Volume 2 of the Paris Olympics Power Rankings

[Kings]

1 USA
2 Germany
3 Serbia
4 Canada
5 Australia
6 France
7 Spain
8 Greece
9 South Sudan
10 Brazil
11 Japan
12 Puerto Rico

[Darrell Armstrong]

More than "Power Rankings" this seems like a "what have you done for me lately" list. I'm aware nothing else but preparation games have been played between the last rankings and this edition, but, come on. Exhibition games aren't real games. Puerto Rico, for example, has enjoyed a crazy schedule playing an awful lot of games while jumping from country to country. Logically they haven't really competed. Last game against Spain, for example, was a mockery. No defence, zero effort. Jacking up shot after shot without plays being called. Puerto Rico isn't going to play that way once the real games begin. Ask the Liths.

And the other side of the coin is Spain has "earned" a bump in the ranks thanks to... ***check notes***... almost dropping a game against a squad which couldn't even qualify for the OQT, and abusing a Puerto Rico side which was just collecting their paycheck. We haven't faced quality opposition all summer. The strongest squad we have squared against was Italy, and we lost that game. How can we be placed higher than teams which have beaten much stronger opponents is beyond me. Yes, Greece dropped one game against Serbia. We don't know how badly we would have fared against Jokic and company because we didn't even play against a top tier squad.

Similarly, France is being punished because they have lost a lot of games. But they have been preparing for the Olympics by sparring against the best of the best. All the other contenders except Team USA. They did the same in 2021 and fared equally poorly. You know how it went: started the Games by beating USA, reached the final, and almost came up with the upset win. Strength of schedule matters. Abusing lesser squads is not a good indicator of success.

[Victorious]

Exhibition game results mean nothing. I think we will see some surprises and disappointments.

[Darrell Armstrong]

Exhibition game results mean nothing. I think we will see some surprises and disappointments.

I'm counting on Brazil to be one of the surprises of the tournament. No that I think they will get past the QFs, but this is a very underrated squad that can give one of the contenders a good scare. In group A there can be no surprises, just disappointments.

[Darrell Armstrong]

So far, the Power Rankings boast 100% accuracy. Absolutely zero upsets. That's amazing.

[Levenspiel]

So far, the Power Rankings boast 100% accuracy. Absolutely zero upsets. That's amazing.

They probably factored in the home court advantage

[Darrell Armstrong]

They probably factored in the home court advantage

Or maybe the referee is in league with the author of the Power Rankings and wanted to make sure the predictions remained perfect.