US Men’s Basketball vs Germany Preview: James and Curry Lead a Heavyweight Clash as USA Strives for Five Consecutive Wins

On July 23 at 3 AM, the US men’s basketball team will face off against the German men’s basketball team in their fourth Olympic warm-up match. This game is set to be an absolute powerhouse of a showdown, with the German team boasting impressive capabilities, ranking second on the FIBA Olympic Men’s Basketball Power Index after winning last year’s World Cup. The US team, known for its unparalleled competitiveness, has assembled an elite roster that promises an exciting match. Let’s delve into the details of both teams.

The US team boasts an illustrious history of outstanding performances and maintains a constant edge in competition. For this tournament, they have brought together an exceptionally talented squad, led by NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James. On the center position, big men Embiid and Davis, alongside Adebayo, form an impenetrable defensive wall and offensive power source. On the forward line, players like Durant and Tatum are present, while the backcourt features Curry paired with rising stars Edwards and Haliburton. All twelve players on the US team are considered All-Star level, and the US aims for the championship title in this Olympics.

The US team has won all four of their warm-up matches so far, defeating Canada (86-72), Australia (98-91), Serbia (105-79), and South Sudan (101-100). Their recent performance has been commendable, but their clash against South Sudan did reveal significant issues. However, it’s not an issue that can’t be rectified before the actual tournament, which is a positive aspect for them.

In their first game against Canada, James and Curry combined for 19 points, with James scoring only 7 points, and Davis contributing 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, with Edwards also adding 13 points from the bench. The US team managed to win with a 50.7% shooting percentage. In their match against Australia, AD and Booker performed well from the bench, with the US team having six players score double digits. AD scored 17 points and 14 rebounds, while James scored 10 points and 3 rebounds, and Edwards scored 14 points and 3 rebounds, leading the US team to a victory over a formidable opponent.

The clash with Serbia was relatively straightforward for the US team, as they dominated in both rebounding and shooting efficiency. Curry scored a game-high 24 points and 3 rebounds, while Edwards scored 16 points off the bench. James scored 11 points on 7 shots, and the US team had 14 players who played, with 12 of them scoring points, showcasing their overwhelming strength. However, in their previous game against South Sudan, the US team narrowly escaped defeat. Throughout the match, South Sudan maintained pressure, and in the first quarter, the US team was even behind by 6-21. Fortunately, James made a crucial shot near the end to secure a 1-point win, preventing the US team from facing an embarrassing situation. Nonetheless, conceding 100 points to South Sudan indicates that the US team needs to reflect on their defensive strategies. In this game, the US team was outperformed in rebounding, shooting efficiency, particularly three-point shooting, compared to South Sudan. James scored 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, while AD contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Edwards scored 11 points on 7 three-point attempts. Although the team won, it is enough to warrant attention from the US team.

As for the German team, as the champions of the last World Cup, they are no less formidable, displaying distinct playing styles characterized by resilience and agility. Despite their smaller size in the frontcourt, which grants them speed advantages, they may struggle in aerial dominance against stronger opponents. Therefore, the German team needs to leverage their speed style in the frontcourt effectively. If they fail to generate results from their frontcourt, the German team will likely find themselves in a disadvantageous position.

In their four warm-up matches, the German team has a record of 3 wins and 1 loss, defeating France (66-90), avenging them in the second game (70-65), winning against the Netherlands (95-50), and defeating Japan (104-83). In their first game against France, Wagner brothers and Thies were absent, allowing the dominance of French player Valančiūnas in the German frontcourt, resulting in a defeat. However, they soon avenged themselves. The match against the Netherlands saw the German team’s full-court pressure, with 13 three-pointers made, making the Dutch team uncomfortable throughout the game. In their most recent game against Japan, the German team showed a clear advantage, with five players scoring double digits, and Wagners Jr. scoring 27 points and 8 rebounds from 16 shots, while Schroder added 12 points and 4 assists.

Historically, the US team has had an advantage over the Germans, but in the last World Cup, the US team lost to Germany (111-113). Although the current German team is much stronger than the one they faced last year, they may still struggle against the strong US team, especially given the recent US team’s struggle against South Sudan.