New Spanish Kids on the Block

Just how good will the silver medallist Spanish team be when it (probably) takes on the U.S.A. in 2010? That's a question my boys at ballineurope.com have asked lately and they have essentially said that it looks like the Spaniards will address their biggest weakness (and every other nations' for that matter) against the Americans: on the wing (where swingmen - tall, versatile shooting guards and small forwards - play).

Every time the United States took the floor this summer, it had an automatic advantage in both the size and athleticism departments at the swing positions. While some teams could hang with the US on the perimeter (see the medal-round Australia game for the 1st half and Argentina for the 2nd) and others could overpower them inside (e.g. Spain in the gold-medal game), it seemed nobody could matchup with Carmelo, Tayshaun, LeBron, and Kobe in sheer swingman sizzle.

In 2012, the Spanish national team will largely look the same with these changes:

Likely OUTs

• Jorge Garbajosa - the gritty, oft-injured 6-9, 245-pounder will be 34 and likely have long since stepped out of the picture.
• Carlos Jimenze - the even grittier 6-8, 225-pound gritmeister will be 36. He too will likely have given up his spot.

Potential INs

• Victor Claver - from the photo below, it should be very clear is that lack of athleticism in not a problem for this 6-10, 220-lb. Euro. What is less clear is if this 24-year-old-to-be will have improved his perimeter defense enough by 2012 to garner a spot on the team.

• Fernando San Emeterio - I could get all fancy and throw out biographical information about this 6-6, 210-pound 28-year-old-to-be. But let's get real, folks. Look at this face:

That is the dead-eye look of a go-getter.
Do you really think that this guy is not gonna make the team?

• Albert Moncasi - Another big body at 6-10, 220 pounds, it's not clear whether this 26-year-old-to-be is ready for the big-time yet. He's not as athletic as Claver and his intensity isn't yet up to par. Still, big guys do tend to develop a little later.

All in all, it looks like Spain's 2012 swingmen will be a little bigger and possibly more athletic, but the team will miss the experience and uber-grit of Garbajosa and Jimenez. Beating the US will more contingent on Rubio, R. Fernandez, and Marc Gasol's continued development than picking up any kind advantage on the wings - which. it will not.

Redeem Team Strikes; Cooks Greece's Feta 92-69

Finally, after 23 months, the US team avenged their 2006 World Championship quarterfinal loss to Greece, the last loss Team USA has endured. Some tasty morsels I have picked from the Informational Bread known as the Internet:

1. The "greatest self-trip in the history of basketball" is unfortunately not available through youtube. Fortunately, there is still an nbcolympic.com route by which you can see it, though a bit a circuitous. Simply, go here and click China under "By Country." Then choose the video "Highlights: Gasol, Spain defeat China." If you have to download software, it's worth it to see Carlos Jimenez do something I thought was physically impossible at the 1:05 mark.

More forthcoming...

Angolan' for a Gold Medal - US drops Africa's Finest in 97-76 rout

I am trying to turn this whole watching the game without aural commentary thing on TV into an advantage. So I am trying to decipher the players' souls by listening to what they're shouting over the squeak and squawk of the hardwood:

1. Lebron hits the ball hard. Late in the first , he received the ball at the top of the key and hit it like he was trying to spank Satan out of a toddler.

2. For all the hubbub about the US not defending the 3-point shot well, I like what I see from Bron-Bron so far. After his "Satan Smack," LeBron and D-Wade defended against a pick n roll near the arc. As LeBron closed out on the dribble, he screamed out to D-Wade - "Get up, D-Wade! Through, through D-Wade!" telling him to pick up on a switch.
No three was attempted then, and soon afterwards Kobe flew out to disturb a subsequent Angolan attempt, ending in one ugly travel.

3. A similar occurrence happened early in the 2nd quarter when Anthony yelled out to Redd to switch on the arc and the two Americans orchestrated it well. The resulting pressure resulted in the Angolan pivoting himself into a pretzel and throwing the ball directly into Deron Williams' hands. It was 33-21 and I knew the mud was only beginning to slide for Africa's Finest.

On to the Spain-China, a much more competitive outing. I knew China would improve after playing the US, but playing Spain even in regulation only to lose in 85-75 overtime was very impressive. I quite frankly didn't think they were that good.

There are a few things I will add once the video is up of the above game. Teaser: The first is the most spectacular self-trip in the history of the sport, courtesy of Carlos Jimenez.