Australian vs Greece Preview: Battle for Group Stage Survival With Antetokounmpo’s Chance of Advancing

On August 2, the men’s basketball group stage of the Paris Olympics reached its final round with Australia facing Greece. This is a battle for survival in the group stage, as all three teams in Group A, excluding Canada which has already secured their place, are vying for advancement.

Australia had a mixed start, winning one and losing one game so far. They started strongly with a 92-80 victory over Spain, but lost 83-93 to Canada in their second match, thus missing an opportunity to advance early. In their past two games, Josh Giddey has been consistent, solidifying his role as the team’s leader. Veteran Patty Mills’ performance has been inconsistent, while Clint Capela has provided stability on the interior, making the team’s defense more reliable. His performance against Greece will be crucial, given the challenge posed by Antetokounmpo.

Australia currently stands at 1 win and 1 loss, ranking second in the group with a +2 net score, yet they cannot guarantee their advancement. Their roster, led by the young Giddey and supported by Mills, along with NBA players like Chima Olonkwo, Tyrese Haliburton, Dante Exum, and Joe Ingles, is strong. However, they have been drawn into a tough group.

Greece emerged victorious in the pre-tournament qualifiers, only to find themselves in a challenging group. After losing both of their first two group games, the gap in strength between the teams is evident. In their opening match, Greece fell 79-86 to Canada, and in their second, 77-84 to Spain, losing by seven points in each game. Antetokounmpo was lone star, displaying explosive performances, yet lacking sufficient support. He scored 34 points in the first game and 27 points with 11 rebounds in the second, with only one player from the NBA on Greece’s list.

Antetokounmpo remains determined to help his team win, but the depth of his squad doesn’t match that of other teams. However, he still has a chance. If Australia can secure a significant win over Greece and Spain loses to Canada, Greece might even snatch second place. Greece’s current issue lies in the need for other players to step up and provide support for Antetokounmpo, rather than relying solely on him to counteract the entire opposing team.

The situation in Group A is complex, with Canada leading at 2 wins and 0 losses, followed by Australia and Spain with 1 win and 1 loss each, and Greece trailing at 0 wins and 2 losses. Despite Canada’s guaranteed advancement, their final ranking is uncertain and could even drop to third. Both Australia and Spain have the potential to rise to the top. All these outcomes will be decided in the final round, where the fate of each team rests in their own hands.

>> For more predictions on this match, please click >>>