Team USA is gearing up for a semifinal face-off against Serbia in the 2024 Paris Olympics basketball competition. The highly anticipated game is set to take place at Bercy Arena in Paris at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 8.
Team USA has shown remarkable form throughout the group stages, taking down formidable opponents such as Serbia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan. A notable victory came against Brazil, ranked 12th by FIBA, as well as wins over Puerto Rico (ranked 16th) and South Sudan (ranked 33rd).
In their previous group stage encounter, Team USA defeated Serbia by an impressive 26 points. This game saw Team USA convert 18 of their 32 three-point attempts, boasting a phenomenal 56.3% success rate. In contrast, Serbia struggled from beyond the arc, making only 9 of their 37 attempts, resulting in a 24.3% success rate.
Despite this recent triumph, Team USA remains wary of Serbia, who defeated them at the 2019 World Cup. Serbia has a storied record, securing a silver medal in the 2023 World Cup and another silver at the 2016 Olympics. Serbia’s roster is further bolstered by the presence of powerhouse Nikola Jokic.
Strategic Insights
As anticipation builds for the semifinal clash, insights into Team USA’s strategy suggest a fast-paced game plan aimed at exploiting Serbia’s weaknesses. A source familiar with Team USA's game plan mentioned, "The idea is going to be to play fast, get Serbia in rotation and take advantage of the fact that Jokic is neither an elite rim protector nor switch defender."
Meanwhile, confidence runs high within Serbia’s camp. An anonymous source emphasized the team's reliance on their star player: "We have the best player and we're going to ride him for 40 minutes."
The Road to Gold
The stakes for this semifinal game couldn't be higher. The winner will advance to face France in the gold medal game, a contest likely to draw international attention and excitement. As the teams prepare, the spotlight will undoubtedly fall on the key players and the tactical adjustments each team will make to gain the upper hand.
The basketball world will be watching closely to see if Team USA can continue their dominant run and secure a place in the gold medal game, or if Serbia will upend their hopes and continue their own quest for Olympic glory.