When the Summer Games began, there were high hopes for both the USA men's and women's 3×3 basketball teams. Fast-forward two games into pool play, and both teams are hanging by a thread after getting off to 0-2 starts. They have time to rebound, but can they?
Let's take a look at the betting odds for a few of the 3×3 basketball games taking place on Thursday, August 1.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Thursday’s Best Olympics 2024 3x3 Basketball Bets
United States vs. Lithuania - Men’s
- Location: La Concorde 1 Paris, France
- Game Time & Date: 1:05 p.m. E.T. on Thursday, August 1
Losing to Serbia can be forgiven, to a degree, since Serbia is supposed to be the best men's 3 x 3 team in the world. But to lose a second in a row? This time to Poland? Insert shaking head emoji.
Much like the women's team, the issue seems to be that the team is not playing up to its potential. According to the FIBA individual rankings, Jimmer Fredette is supposed to be the best 3 x 3 player in the world. But he's scored seven points in two games (four in one, three in the other).
Lithuania entered the Games as more of a dark horse contender for gold. It's their first time playing in the Olympics, but the team is not a stranger to playing on an international stage, having won silver at the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup.
Based on what we've seen so far, Lithuania can sit back and wait for the U.S. to beat itself. The U.S. is not making shots or getting any second-chance opportunities (one offensive rebound per game). Lithuania was favored against Latvia and got edged out by France (21-20).
Lithuania is not a great team, nor is it a bad one. The U.S. will win this game if Fredette can hit a few shots.
Our Pick: USA ML
United States vs. Spain - Women’s
- Location: La Concorde 1 Paris, France
- Game Time & Date: 3:30 p.m. E.T. on Thursday, August 1
It has been a rough tournament for the defending gold medal champions. Now, after starting the day against a solid Australian team, they end it against one of the better 3 x 3 teams at the Olympics in Spain.
Simply put-the team is just not playing up to its potential. No, it does not contain the best women's basketball in the U.S. has to offer; those players are on the 5 x 5 roster. But Hailey Van Lith is a star on the FIBA Tour but has not played anywhere close to her potential.
Some of their issues can be blamed on a lack of sufficient play and practice time together, but players as highly regarded as they are should be better than they've shown.
Spain just needs to keep doing what they've been doing. Being a little more productive on the offensive side would be nice (they scored 18 and 17 points in their first two games). But if their defense can hold their opponents to less, it doesn't matter if they can't reach 21 points inside regulation time.
Their best move would be to let the U.S. beat itself like it has been doing.
Our Pick: USA ML
United States vs. Latvia - Men’s
- Location: La Concorde 1 Paris, France
- Game Time & Date: 5:05 p.m. E.T. on Thursday, August 1
This opponent is a tough draw for the U.S. on a day when the team really needs to win. Latvia was not getting the respect a defending gold medal winner deserved entering the Summer Games. But after taking down Lithuania in their opener in dominant fashion (21-14), they destroyed the Netherlands 21-12.
For the U.S. to have a shot at winning this one, they will need to play like the team people expected to see when the tournament got underway. While it seems improbable now, it just takes one good game and one win for the USA to regain its mojo.
Based on what we've seen from both teams, betting the UNDER is the smart play. You can't count on the U.S. to score much, and there is a good chance they don't against a solid Latvia team. But if the U.S. does get its act together, the USA moneyline is not just a good play.
It's brilliant.
Our Pick: USA ML
BettingPros Podcast
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn