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2024 Paris Olympics Women's 3x3 Basketball: Team USA vs Azerbaijan Preview and Prediction | July 31
Team USA, after opening the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 17-13 loss to Germany, hopes to bounce back against Azerbaijan on Wednesday. The Americans raced to an early 5-0 lead before things unraveled. Dearica Hamby and Co. will be in trouble again if they can’t start playing with more chemistry.
Meanwhile, the “Milli Komanda” are making their debut in the said event in the Olympics. They didn’t look out of their league when they nearly pulled off an upset against Spain before losing an 18-16 decision. After taking on the Spaniards, they have another tall task against the gold medal favorites.
Team USA vs Azerbaijan: Preview and prediction
The Place de la Concorde in the heart of Paris will host the showdown between the Americans and the Azeri. Basketball fans can catch the action by subscribing to Courtside 1891.
Team USA vs Azerbaijan: Game preview
Fears about the lack of chemistry for the Americans’ women’s 3x3 basketball team seem to be a legitimate issue. No one from the team that won the inaugural gold in Tokyo three years ago has returned for the Paris Summer Games. Only Cierra Burdick and Hailey Van Lith are back from the group that won the 3x3 FIBA World Cup.
The makeshift unit started training roughly two weeks ago and is still clearly catching up. Burdick called the team’s performance versus Germany “ugly.” Rhyne Howard, who struggled against the Germans, needs to step up.
Meanwhile, Olympic debutants Azerbaijan went toe-to-toe with the Spaniards before coming up short. Tiffany Hayes, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in that game, is expected to lead the team again.
Hayes is a former WNBA All-Star who will be unfazed by what their opponents can bring on Wednesday. The Las Vegas Aces backup forward will be thrilled to win one against familiar faces.
The “Milli Komanda” have nothing to lose against the highly-touted Team USA. If they can sustain what they showed versus Spain, they might pull off the biggest upset in the competition.
Team USA vs Azerbaijan: Prediction
On paper, the Americans should be the runaway winners against Azerbaijan. Games aren't won on paper, though, as proven in the loss to Germany. Team USA’s first order of business will be to limit Tiffany Hayes, who dominated the Spaniards.
Rhyne Howard, a two-time WNBA All-Star and former Rookie of the Year winner, has to do more. She sometimes looked out of sorts in the game versus Germany. The Americans will be in for another tough battle if she can’t step up.
The Americans have their backs against the wall. They are too talented and have the experience to work out the kinks of their lackluster showing a few nights ago. Team USA should even their record to 1-1 after tussling with Azerbaijan.
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