It's here: the 2024 Olympic Games are about to begin and the United States is once again the favorite for the gold medal. It must be said that after the disappointments during the last World Cups, and a last tight Olympic final, Team USA sent the “Avengers” of LeBron James and Stephen Curry to retain its title.
What could win a fifth consecutive title? Provided you have the level of intensity demanded by Steve Kerr…
Is this Olympic tournament the most competitive in history, as many (including Vincent Collet) say? It is indeed extremely dense in talent, especially NBA, with eight teams that can aim for the podium.
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UNITED STATES
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker…
When the UNITED STATES announced their squad for the 2024 Olympics, the entire basketball world was talking about a Team USA in “Avengers” mode. But after Kawhi Leonard's last-minute withdrawal, the Jaylen Brown controversy and two final preparation games won on the wire, Steve Kerr issued a reminder: even if the squad is monstrous, and has room for manoeuvre over the rest of the field, the American selection can no longer take its opponents lightly. Especially with Kevin Durant returning to the group without preparation.
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Serbia, Germany and Canada
The reigning vice-world champion, Serbia has also added Nikola Jokic, its triple NBA MVP, to its squad, and can legitimately aim very high in these Olympic Games, behind its locomotive Bogdan Bogdanovic in FIBA.
Serbia may not have the ideal team profile to take down Team USA, but they will obviously be difficult to handle in the hands of their mage, Svetislav Pesic.
Obviously, theGermany also has everything to confirm its great 2023 World Cup. Behind its dragster Dennis Schröder, not always effective but essential to break the first lines of defense, and a general capacity to stretch the field, in particular via its interiors, the “Mannschaft” will have its say.
Just like the Canadaa physical team, led by the elegant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the group that won the bronze medal at the last World Cup. With Jamal Murray in addition, despite his strange preparation, Canada has what it takes to obtain an even more precious metal. And beat Team USA again?
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Australia, France, Spain and Greece
A little further down the hierarchy, theAustralia is looking for a new balance, around Josh Giddey. Patty Mills can still catch fire, but the sparks are getting further and further away with age, and with the change of generation, it is the general balance of this team that seems to need to be redefined.
Andrew Bogut explained in recent days that he did not see very well which group would be able to conclude the tight matches. In these conditions, can the Boomers win a medal, like in Tokyo?
It's a bit the same situation for the Francewho will now build around Victor Wembanyama. Enough to rebuild a solid defensive base. Now it also remains to be seen how to find offensive threats that hold up, while the preparation has shown the limits of the exterior lines.
Even though the Olympics are a very special competition, with few matches and an extreme importance of matchups and the course, this version of Les Bleus will need a little help to reach the last four…
For'Spain and the Greecethere also seems to be a gap with the best nations, although we must always be wary of the Spanish playing academy, especially with Sergio Scariolo at its head. And that with a Giannis Antetokounmpo driven by Vassilis Spanoulis, Greece can surprise.
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Brazil, South Sudan, Japan and Puerto Rico
For the BrazilTHE South SudanTHE Japan And Porto Ricothe road to medals seems too complicated.
But the Seleçao surprised Latvia in Riga during the OQT, and a victory against France in the first group match could allow them to take a big option on the quarter-finals. Luol Deng's selection, a great story of this competition, has nothing to lose and intends to make people talk about this very young country, as was the case after the very narrow defeat in preparation against the United States.
Finally, Rui Hachimura and Jose Alvarado's teammates will rely on their particular playing styles to create one or more sensations. And thus succeed in reaching the last eight teams in the competition?
