Brazil vs. Australia: Analyzing Pivotal Matchups of Olympic Basketball Showdown

Group B play in the men's basketball portion of the Olympics kicks off at 6:15 a.m. ET when Brazil and Australia square off. 

While the Boomers are ranked No. 9 in the FIBA World Rankings, they'll be missing their star center Andrew Bogut, which levels the playing field against the 13th-ranked Brazilians.

Behind a talented frontcourt and an underrated backcourt, expect Brazil to open the competition with a win. However, the Australians could definitely pull off the win here and live up to their lofty ranking.

These are the most crucial matchups for the Sunday showdown.  

Patty Mills vs. Marcelo Huertas

This is one of those rare instances in which the NBA player might not actually have the advantage. 

Patty Mills is the starting point guard for the Australian team and spent the last season playing sparingly for the San Antonio Spurs. The 6'0" floor general played in 16 games, starting three of them, averaging 10.3 points, 2.4 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game with a PER of 21.60. 

Mills is quick on both sides of the ball and deadly from long range when he's left open, but he's a terrible ball-handler and could be exposed by the defensive pressure form Marcelo Huertas. 

Huertas has spent the last few years playing in the Spanish ACB for FC Barcelona. Just like Mills, he's known for his quickness and explosiveness.

However, it's his passing ability that truly pushes him ahead in this matchup. In Brazil's exhibition matchup with Team USA, Huertas recorded 13 assists—more than the entire American squad combined. 

David Andersen vs. Nene and Tiago Splitter

Normally, Andrew Bogut would be the starting center for the Australian team and give them an advantage at the position over Brazil's duo of Nene and Tiago Splitter. However, with Bogut's ankle keeping him out of London, David Andersen slides up in the depth chart.

Now he's going to have to step up his game when he plays against two solid NBA players.

This will be the big man's third Olympic experience, and the man with the goatee has spent a large portion of his career playing against top-notch competition. Andersen spent 103 games in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets and Toronto Raptors, averaging 4.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. 

Nene should be able to have his way with Andersen throughout the game, but this matchup could swing the entire game if Andersen is able to keep the Brazilian frontcourt contributions to a minimum. 

Matt Nielsen vs. Anderson Varejao

Currently playing with BC Khimki in Russia when he's not preparing for the Olympics, Matt Nielsen is going to have his hands full when he's forced to square off with Anderson Varejao. 

Varejao is easily the more well-known player in this matchup, even if his constant hustle and rebounding ability have left him as one of the underrated players in the NBA. His contributions have been invaluable to the Cleveland Cavaliers' cause, though. 

Nielsen is an experienced and intelligent player who can play point-forward, but that doesn't mean he's going to be able to slow down the more physical Varejao. 

If Brazil is going to beat Australia to open play in Group B, Varejao is going to have to win this matchup.