TOKYO (Japan) – Tuesday will be reserved for the quarter-finals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Tournament. Here is our last edition of the ‘Power Rankings’ before the teams give us the final ranking at the end of the week.
Once again, it is not a question here of making predictions on the composition of the podium. The fact that two teams ranked high enough in previous volumes are now eliminated from the Olympic title race confirms this. We are just trying to assess the current form of the participants after attending all the games played at the Saitama Super Arena.
After this little update, here is our ranking:
# 1 Slovenia
Results of the Qualifiers: 4-0 to win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Kaunas (Lithuania)
FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 16e
Slovenia at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, the first Doncic tournament with the national team: 90.3 points per match.
Slovenia at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020: 106.0 points per match.
Slovenia at Tokyo 2020: 109.7 points per game.
Spain limited Slovenia to 95 points on Sunday, their lowest total since the 2017 final, with 93 points. The last time Slovenia scored less than 90 points in a major tournament was 11 games ago, in the 2017 round of 16 of FIBA EuroBasket against Ukraine.
All this to tell you that Slovenia has the best attack in international basketball for four years. Yes, a lot is due to this young man wearing the N ° 77 jersey. The last teams to have won a gold medal during their first participation in the Olympics are Croatia and Lithuania in 1992.
#2 France 
Results of the Qualifiers: Qualified after FIBA World Cup 2019
FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 7e
How to explain this? France, struggling in preparation matches, landed in Tokyo ready to do battle, beating the USA a second time in a row and taking first place in the group. Her last Olympic medal dates back 21 years ago – she is now only two victories from a new one – but knowing the state of mind that drives the Blues, they will not want to be satisfied with only two success by the end of the Olympics.
They want three. The victory against the USA is proof of this. France faces Italy in the quarter-finals. This will be the 29th duel between the two countries in major competitions, each having won 14. It has been ten years since they were opposed in a FIBA event.
# 3 Australia
Results of the Qualifiers: Qualified after FIBA World Cup 2019
FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 3e
The only reason Australia have lost their top spot is that they will have to contend without Aron Baynes until the end of the tournament. Add to that a part of the table with the vice-world champion and the reigning Olympic champions, and you will understand that the task that awaits Brian Goorjian’s men will be delicate.
If the Boomers do manage to clinch the title, no one will hate them because they are a good looking and likeable team. Players like Joe Ingles, Patty Mills, Jock Landale or Matisse Thybulle can conquer the most biased juries.
#4 USA
Results of the Qualifiers: Qualified after the 2019 FIBA World Cup
FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 1ers
Once again, Gregg Popovich and his men are the big favorites for the title. They fall to 4th place because they lost to France – a defeat that ended a streak of 25 consecutive Olympic wins – and people suddenly began to compare this team to that of 2019 rather than ‘to those of 2016, 2012 or 2008.
The fact that the Americans will have to face Spain, the nation that pushed them to their limits during the aforementioned three Olympics – is another reason for the USA to be wary, because another series is in danger: the USA is on the podium in each of their 18 participations in the Olympic Games. To continue this series, Team USA will have to play the most difficult quarter-final of its recent past.
# 5 Spain
Results of the Qualifiers: Qualified after FIBA World Cup 2019
FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 2e
One thing was striking on Sunday night leaving the field after the defeat inflicted by Slovenia, with in particular that 87 points scored: the Spaniards seemed relaxed. They looked calm, which is pretty scary. Very scary.
They are extremely confident and they knew that a loss here in Tokyo would not sideline them from their ultimate goal in Japan this summer. They don’t fear the USA. Why should they? After all, they are the reigning world champions.
# 6 Italy
Results of the Qualifiers: 3-0 to win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade (Serbia)
FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 10e
Is it too late to add Gianmarco Tamberi to the squad? Yes ? Pity. But even without him, we have the feeling that Italy will calmly approach its quarter-final against France. The Italians have the athleticism to play physically, the only problem being the management of the oversized size of the French.
Rudy Gobert, Vincent Poirier, Moustapha Fall are too big and hard to handle for most of the opponents. France displays more centimeters than Italy. Especially since coach Meo Sacchetti loves to play “small”, with a game focused on speed. Perhaps the key lies precisely there: fully press the accelerator at the start of the match to upset the Blues.
#7 Argentine
Results of the Qualifiers: Qualified after FIBA World Cup 2019
FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 4e
Patricio Garino’s injury seems to have unleashed the Argentines’ new attacking potential. Nico Brussino gained some playing time on the wing and Gabriel Deck played low at times against Japan, giving coach Sergio Hernandez some nice options. And what can I tell you about the leaders: I could praise you for their qualities for hours!
Argentina’s record (1-2) doesn’t really reflect reality here. Both Hernandez and Luis Scola like their chances in the competition and they both know how to beat Australia. Their last confrontation indeed dates from the 2010 FIBA World Cup, when Scola scored the free throws of victory to end the match with 31 points in the success of Argentina (74-72).
The best scorers in the opposing camp? Joe Ingles with 22 points and Patty Mills with 21. The chances of history repeating itself are possible, given the players in Japan.
# 8 Germany
Results of the Qualifiers: 4-0 to win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Split (Croatia
FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 17e
It’s crazy, because Henrik Rödl and his players are having both their best and their worst summer. Well, honestly, no one would have imagined that they were in the Top 8 of the Olympic Tournament.
But it’s the worst summer too. First, they had to face Croatia in Split, in the semi-final of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Then they were opposed to Brazil, winner of its three previous matches with gaps of +26, +27 and +28 in the final of the competition.
Then, after having managed to win these two matches, they found themselves in a group comprising two teams which beat the USA the week before the start of the Olympics, and a team which brought down Serbia at home in Belgrade. And despite all that, Germany managed to climb to the quarter-finals.
The fact that the Germans will now face Slovenia confirms their lack of luck in the various draws this summer. But don’t make the mistake of underestimating them. They have already beaten a previously unbeaten Slovenia team in the quarter-finals: if you don’t believe me, go see the results of the FIBA EuroBasket 2005 …
*These ‘power rankings’ are completely subjective and they are in no way the result of a precise ranking system. The comments made are binding only on their author.
Igor Curkovic
Igor Curkovic is a freelance Croatian journalist who diligently follows basketball. He has been part of the FIBA editorial team since 2015, covering events ranging from the C Division of the FIBA U16 European Championship to the Olympic Games.
