Chapter 582 Olympic Group Match

The confrontation between the two major basketball empires of China and the United States has obviously become the biggest highlight of this Olympics.

Thanks to the advantage of the host country, the opponents encountered by Longguo in the group stage are obviously easier.

Australia, Angola, and Brazil can only be regarded as second-rate teams. Although Greece and Serbia are first-rate, the former has defeated the United States in the group stage of the 2006 World Championships, and the latter also defeated the United States in the finals of the 2007 World Youth Championship.

But Greece won that time only because the US team relaxed and was careless in the group stage, and top players such as Kobe and Duncan did not participate.

At the same time, Serbia only defeated the US youth team.

In addition, after the popularity of the Champions League, Spain, Germany and other countries have risen by naturalization with their wealth, and Greece and Serbia, two traditional European powerhouses, have now fallen to the end of the first echelon.

In contrast, the Americans encountered almost all the new first-tier teams in the world in the group stage.

Needless to say, Japan has risen to the sixth place in the world in the FIBA ​​rankings. This is only because it has won too few international games. If we really count the strength, most people think that Japan can enter the top five.

In addition, Germany, which has three major inside giants, Lithuania, which represents team basketball, Spain, which has naturalized Koksinrich, and even Argentina, which was the fourth place in the previous session and has a demon sword, are all strong teams. Even if they can't beat the United States, they will probably make them lose a layer of skin, which is enough to consume their physical strength and energy in turn.

The death group of Dragon Country has become the death group of Americans, so that the original odds of winning the championship of 40% for the United States and 30% for Dragon Country have been adjusted to 35% each because of this group.

This is really... Feng Shui turns around, and it's my turn this year.

The right time, right place, and right people are all gathered together, so that even Lao Li, who is usually the most cautious person, can't help but want to shout the slogan of winning the championship in his heart.

The schedule is every other day. On August 10, the Dragon team will play against Australia in the first match, Greece on the 12th, Serbia on the 14th, Brazil on the 16th, and Angola on the 18th, the last day of the group stage.

Although the Dragon team, which is playing on its home turf, is destined to receive countless attention, the disparity in strength also means that these five matches are unlikely to be exciting or intense.

In contrast, the US team's group stage schedule has attracted more attention from fans around the world.

The first match will be against Japan on the 10th.

And this match has also made the whole of Japan boil over.

Playing against the US team in the Olympics? If it were a few years ago, Japanese fans would not dare to imagine it at all. Not to mention playing against the US team, even entering the Olympics was a luxury for Japan.

But now... not only has it entered the Olympics, not only has it played against the US, but Japan even has a little chance of defeating the US!

Don't say it's impossible. The odds of those international bets can't deceive people. In those bets, some people are optimistic about Japan's small bets, so the overall odds are only about 1:4, which means that 25% of people think Japan can win!

August 10, Wukesong Sports Center, players' locker room.

The Japanese basketball team has already changed their jerseys and gathered together, surrounding Coach Anzai, whose face is no longer so "Q-elastic" and even a little thin.

Sakuragi Hanamichi, Rukawa Kaede, Fujima, Tsuchiya Jun, Zebei Rongzhi, Mori Shigehiro, Kawata Masashi... Although these people are all regulars in the NBA or the Champions League, and although they are used to all kinds of big scenes.

But representing their country in the Olympics and competing against the world's so-called strongest basketball empire, they finally showed more or less tension and excitement on their faces. Even Sakuragi Hanamichi, who usually talks the most nonsense, kept shaking his legs at this time, staring at Coach Anzai's two lips that kept flipping.

Coach Anzai's physical condition has been good recently, thanks to his inner belief. The closer he is to the Olympic day, the better he feels.

To be honest, Coach Anzai has said countless times what should and should not be said.

He also talked to every player privately, enlightened, and encouraged them, and maximized his role as a spiritual mentor.

In this team, everyone knows their position and responsibilities, everyone knows their positioning and goals, and everyone is mature enough.

At this moment, there is no need to do any psychological construction. Coach Anzai is talking about the team's strategic and tactical arrangements, an arrangement that is unique to Coach Anzai for this Olympic Games...

Frankly speaking, facing this dream team of all superstars, both Coach Anzai and Sakuragi Hanamichi understand that Japan's chances of winning are very small, and the gap in paper strength is too large.

The odds of those bets are only raised because of gamblers who want to make a small bet for a big win.

Japan's strongest point now is the inside line. After all, with the world's No. 1 defensive inside line Sakuragi Hanamichi and the Champions League All-Star Mori Shigehiro, they can completely copy the inside line of the Supersonics and stand on the top of the world.

However, facing the inside line composed of four superstars Duncan, Garnett, Howard and Bosh, the United States is still better than Japan in terms of strength on the court and rotation depth.

At the same time, the American team, which has the most luxurious back line in history, is far better than the Japanese lineup in terms of back and forward.

Even the longest board has been surpassed by others, how can the short board be compared?

Therefore, most of the calls for this game in Japan are shouting that it can be left alone.

After all, as far as the entire Group B is concerned, except for the United States, Japan is slightly better than other teams. As long as it avoids a head-on confrontation with the United States and preserves its strength and skills and tactics, it is very likely to qualify as the second in the group.

This seems to be the best choice for Japan.

But in the eyes of Coach Anxi, this is not the best choice.

If it is the second in the group, it means that it will have to play against Longguo in the semi-finals in advance in the knockout round.

Compared with the Longguo team, Coach Anxi feels that it is more certain to play against the United States.

After all, Lin Dong knows everyone in this Japanese team too well. It can even be said that almost all of these people were brought up by Lin Dong. Not to mention the gap between the master and the apprentice, these apprentices seem to be automatically shorter when they see the teacher, and their strength performance may have to be discounted.

In addition, it will be the semi-finals, and Longguo will not be careless or let down its guard... It can be said that if it gives up this game and the first place in the group, it is equivalent to announcing that Japan can only reach the semi-finals at most.

In contrast, this is the first game of the Olympic group stage. According to the lazy habits of Americans, their state has not been fully mobilized. They may even underestimate the enemy and be careless, which is just right for killing them by surprise.

If they can beat the United States and rank first in the group, then Japan can avoid playing against Longguo in the semi-finals, and then Japan may enter the final, and even... it is possible to pick up a ready-made advantage after Longguo and the United States fight to a loss, and complete an achievement that will shock the world and make ghosts cry for the Japanese basketball world!

Even if they lose, resulting in excessive consumption of players, or even losing one more game in the subsequent group stage, it will not have much impact on the overall situation.

This Japanese team is quite familiar with those opponents in European basketball. Whether it is Spain, Lithuania, Germany or Argentina, they have at least a 70% chance of winning.

Anyway, as long as they don't qualify as the fourth in the group, the second and third places will only face Longguo in the semi-finals. Anyway, Japan will have absolute confidence in facing other opponents in Group A in the first round of the knockout stage.

After all, in front of the current Japanese team, only Longguo and the United States are enough threats.

So this game is totally worth fighting!

"If you play in a methodical and honest way, you will have little chance."

"The Americans' defense must focus on our inside line, so we will pull them out!"

"Sakuragi and Mori Shigehiro are already familiar with the tactics of small-ball space. Pull them out to do pick-and-rolls on the outside, and serve from the high post and assist from the high post!"

"We have the best three-point shooters on this planet," Coach Anzai looked at Rukawa Kaede, Tsuchiya Jun and others, and then his eyes swept over everyone: "We also have the best space lineup!"

"Put the decisive place on the outside line! Put the decisive time in the first half, don't give the Americans time and opportunity to react, open up the score, and switch to positional warfare in the second half."

"Attack first and then defend, Sakuragi, you may not have time to rest, but I believe in your physical strength and your will!"

"Hold on to them! We must hold on to them in the second half!"

Coach Anzai stretched out his hand, and all the players of the Japanese team put their hands up one by one.

Sakuragi and Rukawa's eyes were burning with the flames of battle, and everyone let out a low roar. Even a fisherman like Sendoh had forgotten about his fishing rod at this time.

Sakuragi Hanamichi clenched his fist with his other hand.

Dragon Country has its master brother, the United States has its super army, but... Japan also has itself!

Having also seen the top scenery of this world, I don't want to lose, and I will lose to anyone!

A deafening shout came from the players' lounge: "Come on!"

The first Olympic match between the two sides began.

Japan's starting five: point guard Sendoh Akira, shooting guard Rukawa Kaede, small forward Zebei Rongzhi, power forward Sakuragi Hanamichi, center Mori Shigehiro.

The starting five of the US team, point guard Jason Kidd, shooting guard Kobe Bryant, small forward McGrady, power forward Carmelo Anthony, center Tim Duncan.

Due to the relationship between the NBA and Lin Dong, these two teams, whether it is Sakuragi Hanamichi who once won four consecutive championships with Lin Dong, or Kobe, Wade and others who have always been opponents of Lin Dong, have a high appearance rate in Longguo and have a certain popularity base.

But it must be said that the origin of Japan and Longguo makes most people, except for a few people, still not love it. At this time, most people in the huge Wukesong Sports Center support the American team.

However, fighting in adversity is not the first time.

Sakuragi Hanamichi's eyes are burning, and his fighting spirit is at its peak.

This is the first group match. The American team is likely to underestimate the enemy and be careless, and the Japanese team's tactics are to give up the inside positional battle first, and use the space small ball tactics that Japan has never used in international competitions to disrupt the rhythm of the United States... There must be a chance, take advantage of his illness and kill him!

Beep!

As the referee's whistle sounded, the game officially began.

Frankly speaking, compared with this lineup, except for the power forward position where the Japanese team has an advantage, almost all other positions are completely defeated by the American team.

However, we can also see some of Lao K's habits in deploying his troops.

Although Kidd is a historical point guard, he is already very old this year. His competitive state is obviously not as good as Chris Paul, who finally entered the league's second team this season. And according to the original configuration of the US team, Wade can also play as a combo guard with Kobe at the same time, which is the strongest back line of the US team.

Now sending Kidd to start, although it is out of respect for the veteran, it also reflects some thinking problems within the US team.

To put it bluntly, it is just as coach Anxi predicted. Americans don't pay enough attention to this game. What if they play against Longguo? Coach K will definitely let Kobe and Wade start as combo guards.

As the game started, the progress of the game also verified Coach Anxi's guess again.

After all, it was the first game, and most of these players were members of the team that played in the Eastern Conference Finals or the Western Conference Finals in July, which made the overall training time of the US team very short.

After the offseason after the NBA war, it was time for them to relax. The short training sessions did not fully mobilize their status. In addition, K's tactical arrangement was mainly aimed at the Japanese inside line, but he did not expect that Japan would directly play high-post serve and run-and-gun. Even Sakuragi Hanamichi, the world's number one defensive inside line, was pulled outside the three-point line.

This made the Americans play extremely awkward and difficult in the first quarter.

The pick-and-roll cooperation between Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede was once unsolvable for the Americans.

The two have been partners in the Supersonics for four seasons. They have a natural tacit understanding, and they are specifically misplaced to catch the already fat and less agile Melon, so that Kobe and Melon's switch defense could not be accurately positioned.

Probably adhering to the will of Coach Anzai and the pursuit of dreams, plus the fact that the 3-point line in international competitions is shorter than that in the NBA, a pure shooter like Rukawa Kaede felt hot in the first quarter. He made 7 of 9 3-point shots from the outside, and he scored most of the team's points alone.

When K adjusted his strategy in time, replaced Anthony with Bosh, who was more flexible and good at defense, and used Kobe and Bosh to limit the pick-and-roll between Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede, the main attack focus of the Japanese team had shifted from the connection between Sakuragi and Rukawa to the three-person pick-and-roll switch between Mori Shigehiro, Zebei and Sendoh.

If the mismatch between Sakuragi and Rukawa relied on strength and tacit understanding, then the switch of these three people was the essence of European basketball.

Before Lin Dong went to Mobista, these three people had almost made it to the Champions League with this trick, which was also the most stable scoring method of Mobista at that time and was the most familiar.

Different from the NBA's shooting that emphasizes individual ability, the teamwork of the three was dazzling and natural. After Sakuragi and Rukawa attracted the attention of the American team, they also caught the American team off guard. In addition, the traditional team defense inherited from the Supersonics and the overall speed lineup forced the American team, which had not yet accelerated, to make frequent mistakes, allowing Japan to lead by a big score of 34:21 in the first quarter.

This made Japan crazy, and it also greatly encouraged the confidence of Sakuragi and others.

There is a chance! We can definitely win!