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There’s nothing quite as refreshing as watching high-quality hoops when it would usually be the middle of the offseason is there? Lets catch you up on the latest from Paris.

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Today’s Lineup

Olympic Update

France wins OT Thriller over Japan 94-90 thanks to clutch 4-point play

Wemby versus a Japanese team with exactly zero guys taller than 6’10” on their roster, seems like a recipe for a dominant French blowout right?

Far from it. Despite lacking in size, team Japan took advantage of France’s weakness on the perimeter by raining in threes all night long, led by 5’8” Yuki Kawamura hitting multiple 30-foot bombs. Alongside an incredible game from Rui Hachimura and an insane clutch defensive stop from Hugh Watanabe, it really seemed like the Japanese were primed for a huge upset.

That is, if not for a couple of questionable calls. First Rui was ejected from the game after a very-debatable unsportsmanlike call. Then, with a 84-80 lead and under 20 seconds left, Japan gave up a four-point play at the worst of times. Was it the right call? We’ll let you be the judge.

All credit to France though, who managed to pull away in OT thanks to some clutch boards from Rudy Gobert and a few timely Wemby buckets.

RJ Barrett’s efficient night leads Canada past Australia 93-83

Oh, Canada! RJ Barrett was moving different yesterday, leading the Canadian squad to a comfortable W with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t far behind, dropping 16 points and while hounding the Aussies to the tune of three steals. Plus Dillon Brooks added some spice with 16 points of his own. All that to say, the Canadian guards had no trouble scoring at will, especially down the stretch in the 4th.

But let's talk a bit about Olympic Jock Landale. The Aussie vet was doing his thing with 16 points and 12 boards, keeping the game close. Unfortunately for the Boomers, Canada’s balanced attack and rock-solid defense in crunch time were just too much. The maple syrup was flowing, and Canada’s Olympic dream stays sweet.

Spain hold on against Greece 84-77 despite dominant Giannis performance

Spain squeaked out a victory in this one, but not without a fight from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak was a one-man wrecking crew, racking up 26 points and 12 rebounds. Seriously, the man was a PROBLEM.

On the Spanish side, this win was all about Santi Aldama, who led the charge with an efficient 19-point double-double . The Grizzlies stretch big has been excellent in international play so far, and his ability to space the floor will be huge for Memphis next season with Zach Edey down low.

Stifling 2nd half defense powers Germany past Brazil 86-73

The first half in this one was a nail-biter, with Vitor Benite and Yago dos Santos lighting it up from deep to keep Brazil in the game. Benite particularly was in his bag, hitting from everywhere and making sure they stayed neck-and-neck with Germany.

But once halftime hit, Germany locked in defensively and took control. Denis Schroeder and Franz Wagner were absolute studs, combining for 37 points and swiping 8 steals. Schroeder’s playmaking and Wagner’s all-around game were just too much for Brazil to handle.

The NBA’s New TV Deal: What It Means

Big news, basketball fans! The NBA has just signed a blockbuster media rights deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime. This means you'll soon be able to catch your favorite games on more platforms than ever (which can be taken as both a good and bad thing). While the deal brings a ton of new viewing options, it also spells the end of an era: we’re sadly losing "Inside the NBA" on TNT. Losing Shaq, Chuck, Kenny, and Ernie’s iconic banter is going to be like one of the all-time greats retiring. 😭

So, what else does this mean? For starters, expect more money in the NBA's pockets, which means a higher salary cap. Teams will have more dough to spend on free agents over the next few years. Could this mean a new era of superteams as playoff contenders have more cap space to entice other stars? All we know is that no matter what happens this deal is set to shake things up in a big way, both on the court and in our living rooms.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Thanks for tuning in to today's newsletter! Until next time, stay positive, stay passionate, and keep enjoying basketball. We'll be back with more updates, highlights, and stories to make your day a little brighter.

Talk soon,

-Spencer Poole