Team USA Basketball to Face Australia in Biggest Challenge Yet in 2016 Rio Olympics
The last two games of Team USA in the 2016 Rio Olympics Basketball event were blowouts. In the first game, USA beat China with a score of 119-62. In the second game, USA beat Venezuela in a more thrilling match in the early stages of the game, but still a blowout final score of 113-69.
Australia had an easier route qualifying to the Olympics than European teams. For this and other reasons, many basketball aficionados place France and Serbia ahead of Australia, with all teams eventually facing team USA in the group stages.
But Australia upped its status as one of the toughest tests for Team USA in Rio, when it dominated France with a score of 87-66 and won against Serbia with a score of 95-80.
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Team Australia's Strengths
Indeed, the world is realizing how great Australia's basketball team is. It convincingly defeated two teams that are among the 4 best in Europe. The team is also composed of 6 NBA players, including two backcourt stars; Matthew Dellavedova, a current NBA champion, and Patty Mills, a former NBA Champion.
With the championship experience that the Australian players have, they aren't as fazed by the NBA star-studded Team USA. Still, Andrew Bogut, said, "They're the best team in the world, best players in the world, I think if we go out there with the mindset that we can compete with them, win or lose, we will be happy with that."
Australia's top score is Patty Mills. He has scored 47 points in the last two games. Matthew Dellavedova is the lead passer with 23 assists in two games and only one turnover. While both players aren't starters in the NBA, they're skills should challenge Team USA's defense, which may not be as refined as some NBA teams that have been together for much longer.
What Coaches Think
Coach Mike Krzyzewski of Team USA acknowledged that Australia will be a much tougher opponent than the previous two games. In fact, he said that Australia can beat team USA so they need to prepare.
Krzyzewski also praised Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova, calling them "two of the best passers in the tournament."
Andrej Lemanis, coach of Australia, said that his team is a confident team; one that isn't intimidated by playing against NBA stars. He adds that some of Australia's players have indeed played in the NBA, with some of them playing in the same team with the players in team USA.
Schedule
The USA vs Australia Olympic basketball game will be held in August 10, 2016, Wednesday, at 6 p.m. You can view the game at NBCSN or NBCOlympics.com.
