USA vs Great Britain: GB's Biggest Threats to Team USA in Exhibition Game

As the Olympics grow closer, there has yet to be a national basketball squad that has been able to seriously threaten Team USA.

Brazil came close. It staked a 10-point lead over LeBron James and the Americans on Monday night, but the King—with a 30-point performance—and his cohorts made up for it to claim an 80-69 win.

There's no doubt that the defending Olympic champions fully expect to win the gold medal in a few weeks, and the fans expect it, too. But just like Brazil earlier in the week, Great Britain is looking to score an upset on Thursday night, even if it doesn't count.

And after two straight wins over Portugal last weekend, the British are feeling good. Here's a look at their most important pieces as they prepare to take on the U.S.

Luol Deng

The biggest name on Great Britain's roster is going to be its key if it has any hope of scoring a win on Thursday. The Bulls forward is used to playing against—and dominating—the stars of the U.S. squad.

In 2011-12, the Duke product—who played under U.S. head coach Mike Krzyzewski—averaged 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 39.4 minutes per game for Chicago. He shot 41.2 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from long range, so the Americans will have to contain him there.

Deng was the top scorer in the first of Great Britain's last two wins over Portugal, and he registered 35 total points in the two contests. But if Coach K is the guy who made Deng into a star at Duke, he probably has a good sense of how to subdue him, too.

Kyle Johnson

Johnson has been GB's biggest threat from long range, as he shot 67 percent from beyond the arc in his squad's big win over Portugal on Saturday. He led all scorers with 21 points off the bench and hit four three's.

He's also been ready to face the U.S. since the second the last game against Portugal ended. He told the British team's official website:

"

This was a good win for us, and especially to get a second win this weekend is a great boost for us. These games are a great preparation, Portugal are a well drilled side and it's a nice warm-up for our next game against USA.

"

The 6'5" star is familiar playing against the Americans, too: He starred at LIU Brooklyn from 2007-2011 and tallied 1,433 points throughout his career. Next to Deng, Johnson is going to be the second-most important player for the Americans to limit, especially from long range, where he can really burn them.

Pops Mensah-Bonsu

The 6'9" forward was instrumental to GB's first win over Portugal on Saturday, garnering 12 points and 12 rebounds. He was also one of the keys to helping the British overcome a 39-37 halftime deficit. After the game, he told the team's official website:

"

In the second half it was certainly evident that we came to play. We turned it up and we looked like the team that we are supposed to be. When the second half started we knew we had to come out and play defense and be more focused.

"

Indeed, that defense limited Portugal to just six points in the third quarter, and Mensah-Bonsu was a big part of it. He's bound to give the U.S. some trouble in the paint.