Game Info:

When: Friday, August 23rd, 2019. 10:00PM MDT

Where: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia

TV: NBA TV, Twitch

The United States and Australia face off yet again after their last matchup in Marvel Stadium on Thursday. In that battle the Aussies put the United States to the test in the 1st half until the USA squad and Donovan Mitchell put the defensive clamps down on Patty Mills in the second half. Donovan Mitchell and Kemba Walker were the leading scorers for Team USA in that matchup.

Joe Ingles, the other Jazzman in the contest, was quiet with only 6 points and we’re sure he’ll want more trash talking ammunition come training camp. Expect him to have a bigger impact in this second game.

It’ll be interesting to see if Team USA plays a lot of their main guys like Kemba Walker, Donovan Mitchell, and others as this game occurs on a psuedo back to back. This may be a chance Coach Popovich uses to test the rest of his roster out.

What to watch for

Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

A problem for plastic chairs again?

Russell Crowe wasn’t happy with the seating arrangement for the last game and we can’t expect many fans on the floor seating were pleased as well. You have to wonder if they figured that issue out for the next game. The game is happening once again in the same venue in Marvel stadium. Did they figure out a way to rake the seating so it’s easier for people to see? Or are we going to have a repeat of the awful seating arrangement again?

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Donovan Mitchell becoming more efficient on the offensive end

While Donovan Mitchell excelled for Team USA compared to how all of Team USA did, he was a bit inefficient offensively. He wasn’t the only one as all of Team USA went 40% from the field collectively. It’s hard to blame Team USA as they were probably jetlagged playing at what would be 2:30AM Pacific Time. Team USA plays at a more accustomed 9:00PM Pacific Time, but after their bodies have probably got used to the Australian time zone. How will they fair? Who knows.

Hopefully being more accustomed to the days over there allows Donovan Mitchell and crew to have a more balanced performance.

Ground Rules

Welcome to the SLC Dunk Game Thread.

Dunkers know how this thing works, but for you lurkers ready to make the jump to Dunker, we have a few guidelines. Remember to follow our community guidelines (no swearing, trolling, excessive use of Jerry Sloan’s name in vain, no personal attacks, no debates about Utah liquor laws, etc.). Remember to have fun. Anyone who dare blasphemes that Tim Duncan was a Power Forward (this means you, Pounding the Rock), Ben Simmons can hit threes, Gordon Haywardshould not be booed, Exum Island isn’t a 5-Star resort, Donovan Mitchell is Monta Ellis 2.0, men should never cry or John Stockton is not the best point guard of all-time will receive an automatic ban. Just kidding. But seriously.