staff USA.
• Germany is such a well-built and skilled group, it would not really feel nice assigning it on this class. However it is a sign of how deep this event is. The Germans had been spectacular in profitable the World Cup final summer time. They have that tremendous priceless mixture of a dominant lead guard, worldwide star Dennis Schroeder, and a big and proficient entrance line with NBA gamers Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner and Daniel Theis. Their veteran coach, Gordy Herbert, has proved to be sensible at establishing and making ready his group.
Greatest pool play video games
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USA vs. Serbia, Sunday, 11:15 a.m. ET. A possible preview of the gold medal recreation, although the Individuals dominated an exhibition earlier this month, profitable 105-79.
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Spain vs. Greece, Tuesday, 5 a.m. ET. Giannis Antetokounmpo wept when Greece certified this month by beating Croatia. Successful this one would go a great distance towards advancing to the medal spherical, the place the Greek squad is in search of its first Olympic medal.
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Canada vs. Australia, Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. ET. A serious “Group of Loss of life” showdown that would decide who advances to the medal spherical. Canada hasn’t medaled since profitable silver on the first Olympic basketball event in 1936.
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Canada vs. Spain, Aug. 2, 11:15 a.m. ET. Canada coach Jordi Fernandez, the brand new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, may must safe a win over his house nation to advance.
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France vs. Germany, Aug. 2, 3 p.m. ET. A traditional European battle between groups loaded with massive males with vital stakes. It needs to be famous that no host nation has superior past the group stage since China in 2008.