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MELBOURNE, Australia – The US team coach, Gregg Popovich, considers Australia as a title threat at the upcoming World Cup in China.
He will soon discover how the teams will meet Thursday in the first of two exhibition games in Melbourne. A record-breaking Australian basketball crowd of 50,000 is expected for the match at Marvel stadium. The second match is scheduled for Saturday.
"A huge threat," Popovich said of the Boomers on Tuesday. "It's one of the teams that can win, no doubt, I'm not saying that because I'm here, it's just a fact."
"They have been close for several years and they are hungry, they have talent, they have the tenacity and the physical strength to follow him, and I think they are without a doubt one of the best candidates. "
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Australia, led by Patty Mills, coached by Popovich in San Antonio, lost the final for the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in favor of Spain.
The US team has little to do with superstars, with only Kemba Walker, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez coming together for five appearances in the NBA All-Star compared to their last Olympic team, which numbered 33.
But Walker, who joined Boston last month after eight seasons in Charlotte, said the American team's critics urged its players to defend its title in China.
"We do not care, we want to be here and take the time to do it and we take it for motivation," Walker said Wednesday. We have a group of guys who do not mind being outsiders. We are hungry and we will go to try to win a gold medal. & # 39; & # 39;
Walker said he, Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, and Celtics guard Marcus Smart would share captain duties as part of a group of leaders.
"I'm proud to be a leader and guys who look to me and I'm here to set the tempo, bring my experience and my energy," he said.
Australia hopes to end 55 years of defeats against the United States. The Americans have won 25 games against Australia since 1964.
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