Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Apparently it's still not over. The old rivals are once again facing off in a battle for international supremacy. Of course, the stakes are a little bit lower this time. I certainly wouldn't expect Tom Hanks to make a gripping series about the boys who banded together to conquer the world's second most prestigious international basketball tournament. Though if you're reading this Tom, you absolutely should!

After dispatching Italy with prejudice, Team USA is looking to keep the momentum rolling. It can't afford a drop off in intensity if it wants to avoid a repeat of the last matchup where Germany led by 16 points late in the third quarter. I'll be honest, watching Daniel Theis with the Pacers last year lead me to believe that he didn't have much productive basketball left to give. But he's been excellent this summer and could pose a major problem for an American team that struggles to deal with size and physicality. While I hope he lays an egg tonight, I also hope his summer rejuvenation carries over into the season.

Speaking of carrying over into the season, Tyrese Haliburton has been turning heads with his defensive intensity over the past few games. He's been using his size to his advantage and battling in the post on switches. If he can bring the same defensive swagger to the Pacers backcourt next year, the team's prospects as a legit playoff threat feel much more realistic.

Today's tipoff is at 8:40 a.m. ET, so if you're up, tune into ESPN2 to catch the game.

Tagged in:

Game Thread