It was the expected semi-final: the UNITED STATES and the Serbia are here this Thursday evening (9 p.m.) for a place in the Olympic Games final. We can even specify that the two nations are meeting again since they have already crossed swords twice in the last month.
The first time, in Abu Dhabi on July 17, in a preparation match. The second, in Lille on July 28, in the group phase. Both matches ended with the same gap: +26 for the Americans. Big victories therefore, but which no longer count at this stage of the competition.
“Every game is its own test. It doesn't matter what the previous two games were, now it's about Thursday night.”, LeBron James advances. “We can't fall asleep because we beat them twice”insists Steve Kerr. “We have to be ready to give our best effort. We have to think about what they're going to do differently. Nikola Jokic could play 40 minutes. What else do they have up their sleeve?”
Team USA knows that its main problem is Nikola Jokic. In the first game of the competition, when the Nuggets pivot was on the court, the Serbians held 81-81. Without him, in nine minutes, they had conceded a terrible 29-3! This was confirmed against Australia, in the quarter-finals: with the triple MVP, who was decisive in overtime, Serbia was at +17. Without him, at -12…
“I think we'll be ready for that.”says Joel Embiid, who will be at the front facing the opposing pivot. If they think it's the best thing to do to beat us, they won't hesitate.”
