USA vs Serbia – Preview for 2024 Olympics Basketball Semifinals

2024-08-08 ScoreWaves Staff

The 2024 Paris Olympics has truly been a spectacle that will live long in every sports fan’s memory. With spellbinding action taking place on a daily basis, fans have been spoilt for choice. But tonight, all eyes will be on the blockbuster semifinal clash between the US men’s national basketball team and Serbia.

The US men’s national basketball team came into the Olympics as favorites to clinch a fifth straight gold medal at the Olympics. And so far, Team USA’s performances has done their reputation no harm. On the contrary, Serbia’s journey to the semifinals has been anything but smooth, navigating a rollercoaster of a campaign. Yet, they’ve managed to secure their spot in the final four.

Now, they face a familiar opponent in Team USA, who previously defeated them 110-84 in the group stage. However, the intensity of a knockout game brings a whole new level of pressure, so tonight's matchup could be a much tighter contest.

No Easy Games

Following a dismal 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign in which USA finished fourth, NBA star LeBron James recruited multiple superstars for the 2024 Olympics. King James was successful in his quest, as he convinced superstars like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum and many more to represent the USA at the Olympics.

This conglomeration of superstars reminds many basketball fans of the 1992 Dream Team and 2008 Redeem Team. And so far, this star-studded Team USA has delivered on pre-Olympics promise. Due to the copious levels of talent on the roster, fans expect nothing less than a gold. And so far, this stacked Team USA have brushed aside every opposition they have faced with ease. They finished the group stage with a points difference of +64, the highest of any team.

Following their impressive group stage, Team USA overcame Brazil in the quarterfinal by a scoreline of 122-87. Despite this, the Americans shouldn’t get complacent, as things are very different in the knockout stages. One bad game could end the pursuit of a fifth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics.

How will Team USA cope with Nikola Jokic?

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr will have to find a solution for a very big problem: figuring out how to handle the three-time NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic. The Serbian is arguably the best player on the planet right now. He has the ability to completely takeover a game. His otherworldly skills were on full display in Serbia’s quarterfinal tie versus Australia. The Aussie completely dominated Serbia early on, but a superhuman effort from Jokic handed the Serbs a crucial victory. Jokic ended the game with 21 points, 14 boards, 9 assists and 4 steals.

Steve Kerr is well aware of the threat that Jokic possesses. In a recent interview, Kerr emphasized that the Americans need fully prepared for the job at hand. He said, “We can’t get lulled to sleep because we beat them twice. Does Jokic play 40 minutes? What else do they have up their sleeve? We have to be prepared for anything.”

Currently, Kerr has the privilege to choose from a selection of three truly elite centers. Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo and Joel Embiid will all be given minute in order to slow down Jokic tonight. However, Jokic has outclassed every single one of them in the NBA. He sent Davis home in two consecutive NBA playoffs and outshined Bam during the Nuggets' 2023 title triumph. Meanwhile, Jokic has three MVPs to Embiid’s one. It will be fascinating to see what tactics Kerr comes up with in order to slow down Jokic.