United States, always the top favorite in the men’s basketball tournament of the Olympic Games, faces Tokyo 2020 with the doubts of a bumpy preparation by the coronavirus and the late incorporations. Its uncertainty is an opportunity for many applicants, such as Spain, France, Slovenia or Australia.
The selection of the stars and stripes, the undisputed dominator of the Olympic Games in six of its last seven editions -the only parenthesis was in Argentina in Athens 2004- faces Tokyo 2020 between doubts, not so much because of his losses in friendlies against Australia Y Nigeriabut because of the difficulties you have faced during its preparation.
To the problems with the coronavirus, which led to the dismissal of the Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, and the resignation due to physical problems of the power forward of the Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Love, the group that directs Gregg popovich has added the fact of not being able to train with the finalists of the NBA, the champions of Milwaukee Bucks Khris middleton Y Jrue Holiday and the Phoenix Suns runner-up Devin Booker, arriving this Saturday in Tokyo.
These conditions could generate a more even tournament, in which traditional teams of these leaders such as Spain, Australia or Argentina are joined by the emerging Slovenia, led by the star of the Dallas Mavericks Luka doncic, who took his team on the fly in the Pre-Olympic and arrives in Tokyo with enthusiasm.
A shorter, and more dangerous tournament
All this in a shorter, and more dangerous tournament. The road to gold in the men’s basketball tournament is shortened at these Tokyo 2020 Olympics from six to eight games, with fewer group matches and a draw to determine the quarterfinals.
If in previous Olympic events the structure of two groups of six teams each of which qualified four allowed the big teams to let go in one or even two games, with the three groups of four this possibility almost disappears. They should be used thoroughly and avoid stumbling, since the first two of each group and the two best third parties are classified.
This circumstance increases competitiveness in groups as controversial as C, which brings together the current world champion, Spain, the runner-up, Argentina, and the European champion, Slovenia, together with the hostess, Japan.
Doncic, accompanied by the eaves Vlatko Cancar and the pivot Mike Tobey has led his team to the Olympic ticket for the first time in its history by winning the pre-Olympic in Kaunas (Lithuania), it will be the great threat to the Spanish and Argentine teams, both immersed in a process of generational change.
In the Spanish case, ‘La Familia’ combines among its twelve players who have participated in the successful cycle of three Olympic medals, such as Pau Gasol, recovered from two years of injury to say goodbye to the national team at these Games, Rudy fernandez or Marc Gasol. Of an intermediate generation are the bases Sergio Rodriguez or Ricky Rubio, and the replacement starts with Willy Hernangómez, world champion in China, to the inner 19-year-old Usman Garuba. It will be necessary to see how the team fits the last minute drop of Juancho Hernangómez, the theoretical three selection holder.
For its part, Argentina includes the last representative of the ‘Golden Generation’ who achieved gold in Athens 2004, the pivot Luis Scola, along with the NBA Facundo Campazzo, Luca vildoza or Gabi deck; while in Japan they stand out Rui hachimura Y Yuta watanabe, also in American basketball.
In Group A, favoritism is United States. Beyond their losses in the first friendlies against Nigeria Y Australia, then amended by winning Argentina Y Spain, the impact of the coronavirus on their concentration and the absences until the last moment, the question arises of how the group of Gregg
Popovich and how he will adapt to the differences of FIBA basketball.
Together with ‘Team USA’ he will compete France, another of the favorites of the group led by Nico Batum, Evan fournier or Rudy gobert, Czech Republic who achieved the bill by imposing himself on Greece in the pre-Olympic of Victoria (Canada) and its most outstanding player is Tomas Satoransky, e Iran, where the giant continues to wage war at 36 Hamed haddadi (218 centimeters).
Group B is presented with greater equality, in which they will compete Australia, distinguished by FIBA as a gold candidate for its good performance in the previous friendlies and with Patty mills as a figure, a Nigeria full of NBA players who already surprised the United States in Las Vegas, Italy who won the pre-Olympic in Belgrade (Serbia) and Germany, which did the same in the one in Split (Croatia).
The two best of each group and the two best third parties will not know their rival based on their position, but will have to wait for a lottery, in which in one of the pots will be the three leaders of the group and the best second, and in the other will be the other two seconds and the two best third parties.
The draw will determine the crosses of quarter finals -in which teams from the same group cannot be found- and the road to the Olympic final.
United States aspires to his ninth Olympic gold, the fourth in a row after those of Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016; while Spain intends to chain its fourth metal, after remaining at the gates of gold in Beijing and London and obtaining bronze in Rio.
Tokyo 2020 Men’s Basketball Tournament Groups:
– Group A: United States, France, Iran and the Czech Republic.
– B Group: Germany, Australia, Italy and Nigeria.
– Group C: Argentina, Spain, Slovenia and Japan.
Schedule: group stage from July 25 to August 1, quarter-finals on August 3, semi-finals on 5 and final and match for bronze on 7.