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)
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)
