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Japan women’s basketball just might be the coolest team at the Olympics

I don’t know why I tuned into a replay of the Australia-Japan basketball game on Thursday night.

Maybe I was bored. Maybe I just wanted to watch some ball after missing out on most of the Olympic coverage while at work.

Maybe I was shocked to see that Japan had a women’s basketball team. (OK, it’s probably that).

I wasn’t expecting anything special. Just wanted to check out what the teams looked like.

But what I saw made my jaw drop.

Japanese point guard Asami Yoshida streaking down the court like Allen Iverson, attacking the rack and dropping out-of-nowhere dimes.

Mika Kurihara filling the lane like Klay Thompson on the Warriors’ fast break, then stepping up and drilling catch-and-shoot threes, often times after a perfect pass from Yoshida.

Big girl Ramu Tokashiki (who I found out is a rookie with the Seattle Storm) posting up and knocking down turnaround jumpers with a hand in her face.

The girls on the bench raising their arms and coming together after every basket, celebrating like an eighth grade softball team.

Honestly, the above clips don’t even do them justice. If you have Comcast, say “Olympic basketball” into your remote and search for that game. I’m not even kidding.

Because what you’ll see is basketball at its best–the way it’s supposed to be played.

They reminded me of the old-school Sacramento Kings in their glory days: back-cutting, slashing to the basket, passing and moving, and sticking jumpers from everywhere on the court.

It was amazing. Head coach ‎Tomohide Uchiumi should be proud.

And I know what you’re (still) thinking: Wait, Japan plays basketball?

Yeah, and pretty well. I was stunned too.

But after the Japanese sliced and diced the Australian defense for three quarters, taking a stunning 77-61 lead early in the fourth, it stopped being so stunning. These girls know how to play the game. And it’s a lot of fun to watch them do it.

Australia hadn’t lost to a team not named France or the U.S. since 1996, but Japan had them on the ropes. Of course, they melted down at the end, allowing the bigger and stronger Aussies to finish the game on a 31-9 run and steal the game, 92-86.

But they bounced back.

The Japanese beat France, 79-71 on Saturday, to advance out of the group stage and into the quarterfinal round. They’ll play an elimination game on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

You might laugh at this, or say I’m nuts for breaking down the Japanese women’s team.

But if you like basketball, you should check them out.

You won’t be disappointed.

And if you’re like me, you might just have a new favorite team.

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