When the USA Basketball Men’s National Team tips off in its final Round 2 matchup at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, it will be against a Brazil national team with faces some Golden State Warriors fans may find familiar. Brazil features Anderson Varejao and Leandro Barbosa, who helped the Warriors to the NBA championship in 2015.
Varejao and Barbosa fell out of the league and both play for Brazilian teams now — Flamengo (Varejao) and Minas Tenis Clube (Barbosa). Both, too, are in their late-30s. But with at least 15 years of professional basketball experience apiece, mostly in the NBA — and with both being prior Warriors in the modern championship era — Brazil should be considered a threat for the Americans, and probably the most formidable opponent so far in the tournament.
Brazil was undefeated through Round 1, clinching dominant wins against all of the countries in their way, with the one close win being the 98-97 edging of Greece.
On Saturday, however, the Czech Republic proved too much for Brazil. They held Varejao to five points in a 93-71 win; in Round 1, the U.S. beat Czech Republic 88-67. But against Brazil, the Americans should find out whether their strength on defense is enough to earn World Cup gold despite the persistent lackluster offense that has plagued Team USA throughout the tournament.
So far, the U.S. has faced teams with inferior defensive capabilities. Now, they must battle with a team that is about equal on that end of the floor, with Brazil also holding some key advantages on offense.
Here’s how the U.S. and Brazil compare in the 2019 FIBA World Cup (by the numbers):
Offense
USA
50.6% — 2-point field goals
32.8% — 3-point field goals
74.2% — free throws
19.0 — points from turnovers
15.8 — points from fast break
9.3 — second-chance points
34.0 — points in the paint
34.8 — points from the bench
Brazil
47.5% — 2-point field goals
36.2% — 3-point field goals
82.2% — free throws
14.3 — points from turnovers
9.5 — points from fast break
13.0 — second-chance points
37.0 — points in the paint
44.5 — points from the bench
Defense
USA
50 — total rebounds
36 — defensive rebounds
14 — offensive rebounds
8 — steals
5 — blocks
Brazil
37 — total rebounds
24 — defensive rebounds
10 — offensive rebounds
8 — steals
2 — blocks
For Team USA to clinch a victory over Brazil for a surefire trip to the quarter finals, better ballhandling, fewer turnovers, improved bench scoring and free throws will be critical. Otherwise, Varejao & Co. could command a win that improves their World Cup trajectory.
Have some breakfast with your basketball. Tipoff is on Monday, Sept. 9, at 8:30 a.m. ET on ESPN+.
