The Tokyo Olympics are right around the corner, and Team USA Basketball odds to take home the gold are sinking. Team USA is still a loaded roster, but there are some big questions if this is a team that can even make the podium.
When odds opened up for the Olympics Team USA was -750 to win the gold, but after their latest loss to Australia, their odds are down to -370. A month ago there wasn’t any talk about this Team USA team, because everyone assumed this would be an easy path to gold.
To start the exhibition’s Team USA was defeated by three points against Nigeria. On July 12th, Team USA faced off with Australia and they were defeated 91-83. Against Australia, Damian Lillard was the leader finishing with 22 points, and Kevin Durant finished with 17 points. One issue for this team is that there is still a lot of one and one and heo ball, something that isn’t the most effective when it comes to FIBA basketball.
Team USA is also still missing Devin Booker, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday as they are still playing in the NBA Finals, but the team can’t be counting on those three guys to be the savior of the team.
With Team USA’s struggle it has really opened up some betting value, and that doesn’t mean lay the -375 for the USA to win gold. This is still a team that probably can find a way to win the gold, but laying -375 is not going to make you rich.
Spain is a team that really can be considered as they are the reigning World Cup Champions and they have odds that currently sit at +1200. The Gasol brothers are the leader of this team, but tier success might hinge on the play of Ricky Rubio who is one of the better passers in the Olympics. Juancho Hernangomez and Willy Hernangomez are also going to be x-factors for this team.
Nigeria also already knows what it’s like to beat Team USA and their odds currently sit at +2900. There are plenty of options with value for who will win the Olympics, but laying -375, even with the odds going down, is not a smart play.