Here's Part II of our Olympic basketball preview!
Spain vs France - This is interesting because it is one of two games featuring teams that are seemingly headed in opposite directions. Spain was expected to win their bracket but instead, lost to both Russia and (fortunately) Brazil. This put them in 3rd place, providential because it kept them well away from Team USA (until the gold medal match, that is). Did they tank? Hard to say but I don't think so. I find it hard to believe that the proud Spaniards (Gasol brothers, Ibaka, Navarro etc) would be willing parties to tanking. France, on the other hand, is playing excellently (after the rough loss to Team USA). They shocked Argentina to take the second seed but drew the tougher draw in the knock out semifinals. Parker, Batum and Diaw are playing really well and I'd say they are the current darlings of Olympic basketball (but only because Tunisia is out of the picture already).
Key match up - Tony Parker vs Juan Carlos Navarro, Boris Diaw/Ronnie Turiaf vs Pau/Marc Gasol. This game is particularly mouthwatering because we've got several sets of world class players squaring off. Parker has been phenomenal in the last few games and should be able to manhandle his man but Navarro is a wily international veteran who can shoot from long range. On the other side of the spectrum, the Gasol brothers are on a much higher level than Turiaf or Diaw but Turiaf is a legit defensive presence while Diaw has more weapons than either Gasol.
Prediction: Spain 80, France 78 (OT)
Argentina vs Brazil - The second interesting game featuring teams headed for opposite directions. The Argentinians are still led by the same players, some of them hailing back to the 2002 team (Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni). In an entire decade, no young Argentinians have come to take the mantle from members of the "Golden Generation". This is probably their swan song, the last time we will see Manu, Noce, Scola, Delfino and Prigioni play together (Oberto, Hermann and several other members have retired from national team duties). Brazil, on the other hand, is Group B's version of France. Their surprisingly strong showing in the last couple of years was fueled by the growing maturity of Leandro Barbosa, Nene, Tiago Splitter, Anderson Varejao and Marcelinho Huertas. This time has it all: outside shooting, strong post offense and defense, rebounding, quick guards, bruising big men...As a team, their weapons are many, varied and effective.
Key match up - Manu Ginobili vs Leandro Barbosa, Luis Scola/Andres Nocioni vs Nene/Anderson Varejao. This is going to be a battle of NBA stars. Manu and Barbosa are going to be driving on each other all night long, exchanging "HORSE" shots and "and-1's". Scola and Nocioni have the advantage in offense, as Nocioni can score inside and outside while Scola has so many moves around the basketball he's like an non-jumping Olajuwon. Nene and Varejao, on the other hand, own a gigantic advantage in defense and rebounding, swallowing up rebounds left and right, noth offensive and defensive and are quick enough and long enough to bother Scola, Noce, Manu and anyone else daring to come down the paint. But, you know what? I just can't bet against Ginobili in a big international game when he's in Argetina's baby blue.
Prediction: Argentina 85, Brazil 82.
Key match up - Tony Parker vs Juan Carlos Navarro, Boris Diaw/Ronnie Turiaf vs Pau/Marc Gasol. This game is particularly mouthwatering because we've got several sets of world class players squaring off. Parker has been phenomenal in the last few games and should be able to manhandle his man but Navarro is a wily international veteran who can shoot from long range. On the other side of the spectrum, the Gasol brothers are on a much higher level than Turiaf or Diaw but Turiaf is a legit defensive presence while Diaw has more weapons than either Gasol.
Prediction: Spain 80, France 78 (OT)
Key match up - Manu Ginobili vs Leandro Barbosa, Luis Scola/Andres Nocioni vs Nene/Anderson Varejao. This is going to be a battle of NBA stars. Manu and Barbosa are going to be driving on each other all night long, exchanging "HORSE" shots and "and-1's". Scola and Nocioni have the advantage in offense, as Nocioni can score inside and outside while Scola has so many moves around the basketball he's like an non-jumping Olajuwon. Nene and Varejao, on the other hand, own a gigantic advantage in defense and rebounding, swallowing up rebounds left and right, noth offensive and defensive and are quick enough and long enough to bother Scola, Noce, Manu and anyone else daring to come down the paint. But, you know what? I just can't bet against Ginobili in a big international game when he's in Argetina's baby blue.
Prediction: Argentina 85, Brazil 82.
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