By TAS MAVRIDIS

No LeBron James? No Steph Curry? No worries. 

Despite some major names missing from the 2016 Olympic basketball tournament, the remaining NBA stars featuring for a number of countries will still provide a fiery spectacle. 

The event, which runs from opening day right through to the Olympiad’s close, will be contested between 12 teams in both men’s and women’s basketball draws, with the USA quite comfortably leading the pack in both tournaments. 

However, the greatest battles will be fought over who will have the right to stand alongside the Americans on the podium come the final day. 

HISTORY

Invented in 1891, basketball initially became popular throughout the USA as a less intensive alternative to American Football. Following its growing popularity across other parts of the world, it was first added to the Olympic program in 1936 with all the competitors having to assume amateur status until the 1992 Games, which signalled the arrival of the US Dream Team.

In the men’s competition, the USA have won 14 of the 17 Olympic tournaments they have attended and secured silver or bronze in the other three. However, in 1972, the USA lost in the final in controversial circumstances to the Soviet Union, leading to the US’s refusal to accept its medals. They have never been collected.

The women's competition was introduced in 1976, won in that year by a supreme Soviet Union squad. But, much like their male counterparts, the US women’s team have dominated since, winning every gold medal since 1984 with the exception of 1992, where they won the bronze. This supremacy has been driven by the development of the women's professional competition in the WNBA , which creates a substantial amount of homegrown talent.

Rule differences

The rules for the Olympics and major international tournaments differ slightly from the NBA. Quarters are 10 minutes as opposed to 12 minutes for the NBA, but the same five-minute overtime period applies if the game is tied at full time.

The three-point lines in the Olympics are set at 6.25m from the centre of the basket, shorter than NBA measurement of just over 7m. For some in the NBA, this has proved difficult to navigate.  In the Athens Olympics, the USA men’s team finished third, and many other problems were believed to have resulted from the team’s poor ability to adjust to international three-point shooting standards.

In the Olympics, individuals have five personal and technical fouls, while the NBA has six personal or two technical fouls.

Zone defence is legal in both Olympics and the NBA, but in the NBA a defender is not allowed to spend more than three seconds in the paint (the painted area of the key under the basket) if not actively marking an opponent.

Additionally, each team gets two time outs in the first half, three in the second half and one per overtime period, with all timeouts one minute long and can be called by coaches in the Olympics.

TEAMS TO WATCH – MEN'S

The United States
Despite not fielding the likes of 2016 NBA finals MVP LeBron James or 2016 NBA season MVP Steph Curry, the United States is still expected to bring home the gold. Key players such as Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and the Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson ensure the USA remain a formidable team.

Spain
Reigning silver medalist Spain will be expected to challenge once again and will hope to make it to the gold medal match through the leadership of recent Spurs recruit and NBA veteran Pau Gasol. The Spaniards are coming off winning the EuroBasket for the third time in their last four instalments and, with plenty of experience behind them, they are expected to feature around the medals again.

Others
After those two powerhouses, the competition sees a bevy of nations fighting for bronze. Serbia finished second at the FIBA World Cup in 2014 and are still on the rise; the squad went 4-0 including three 20-plus point wins in their Olympic qualifying tournament. Lithuania finished an impressive second at the 2015 EuroBasket and, if they can continue such form, may feature as the dark horse in the men’s draw.

Australia
The Boomers have a growing contingent of NBA players in their squad.  As they are in the same pool as the USA, they can avoid the Americans in their first knockout match if they can finish either third or fourth in the group. As a result, the Boomers may fancy their chances if they snag a quarter-final fixture against non-USA opposition, with sights firmly fixed on a showing in the semi-finals.

TEAMS TO WATCH – WOMEN'S

The United States
The USA are the raging hot favourites to take home the gold medal. The team has won every major international tournament since 2006. 

Australia
The Opals are expected to contend in the semi-finals and potentially face the Americans in the gold medal match. The team have won either silver or bronze at the past five Olympics, and bronze in the last World Championships, and will have a medal finish firmly in their sights. 

Spain
Despite being ranked third in the world, Spain’s history in Olympic tournaments has left much to be desired, as they have failed to medal in four appearances on the Olympic stage. However, their recent runners-up result in the FIBA World Cup and third place in the EuroBasket means Spain will hope to improve on previous Olympic results and snare an elusive medal.

Serbia
Serbia won the 2015 EuroBasket with a young and energetic squad and will go into the tournament confident of their ability to bring home a medal, like their male counterparts.

Dark horse
France came second at London, however were convincingly beaten in the final highlighting the vast gulf in standards between them and the USA. While backing up this appearance with a second place showing at the 2015 EuroBasket, they finished a disappointing seventh at the last World Cup, indicating the squad may be vulnerable to lapses in form.

FIRST MATCHES

The men: Australia v France – 3.15am August 7 AEST
The  women:  Australia v Brazil – 6.30am August 7 AEST

@tasmavridis97