Iran – Brazil

World Cup Group Stage Round 1
Jakarta, August 26, 11:45 CET

During the preparations for the World Cup, the Brazilian basketball players showed that defense is not their primary focus, in any variant of the lineup on the court.
Thus, against the objectively weakest teams that will play in this world championship, in friendly matches the Brazilians received more points than the attacking potential of those rivals would guarantee. First of all, it was the case in the games against Venezuela (83:71) and South Sudan (86:75), in which the Brazilians found the desired rhythm in defense only in the last quarter, when the opponents were already tired.
The Brazilian team played as many as five preparatory games in the period from August 14 to 21, and in each of those games, the same problems in defense against rival guards were repeated. In the last test before the World Cup, they lost to Serbia 89:85 – and previously to Italy 93:87. Objectively, those were the opponents who are not among the most offensively talented at this World Cup.
All this proves that the Asian national team Iran, which has played as many as nine friendly games since July 26, will have the opportunity to play a good attacking match against Brazil. In the last check, the Iranians beat Venezuela 89:87, and previously managed to score at least 71 points in three games in a row. The Iranian national team, which does not count on players who have any serious role in European basketball, still performed better and better in attack during August.
Brazil is, of course, the absolute favorite in this match. Experienced captain, playmaker Marcelo Huertas will try to speed up the game as much as possible for open three point shots in the early phase of their attacks. During the preparatory period, it turned out that he had excellent support from the new Red Star Belgrade playmaker in the Euroleague, Yago dos Santos. Players like shooting guard Vitor Benite from Spanish Gran Canaria guarantee accuracy in the three-point shot. Experienced center Augusto Lima is used to fast-paced basketball in Spanish Unicaja Malaga.
It is to be expected that the Brazilians will gain a big advantage early in this match, and then bring the match to an end in a more relaxed rhythm of attacking basketball from both teams. That guarantees a large number of points in this match. The Iranians will have a chance to at least avoid an overly convincing defeat - because Brazil will certainly protect the key players and will not overburden them. The favorite team is aware that this match in Jakarta is just a prelude to much more difficult challenges to come.
Power forward Bruno Caboclo, a player with seven seasons of NBA experience, is potentially a key link in both offense and defense for the Brazilian team. With him on the court, transitional basketball is guaranteed in this matchup - this is the approach Caboclo led the German team Ulm to the BBL Bundesliga title, just two and a half months ago. The Brazilians are unknown to many at this World Cup, they have numerous players from their domestic league, but they are ready to earn sympathy with an attractive game with many well-coordinated and beautiful actions in attack.