The United States men's basketball team faces a significant challenge as they prepare to meet South Sudan in their second group-stage game on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET. Both teams come into this matchup riding high on their respective victories in the opening games — Team USA clinching a win against Serbia and South Sudan triumphing over Puerto Rico. With a spot in the quarterfinals on the line, the stakes are high.
Tensions Running High
The game against South Sudan promises to be intense, given the recent history between the two squads. In a recent exhibition match, the American team narrowly edged out South Sudan with a dramatic last-second shot from LeBron James, securing a 101-100 victory. Reflecting on that game, USA head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the challenge ahead: "They came within one shot of beating us."
South Sudan boasts an impressive roster featuring Wenyen Gabriel, JT Thor, Marial Shayok, and Carlik Jones. Notably, Khaman Maluach, a 7-foot-2 freshman at Duke and a projected 2025 NBA draft lottery pick, adds significant height and skill to the team. Carlik Jones, in particular, has shown he can be a game-changer, posting a triple-double in the exhibition game against the Americans and scoring 19 points, along with six assists and seven rebounds, in the win over Puerto Rico.
South Sudan's Potent Offense
South Sudan’s offensive strategy and execution present a challenge that demands respect. Steph Curry, speaking to the media, emphasized the importance of not underestimating their opponents: "We have appropriate fear. We know we can't just sleepwalk through any game and feel like you're going to win." He further elaborated on South Sudan’s strengths: "They're a very high-octane offense, spread the floor, shoot a lot of 3s and have athleticism. So you just got to be mindful of how to guard them. It's totally different than Serbia."
Team USA's Game Plan
Kerr faces critical decisions as he formulates a strategy for Wednesday's showdown. In the opener against Serbia, Kerr did not play Jayson Tatum, a decision he reflected on with some regret: "I felt like an idiot for not playing Tatum a single second in the opener." Therefore, team rotations and leveraging the strengths of key players like Kevin Durant, who scored 23 points against Serbia, will be crucial. Stephen Curry's performance, despite going 12 for 31 in shooting over the last three games, remains pivotal, especially from beyond the arc where he has sunk seven three-pointers.
The format of the Olympic basketball tournament adds another layer of urgency to the proceedings. With 12 teams divided into three groups of four, each team plays a round-robin schedule. Wins are worth two points, and losses one, with tiebreakers decided by head-to-head results. The top two teams from each group, along with the top two third-place teams, advance to the quarterfinals, transitioning into a single-elimination knockout tournament. In the case of tiebreakers for the wild card spots among teams from different groups, total score differentials come into play.
Past Performances and Future Implications
The Americans will undoubtedly leverage their experience from the exhibition game to prepare for the fast-paced, three-point laden attack of South Sudan. As Kerr aptly put it, "I'm really glad that we played them so we can feel their speed and their 3-point shooting ability and feel how good they are." This familiarity, however, does not translate to complacency. Team USA will need to bring their A-game to secure their ticket to the quarterfinals.
The presence of superstars like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, and Joel Embiid in the starting lineup signifies the depth and strength of Team USA. Yet, it's the cohesion, strategic play, and the lessons learned from past encounters that will ultimately determine their success.
Basketball fans worldwide will be glued to their screens as this high-stakes contest unfolds. With both teams motivated and well-prepared, Wednesday’s game promises to be a thrilling display of talent, strategy, and determination.