Defending Olympic champions Team USA will start its defense of the gold it won in 2016 in Rio in a marquee matchup against France. This is must-watch basketball that you don’t want to miss, folks. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Team USA vs France Summer Olympics Men’s Basketball on July 25, 2021
Where: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
When: Sunday, July 25, 2021, 8:00 AM ET
Line: Team USA (odds) vs. France (odds) – view all 2021 Summer Olympics lines
TV Broadcast: NBC
Betting on the Team USA (odds)
The strongest team on the field does not need much introduction to basketball fans, especially to those who have been consuming NBA brand of basketball for the most part of their lives. Led by Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, this iteration of Team USA is stacked to the gills even though it doesn’t have other big hitters like Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, and LeBron James. Apart from Durant, Team USA has the likes of Devin Booker, Khris Middleton, Zach LaVine, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard, each of them capable of taking over a game. The frontcourt has some questions, as it only has Bam Adebayo and JaVale McGee as true centers, but they should still be able to match up well against Rudy Gobert, who will have to worry so much about the other Team USA players. Booker and Middleton join the team late as they have to finish up on their NBA commitments, but at least they won’t have to worry about rust.
Betting on the France (odds)
France is looking forward to finishing better than in its past two trips to the Olympics. The French, who placed sixth both in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio games, brings a loaded roster to Japan. Among the players to watch out in the side of France are Los Angeles Clippers forward Nic Batum, Boston Celtics swingman Evan Fournier, and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. France also has Frank Ntilikina, whose contract with the New York Knicks is about to expire. Ntilikina can use a strong performance against Team USA as an audition for a new contract in the NBA. Other notable names on France’s roster are Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot of the Nets and former EuroLeague MVP Nando de Colo. It could also be remembered that it was France who eliminated the Americans in the quarterfinals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, so confidence shouldn’t be lacking on the part of the Le Bleus.
Writer’s Prediction
Team USA wins, 95-84.
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