Who will beat Team USA?

The 2024 Olympic basketball quarterfinals cast is set with Germany, Greece, Canada and France in one group.  Serbia, Australia, Brazil and the US are in another group.  Hostilities start early morning today, August 7, PH time.

These are one game scenarios and for the eight teams, their assignments are must-wins to advance to the semis.

Germany, whose game is anchored on Dennis Schroeder and Franz Wagner, battles Greece, which is bannered by Giannis Antetokounmpo.    The game leans heavily toward the 2023 FIBA World Cup champions as they have strong inside presence with Daniel Theis, Moritz Wagner and Johannes Voigtmann, legit big men who can stretch the floor.

France goes up against Canada.  The Canadians have the greatest number of NBA-caliber talents outside of the US.  Evan Fournier had seen better days, likewise Nando de Colo but if Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama can dominate the defensive end, they might have a chance against Canada.

My pick for this group – Germany and Canada advances.

Serbia faces Australia.  Nikola Jokic is an opposing team’s nightmare as his moves, though not fancy, are unpredictable.  If Bogdan Bogdanovic gets hot from the outside at the right time, then the Aussies will be in trouble.

Australia, bronze medalist in the last Olympics, is no pushover either.   Patty Mills, Josh Giddey, Josh Green, Dante Exum, Jock Landale and Dyson Daniels are legit NBA players.  Jack McVeigh burned the hoops in the group stage so he should get a good duel with Bogdanovic.

The US plays Brazil and all things point to a victory, and by a large margin.  Bruno Caboclo is the best player on the Brazilian roster, who last played in the NBA during the 2020-2021 season.  It has a current NBA player, Gui Santos, but coach Steve Kerr prefers to spend most of his time on the bench with the Golden State Warriors.

I’ll have the Australians versus the US in the semis.

Between the Germans and the Canadians, I’ll have the US northern neighbors as the biggest threat.  It will take a significant effort and solid team chemistry from the Canadians to upset the mighty US.  This all comes down to a one-game, winner-take-all matchup.