Spain vs Japan Basketball —Tokyo Olympic Showdown

The Olympic men's basketball tournament continues to heat up as Spain vs. Japan basketball takes center stage on July 26, 2021, at the iconic Saitama Super Arena. Spain, one of the top contenders, faces host nation Japan in what promises to be a thrilling clash of talent, experience, and national pride.

Spain Team Preview

Spain enters the Olympic stage with confidence after completing 4 wins and 1 loss in their warm-up matches. They comfortably defeated Iran twice and took down France in two consecutive games. Their only setback came against Team USA, where they lost despite a strong showing.

Leading the charge for Spain is veteran Ricky Rubio, the 2019 FIBA World Cup MVP, who scored an impressive 23 points against the United States. Alongside him are key contributors like Pau Gasol, Willy Hernangomez, and Gran Casso, providing both scoring and defensive presence.

Spain’s defense has been rock solid. In all five warm-up games, no opponent managed to score more than 85 points — a testament to their organized and aggressive defensive unit. Although Juan Hernangomez had to withdraw from the squad, his replacement, Arostegui, is expected to step in seamlessly.

Japan Team Preview

Japan also showed potential in their warm-up matches, finishing with 3 wins and 1 loss. The highlight of their prep phase was an 81–75 upset over France, a strong European team. Japan's offensive strength lies primarily in its two NBA players: Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards and Yuta Watanabe of the Toronto Raptors.

In the win over France, Hachimura tallied 19 points and 7 rebounds, while Watanabe delivered 18 points and 9 rebounds, proving they can match up with top-tier talent. However, Japan has not scored more than 80 points in any of their warm-up matches, which may raise concerns about offensive depth.

As hosts, Japan will benefit from home-court advantage, and the energy from local fans could provide an emotional lift. Still, facing a well-drilled and experienced Spanish side will be a formidable challenge.

Game History & Prediction

The last notable encounter between these two teams was in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where Spain demolished Japan 104–55, winning by a 49-point margin. That game also took place at the Saitama Super Arena, the very same venue for this Olympic match.

Spain’s history, experience, and balanced roster give them the upper hand. Japan, while improving, still lacks the depth and size needed to consistently compete with a top-ranked team like Spain.

Spain vs Japan Basketball Prediction

All eyes will be on this exciting matchup, especially as it may be Pau Gasol’s final Olympic appearance. With Spain's strong defensive form and Japan's reliance on two stars, the game is likely to be competitive early on but tilt in favor of Spain as the minutes go on.

Prediction: Spain wins by double digits.
 

Source: EasyWin Nigeria