The United States can close out their schedule in the first round undefeated with a win this Wednesday against Jordan. It will take something short of a miracle for Jordan to upset Team USA, but either way, it is going to be interesting to see just how much damage the red-hot Rondae Hollis-Jefferson can inflict on the Americans.
Catch this game live on Wednesday, August 30, at 4:00 PM, Manila time.
USA (2-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Jalen Brunson
- SG: Mikal Bridges
- SF: Anthony Edwards
- PF: Brandon Ingram
- C: Jaren Jackson, Jr.
Team USA is simply unstoppable in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. After two games, the Americans have clearly backed up the pre-tournament hype, as they dismantled New Zealand in their first game, 99-72, before pummeling the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks, 109-81. Paolo Banchero leads the United States with 14.5 points per game in the tournament, while Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves are each putting up 13.5 points per contest.
But it doesn’t really matter who is leading Team USA on either side of the floor. With their depth, the USA can have a different top performer each game. In the Greece game, Reaves led the USA with 15 points, while it was Banchero who paced the squad in the showdown against New Zealand. As a team, the USA are shooting an incredible 58.3 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from deep.
Jordan (0-2)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Freddy Ibrahim
- SG: Sami Bzai
- SF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
- PF: Zaid Abbas
- C: Ahmad Al Dwairi
The Jordanians have been getting plenty of attention in the tournament despite being winless. They can thank Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for that, as he’s become some sort of an internet darling over his Black Mamba-esque ways on the court. The former TNT Tropang Giga import has been lighting it up in the tournament and is, in fact, one of the top scorers of the World Cup.
He is averaging 31.5 points on a spectacular 54.3 percent shooting from the floor. The former Arizona Wildcats star is not going to dominate like that against the United States. Hollis-Jefferson is likely to see his numbers dip — but not his touches. It will take an absurd level of hero ball from RHJ for Jordan to even keep in step with the Americans, so still expect him to have a ton of touches. Nevertheless, Jordan will have to get more from the likes of Ahmad Al Dwairi, Freddy Ibrahim, and Sami Bzai.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: Team USA (-41.0) covers the spread.
Over/Under: The total (186.5) hits the Over.
