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5 Teams That Might Not Get Embarrassed By U.S. in Olympics

By Matthew Medley

July 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USA center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts with guard Klay Thompson (11) and guard Jimmy Butler (4) against China in the second half during an exhibition basketball game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
July 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USA center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts with guard Klay Thompson (11) and guard Jimmy Butler (4) against China in the second half during an exhibition basketball game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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BELGRADE, SERBIA – JULY 09: Nikola Jokic of Serbia in action during 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: Nikola Jokic of Serbia in action during 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) /

Serbia

The young Serbian National Team should not be taken lightly by any opponent, the U.S. included. They burst onto the scene with an impressive 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, dominating opponents to secure a spot in Rio.

Serbia cruised through that tournament with four convincing wins, led by its two rising stars, Bogdan Bogdanovic, age 23, and Nikola Jokic, 21.

Each of those players averaged 17 points per game in the tournament and although it’s a small sample size, that duo will be fun to watch in RIo.

It’s hard to project how a young team will fare in their first Olympic appearance together as a group, but what’s certain is that the U.S. will not want to let Bogdanovic get going.

Serbia has several other solid contributors, including Milos Teodosic and Miroslav Raduljica, and if basketball fans haven’t heard of those names yet, they may become familiar with them by the end of the Olympics.

Perhaps the young Serbian team can be 2016’s version of Lithuania and give the U.S. a scare. It’s one of the games I have circled on my calendar and when the two teams square off on Wednsday. Aug. 8, USA better not think they can coast through that one.

Next: Argentina