The storylines will be plentiful Wednesday night when the two teams playing the best basketball so far at the Rio Olympics square off, but no subplot was generating more discussion on the eve of the Group A showdown between then United States and Australia than Kyrie Irving versus Matthew Dellavedova.As recently as late June, Irving and Dellavedova were teammates celebrating their first NBA championship together with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But Dellavedova has since moved on in free agency to the Milwaukee Bucks and, coming off the finest game of his national team career, will now go head to head with Irving in the most anticipated game to date in the mens tournament.The individual matchup generated numerous questions Tuesday before Team USAs afternoon practice at Brazils famed Clube Flamengo, sparked partly because of the Melbourne-born Irvings Aussies roots but mostly because of Dellavedovas reputation for in-your-face defense.Dellys gonna compete, Irving said. Thats all he knows. Im used to that already (from Cavaliers practices), so I dont see it as him being feisty or him being a pest. Hes gonna do what Delly does.Irving then tried to assert that he doesnt think Delly is gonna rank as the all-time peskiest guy Ive ever gone against, but Irving also didnt have a ready response when asked to name a defender hes found peskier.Dellavedova enjoyed a near-perfect outing Monday in Australias 95-80 victory over Serbia, totaling 23 points and 13 assists without a single turnover. He and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills combined for 49 points in the win over Serbia, which followed a 21-point trouncing Saturday of highly rated France to set the tone for whats been a mens tourney filled with upsets already -- excluding games featuring the United States.The Americans have romped to a 2-0 start in Group A with wins over China and Venezuela by a combined 101 points and are frankly in need of a push, having only played one game this summer out of seven so far against what could be considered a legitimate medal contender in Rio: Last months 37-point exhibition cruise in Las Vegas past aging Argentina.Hes just a continuance of the Australian that weve played against in my 11 years, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Dellavedova and his relentless style.Theyve always played first of all with great spirit and togetherness. As good as they are individually, theyre greater as the sum of those parts.In addition to Dellavedova and Mills, Australia boasts legit NBA size in Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut and Detroit Pistons center Aron Baynes as well as former NBAer David Andersen. Utah Jazz swingman Joe Ingles adds to the Aussies shooting threat.But Krzyzewski is concerned most about Australias pick-and-roll prowess and the passing of Bogut and Dellavedova. Its a much stronger team than the Australian squad Team USA blasted by 33 points in the quarterfinals of the London Olympics in 2012, which Bogut missed thanks to an ankle injury.Im sure Australia sees a lot of things that they can do against us because theyre really good, Krzyzewski said. Australian basketball is terrific. ... They can beat us. We know that and well prepare accordingly.We know that they feel like they can beat us and we understand that, Krzyzewski said.I think it will be a really good game.Said Irving: When I saw the France (score), I was like, OK this will be a great test. We need to be beat up a little bit to prepared for whats ahead.Team USA star Kevin Durant, however, scoffed at the notion that the game will narrow down to a duel between Irving and Dellavedova.Dellys playing well, but hes not getting into no one-on-one matchup (with Irving), Durant said. Kyries a dog; hes an animal. Thats how he approaches the game?.Irving ultimately conceded that Dellavedovas physicality led to a few rough days on the Cavaliers practice floor but said his fondness for the former St. Marys standout is such that theyll be bonded forever.Its been good for the both of us, Irving said of their three seasons together as teammates.Yet when it comes to game day, Irving added: Just like I should be worried about him, he should be worried about me. It goes both ways?.Fake China Jerseys . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Cheap Jerseys From China . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. China Jerseys Stitched . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. China Jerseys Wholesale . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout.After losing all the Tests in a series they would have been hopeful of doing well in, Kane Williamson managed to retain some humour, but he knew his side was done in by a mix of difficult conditions for them, the quality of their opposition in those conditions, and their own lack of application at times. In packed schedules nowadays, you hardly get time to acclimatise, which means you dont have too many second chances. The most disappointing aspect for New Zealand will be that when they got a surface in Indore that resembled classic Indian pitches, they couldnt bat for long enough. It didnt help that they never won a toss, and India always were in the ascendency.When asked about R Ashwins hold on him - the leading wicket-taker of the series took out Williamson all four times he batted - Williamson joked: He didnt get me out 27 times. He got a few other blokes out too.On a serious note, Williamson did make a mention of the conditions. Hes a good bowler, Williamson said of Ashwin. Were always learning playing internationals. I guess its a new thing, personally as well. Come over here with so much rough, which is nice to bowl into. I suppose I was a victim of it a few times. I guess, when you are put in that situation where you are dismissed in a similar situation, you are able to learn and try to improve from that. The conditions guys are exposed to, and the quality of bowling, in a backhanded way, we can be thankful for those experiences that help move your game forward.Even before the season began, India had a good chance of going unbeaten through a long season of 13 home Tests. New Zealand, on paper, seemed the team likeliest to challenge India, which will now make India look invincible this season. Williamson, though, felt - and it did bring out some laughs - that the toss can be crucial in these conditions. The previous home season had a shift in the pitches India play on, and they have won all seven tosses since then.Winning the toss would be helpful, I think, Williamson said, when asked what advice he could give to the teams that are following him in Indias home season. Which is a challenge in itself: South Africa lost every toss as well. Certainly have to be at your best. Whether you win the toss, lose the toss, India were far superior in this series. It depends on the surfaces. Every surface has been different in this series, they were different in the South Africa series. Whether it is a good one… it is important to spend time at the crease, creating pressure. Batting first would be nice. It would help, certainly, in being more competitive. This India side is a very good team, and they certainly know these conditions better than anyone.Williamson said that while the conditions were more difficult when they batted in Indore, this was a pitch where they could have played more assured cricket. Speaking on finding the right balance between defence and attack, Williamson said: It is a challenge, certainly on wickets very conducive to spin that make attacking tough as well. Sometimes, being positive when it is doing a little bit more is the way forward. It is up tto the individual how they want to skin it, but in this Test, which was probably a little bit more like Test matches of old where its that war of attrition and you have to play long game like India showed, as opposed to Test matches prior, where 300 was a very good score, where you go out there and play positively and you get them before they get you, here was a little bit different.ddddddddddddThey exploited conditions better than us. They played very patiently with the bat, and batting was not easy when it came our time. Not just because conditions had deteriorated, but the very good bowling attack they have. Important that we come away from here, although frustrated, having learnt a huge amount as a young group being exposed in these conditions.Williamson didnt shy away from giving India the credit and said he was disappointed his team couldnt adapt quickly enough, but added that in conditions so challenging he felt the need to send players early for more experience.The more you can play in these conditions, the better youll be, Williamson said. That has to be a given. The more experiences you get in any conditions, it is a good thing. People talk a lot about county cricket and then, when you go to England, you certainly are far more aware of what to expect. I suppose this is no different. If guys can have more experience in these conditions, it will certainly be helpful.When asked if he felt his side had spent enough time here before the series, Williamson brought up the practical issue of the packed schedules. I suppose there is always those discussions, Williamson said. Another tough point as well is that you are playing so much international cricket, it is tricky to get that extra preparation you would like. So, you are having to learn on the job a bit, which is the nature of the beast, but at the same time, it is an important thing. Whether its A teams where guys are able to get extra time to come over, particularly in these conditions where you are playing more and more cricket. Indias home summer this year is 13 Test matches. So you are playing more and more in these conditions.New Zealand now have the five-ODI series to look forward to, which will be played on flatter surfaces. Williamson hoped the team doesnt carry the scars of losing the Tests into that series. Disappointing to lose the Test series, he said. At the same time, the guys are looking forward to the change of format. It will be tough again. We know India are a very good side at that as well. Its exciting. We know that wickets will more than likely be quite different again.We have got to adapt. Go out and play with that freedom, knowing that when we do play with that freedom, we play our best cricket. There will be a little bit of scarring coming out of a three-nil Test defeat. Obviously winning is a lot better than losing. Unfortunately we have lost a few on the trot, but nice to have new personnel come in who are fresh and looking forward to the one-day series. ' ' '