2019 FIBA World Cup: 3 biggest threats to take down Team USA

1. Serbia

Serbia comes into the tournament as Team USA’s biggest threat. They are led by Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic and made up of professional players who have played in the NBA or overseas. They are ranked this high due to their size, style of play, and international record. As a whole, their roster presents potentially serious mismatches that they can use to exploit their competition. To put their talent into perspective, they beat Giannis and Greece without Nikola Jokic.

Jokic is and should be Gregg Popovich’s main concern. Last season, he led the Nuggets to the second-best record in the Western Conference while also making First Team All-NBA. When Jokic was on the court Denver was running one of the most efficient offenses in the league. His passing ability allows him to be the primary facilitator, therefore giving them the opportunity to surround him with shooters.

Serbia also has the size that could severely hinder opposing offenses. The team has an average height of 6-foot-9 and its smallest players are 6-foot-5. This could be trouble for Kemba Walker and Donovan Mitchell on both ends of the court. Defense, in general, should be a concern for Team USA, especially against Serbia.

Team USA’s two best defensive big men are Myles Turner and Mason Plumlee. While they are still good, they are not the best the United States has to offer. The United States should be able to defend the wing positions; thanks to Khris Middleton, Harrison Barnes, and Jaylen Brown.

Overall, Serbia seems to be a step above all of the other competitors in the tournament. This is far from an easy win for the United States, so Popovich and company will need to strategize how to bring out strengths and minimize weaknesses.