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The 2016 Rio Olympic Games are just around the corner and Basketball is one of the premier sports on the programme.
The qualifiers are in, the draw is set and the squads are named – yet we are still left with one question in Group A. Who can stop the USA?
While the USA are favourites for the group, and the Australian Boomers should get through to the next round with a comfortable finish in the top three alongside France, the question of who can come through and finish fourth remains to be seen.
There is plenty of talent across the other squads – being Venezuela, Serbia and China, with Serbia in particular making the final of the 2014 World Cup and Basketball growing exponentially through China.
It will be an absolute battle for the all important fourth spot, which confirms quarter-final qualification, although the top three teams will not want to turn up expecting wins with plenty of talent littered through each team.
| Date | Time | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| Sun Aug 7 | 3:15 AM | Australia | France |
| Sun Aug 7 | 8:00 AM | China | USA |
| Sun Aug 7 | 11:30 AM | Venezuela | Serbia |
| Tue Aug 9 | 3:15 AM | Serbia | Australia |
| Tue Aug 9 | 8:00 AM | USA | Venezuela |
| Tue Aug 9 | 11:30 AM | France | China |
| Thu Aug 11 | 3:15 AM | Serbia | France |
| Thu Aug 11 | 8:00 AM | Australia | USA |
| Thu Aug 11 | 11:30 AM | Venezuela | China |
| Sat Aug 13 | 3:15 AM | China | Australia |
| Sat Aug 13 | 8:00 AM | USA | Serbia |
| Sat Aug 13 | 11:30 AM | France | Venezuela |
| Mon Aug 15 | 3:15 AM | USA | France |
| Mon Aug 15 | 8:00 AM | Australia | Venezuela |
| Mon Aug 15 | 11:30 AM | Serbia | China |
Australia
The Boomers have a lot of work to do if they want to take home the gold medal.
While they have a squad that is one of the best they have sent to an Olympics, with six players either in the NBA or with NBA experience their form left a lot to be desired before flying out to Rio, and at the time of writing they haven’t had a chance to rectify that in Rio.
After an exhaustive training camp in Melbourne, which essentially gave us a squad most could have picked before the camp they took on an American college All-Star team and struggled to put the pieces together.
While there might have been some rust given they had barely played together, or fatigue from the incredible amount of training it was structure at both ends of the court that was concerning and they need to get that right facing other international teams.
Since arriving in Rio they have had one game cancelled due to a leaking roof, and a few shaky performances before Andrew Bogut returned and seemed to make an immediate impact.
Their squad is solid enough as mentioned but there are major problems about where they should expect to score their points from.
Apart from the presence of Aron Baynes inside and Patty Mills roaming the perimeter they don’t have any genuine scorers. The likes of David Andersen, Cameron Bairstow and Kevin Lisch can all add useful contributions but it is nothing like what they may need.
Squad
David Andersen, Cameron Bairstow, Aron Baynes, Andrew Bogut, Ryan Broekhoff, Matthew Dellavedova, Chris Goulding, Joe Ingles, Kevin Lisch, Damian Martin, Patty Mills, Brock Motum
Prediction
Should finish second in this group and could end up with a spot in the final, if they can knock off Spain presumably in the semi-finals which is odds an odds-on chance of happening.
China
A youthful and inexperienced squad may be the case for China, but they will work a way to put up a fight. Only having three players over the age of 25 will be both an advantage and a disadvantage, in that there will be stacks of enthusiasm, but they may come unstuck at various points.
Given their qualification was booked as champions of the Asia Championships, it does show they have plenty of potential but at the same time it is yet to be proven they can play away from home.
All of their players are in the National Chinese League, and without a doubt, Zhou Peng will be key to their efforts. The captain, who can play at small forward, shooting guard or point guard has had improving numbers domestically and will need a big effort to get China over the line.
Somehow, their defensive game inside must also stand up. They have struggled with this on occasion, and the experience of Yian Jianlian needs to show through here.
Squad
Zhao Jiwei, Sui Ran, Guo Ailun, Wang Zhelin, Ding Yanyuhang, Zhai Xiaochuan, Zhou Peng, Yi Jianlian, Li Gen, Li Muhao, Zou Yuchen, Zhou Qui
Prediction
Will put up a challenge to get out of the group stage no doubt about it, but ultimately won’t get there. Still, Basketball is growing in China exponentially and we could see very different results in four years time for the youthful side.
France
With a squad led by NBA talents Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum it doesn’t exactly take much to work out why France should have a strong Olympics campaign.
Parker, of course, is one of the most experienced players going around and will put all that to good use in an attempt to anchor the team from the point.
Young Utah Jazz player Roudy Gobert is also in the squad, and will be an absolute menace at centre. At 2.16 metres tall, he is a monster and most sides will struggle to contain him. His combination with Parker and power forward Diaw is going to be huge for the French.
With Gobert on the inside, the passing game of Parker will also come into effect as the sharp shooting Nicolas Batum roams the perimeter. If their combinations click, and the defence of an opposition is even half a step late on their rotation, France will find a way to score 99 times out of 100.
With Parker leading the defence, and the experienced Diaw inside it would come as a surprise if they conceed many points.
Squad
Thomas Heurtel, Nicolas Batum, Antoine Diot, Joffrey Lauvergne, Charles Lombahe-Kahudi, Tony Parker, Florent Pietrus, Nando de Colo, Boris Diaw, Mickael Gelabale, Kim Tillie, Adrien Moerman
Prediction
Will put up a strong challenge for the second spot in Group A, but ultimately they should go down to the Australian side and finish third.
Serbia
How Serbia have fallen! They surprised the hell out of everyone to make it to the final of the 2015 Basketball World Cup going down to the United States of America, but then had to qualify for the Olympics.
While they were never realistically going to beat the USA in that final what has happened since then is disappointing for a side that were showing so much promise.
In saying that they have lost a few players from that campaign, with a young squad coming into the Olympics now.
Young centre Nikola Jokic will cause headaches in the post for other teams and after being one of the MVP’s from the qualifying tournament he will have a massive role to play with rebounding being an absolute priority, particularly when the rest of the team will be going for the small ball approach.
Captain Milos Teodosic, who was a massive part of their world cup team will again need to lead from the front with his passing game. He led the way for assists throughout the world cup, and against during the qualifiers.
Their other key weapon, Bogdan Bogdanovic is a sharp shooter in a true sense of the word, leading Serbia for points in both the qualifiers and world cup.
Squad
Milos Teodosic, Marko Simonovic, Nemanja Dangubic, Bogdan Bodanovic, Stefan Markovic, Nikola Kalinic, Nemanja Nedovic, Stefan Bircevic, Miroslav Raduljica, Nikola Jokic, Vladimir Stimac, Marko Guduric, Stefan Jovic, Milan Macvan
Prediction
Serbia made it all the way to the last World Cup Final, and even though they won’t make those lofty heights again they should get out of the group stage. Fourth place.
United States of America
The United States of America, the best basketball team in international basketball have been rocked by ‘I don’t want to go to Rio-itis’ but still have the strongest squad at the Games by a considerable margin.
Every one of their players is in the NBA and as long as the squad gel on offence then there is no reason why they won’t be as successful as past teams.
Their warm-up game, played just before the time of writing was also a demolition job and further shows their class, with a massive win over China.
Kevin Durant will be the key for the side, with his shooting ability and height on defence needing to shine through. If it does, the rest should be a walk in the park, especially when you consider both Klay Thompson and Carmelo Anthony are there to score big.
Staying fit and healthy may be the biggest concern for the USA, considering everyone has just been through a gruelling 82-game season.
Squad
Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, DeAndre Jordan, Kyle Lowry, Harrison Barnes, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, Draymond Green, Carmelo Anthony
Prediction
There is no question they have the strongest squad, even with the players out. Realistically, they are the favourites and should uphold that tag taking gold and placing first in the group stages.
Venezuela
The Venezuela squad is a little bit of an unknown. They advanced to the Games by winning the Americas Championships. After only just making it out of the group stage there, they surprised everyone knocking over Canada in the semi-final and world no 4. Argentina in the final.
It was a seriously impressive performance, and one that they can look to build on. At the same time they were playing well above what their squad suggests and might struggle to keep that up in Rio.
Jose and Gregory Vagas will be the key to their efforts, with both carrying plenty of experience and even in their 30’s still performing in the domestic league.
Greivis Vasquez, who is on the Brooklyn Nets roster will have a big role to play as a guard and his passing is what Venezuela’s whole campaign could come down to while John Cox, who plays in Europe will have plenty of pressure on his performance.
Venezuela will probably go for a small ball line up, given their best four players are either guards or three’s who can play guard and aim to attack with shooting from deep.
Squad
Luis Bethelmy, Harold Cazorla, Nestor Colmenares, J.R. Coronado, Johnn Cox, David Cubillan, Gregory Echenique, Cesar Garcia, Windi Graterol, Heissler Guillent, Dwight Lewis, Miguel Marriaga, Anthony Perez, Miguel Ruiz, Gregory Vargas, Javinger Vargas, Jose Vargas, Greivis Vasquez
Prediction
They might be the Americas Champions, but they won’t be making much of an impact at this Olympics.
Roarers, what do you think about Group A? Who is going to get up here and can anyone stop the USA?
Stay tuned for Group B tomorrow!
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde