"Thrown together, never played together" - Josh Giddey has fighting words for Team USA as he leads Australia into Olympics
Team USA is the prohibitive favorite to win this summer's Paris Olympics. However, according to Australian guard Josh Giddey, the Americans' lack of chemistry could hurt them come the start of Olympic group play.
Team USA's NBA superstar-studded squad, headlined by LeBron James and Steph Curry, went 5-0 during its pre-Olympic showcase schedule. However, three of its five exhibition victories came by six points or less, including its 98-92 win over Australia on July 15.
That marked Australia's lone defeat across eight tune-up games. The Boomers also finished in a 95-95 draw during one of their two matchups against Japan, winning their other six contests. Nonetheless, if they ultimately rematch against the Americans, Giddey is confident in Australia's chances of pulling off an upset.
On Monday, Giddey touched on how the Boomers' roster, led by veteran guard Patty Mills, is very comfortable playing with each other. Meanwhile, Team USA selected a new roster, featuring several first-time Olympians, which hasn't had much time to develop chemistry.
Thus, per Giddey, Australia, and other countries, could have a leg up despite being underdogs.
"Well, if you look on paper, obviously they're the most talented team. It's not a secret to anybody," Giddey said. "But I think the difference is, these guys have been thrown [together], they've never played together. Whereas a lot of these other countries have a core that's been together for years. So, I think that those types of things really do play an effect going into these types of games.
"They're obviously a very talented team and they're going to be tough to beat for anybody. But as I said, we're confident with the guys that we have, the group that we have, how together we are as a unit, that we can go against anybody in the world," he added.
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Josh Giddey and Australia set to compete in different group than Team USA to kick off Olympics
Josh Giddey may be eager for a rematch against Team USA. However, Australia is in a different group than America to start Olympic group play.
The Boomers will compete in Group A with Spain, Canada and Greece. Their group is widely considered the competition's toughest. Meanwhile, Team USA is in Group C alongside Serbia, Puerto Rico and South Sudan, which projects to be a much easier pathway to the quarterfinals.
So, the Boomers will likely face a tough task advancing to face the Americans. However, if they do, Giddey and Co. appear ready for the challenge and an opportunity for redemption.
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