FIBA World Cup 2014: TV Schedule, Live Stream and Gold-Medal Game Predictions

There's just one game remaining at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, but it's not the one everyone wanted to see. 

The United States did its job, which involved destroying any nation that stepped in its path. Despite a handful of megastars not making the trip to Spain, the Red, White and Blue won all five of its group games by a combined 166 points and proceeded to dominate Mexico, Slovenia and Lithuania in the knockout rounds by an average of 31.3 points per contest. 

But a dream matchup against Spain—a rematch of the thrilling 2012 Olympics gold-medal game—never came to fruition, as France knocked off the hosts in convincing fashion in the quarters before being up-ended by Serbia in the semis. 

Still, while it's a disappointing final for many, Serbia is red-hot after barely escaping pool play. As Basketball Insiders' Nate Duncan noted, this isn't a game you should overlook: 

USA-Serbia. Compelling basketball. Shiny hardware handed out afterward. Get ready. 

 Gp

Date: Sunday, September 14, 2014

Time: 3 p.m. ET; 9 p.m. GMT+2 (local)

Venue: Community of Madrid Sports Center, Madrid, Spain

TV: ESPN2

Live Stream: WatchESPN

USA's general attack strategy, of course, has been to turn stifling defense into fast-break opportunities, where its collection of unbelievable athletes are impossible to stop. Through eight games, Mike Krzyzewski's squad has forced a whopping 188 turnovers, or 23.5 per contest. In 40-minute games. 

NBA.com's John Schuhmann highlighted the astounding pace at which the Americans play:

They are able to do that, in part, because of the team's depth. Krzyzewski is comfortable bringing in guys like Klay Thompson, Derrick Rose and Rudy Gay off the bench, a privilege other coaches would give their left pinky toe to have. USA Basketball's managing director Jerry Colangelo, via USA Today's Sam Amick, talked about that (not the pinky toe thing, but the depth):

"

The fact is that with all the blows and all the hits we took this year with — not defections — but people who didn't go forward, the depth of our national team pool, the fact that so many are committed to play, says something about our depth.

"

USA has a lot of capable bodies, allowing them to pressure relentlessly for 40 minutes. High on the list of ingredients necessary for mixing up an upset against the Americans is a point guard who can not only take care of the ball but also penetrate and get Kenneth Faried or Anthony Davis into foul trouble. 

Serbia has exactly that in Milos Teodosic. He may not be in the NBA, but he's damn-sure playing like he belongs there, as ESPN.com's Marc Stein alluded to:

"He's a great player. He's the best point guard in Europe, maybe in the world," guard Nikola Kalinic said, via FIBA.com.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

In the medal rounds, the 27-year-old point guard is averaging 20.0 points on 58.1 percent shooting (18-of-31), 4.0 assists and just 2.3 turnovers per contest. Thanks to his wizardry with the ball in his hands, Serbia is fourth in the tourney in turnovers per game at 12.1. 

Moreover, according to Schuhmann, Sasha Djordjevic's squad has been the second-most efficient team in the tournament, and the most efficient over the last three games:

Ultimately, though, while the Serbs are playing out of this world and have the weapons in Teodosic, first-round pick Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nenad Krstic and seven-footer Miroslav Raduljica to pull the upset, the United States is simply too deep and too talented. 

They've got players who can create off the dribble in Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Rose. They've got shooters in Steph Curry and Thompson. They've got two athletic, high-energy big men in Davis and Faried, who are likely the front-runners for MVP at this point. 

And after Sunday, they'll have gold medals. 

Prediction: Serbia 77, United States 90