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12 Teams Set For 2016 Olympics; 12 Storylines To Watch For In Rio

By Matthew Medley

Tony Parker playing for France to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images)
Tony Parker playing for France to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images) /
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BELGRADE, SERBIA - JULY 09: Serbia's basketball team celebrate victory after the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying basketball Final match between Serbia and Puerto Rico at Kombank Arena on July 09, 2016 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
BELGRADE, SERBIA – JULY 09: Serbia’s basketball team celebrate victory after the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying basketball Final match between Serbia and Puerto Rico at Kombank Arena on July 09, 2016 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images) /

4. Serbia: Youth Leads the Way

Serbia comes into play ranked No. 6 in the world and although they don’t have the most familiar names of some of the teams in the Olympics, they have an exciting young core of players, highlighted by 23-year-old Bogdan Bogdanovic and 21-year-old Nikola Jokic.

Serbia cruised through their Olympic Qualifying Tournament, winning three of their four games by 14 or more points.

Whether it was having the home crowd on their side, their high level of talent, or a combination of both, they proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that right team qualified for Rio.

Bogdanovic, known for his lethal three-point shooting, was tremendous from beyond-the-arc in the four games of the Serbia Qualifying Tournament. The shooting guard knocked down 15-of-27 shots from long range (55.7 percent) and averaged 17.8 points per game.

His most impressive performance came in the tournament final, when he scored 26 points, shooting 6-of-10 from beyond-the-arc and dishing out eight assists.

Jokic, the young power forward/center from the Denver Nuggets, was named MVP of the qualifying tournament in Serbia, averaging 17.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Although this team may not be one of the favorites in the tournament, they certainly have a ton of upside and will give any team a run for their money in Rio.

Next: Looking For Redemption From London Debacle