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The United States of America will need to improve their effort and consistency when they take on Argentina in the quarter-final of the Rio Olympics. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:45am (AEST).
The USA have that much talent on their team you would think they have won every game so far in a blowout, however it just wasn’t that easy for them.
After the first two games against the weakest team in Group A – Venezuela and China and both being blowouts to the effect of 50-odd points they have struggled to show any domination.
It all kicked off with a game against the Boomers where they were down at halftime and scrapped through by ten – from there Serbia and France have also taken them all the way to the wire and they look like a team relying on talent alone – or in other words becoming very complacent.
Their defence has been stationary, and attack not much better. They have taken low percentage shots more often than not and simply refuse to get physical in the paint.
In saying that, they have so many shooters. Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving just to name a few – if Argentina’s defence doesn’t rotate and switch perfectly, they will give up a lot of open shots.
If you are to beat the USA, it is generally acknowledged you must keep them to under 100 points – and that isn’t going to happen if wide open shots are being given up left, right and centre.
On the other hand, Argentina started their Group B campaign in very strong fashion with a pair of wins over Nigeria and Croaita. The win against Nigeria was fantastic before they hung on well against Croatia.
They would then drop a game to Lithuania before defeating Brazil and losing by 19 to Spain which was an issue.
Their defence was very weak throughout the match, and they were equally bad on offence taking poor options. However, at the same time they have played quality basketball for four matches with the likes of Luis Scola and Facundo Campazzo playing great basketball.
Argentina are though, outmatched in every single key statistic for this match.
Prediction
It’s impossible to tip against the USA – they are the best team in the world but Argentina could trouble them. They have had a lot of tough matches in Group B and that will leave them in good stead. Consider the complacency of the Americans as well and don’t be surprised if it’s very close through the first three-quarters.
USA by 5.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this men’s quarter-final from 7:45pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.