USA vs. Spain

The USA’s advantage in most FIBA games is that nearly every player is better than the guy that is guarding him. Even with only a short training camp and a few games together, that can get them past just about anyone. This year, however, they are missing a few top tier talents, which diminishes that ability a bit. Spains big advantage, in addition to a pretty good cache of NBA talent, is that the core of the team have played together for awhile. They might not have an advantage in every player match up, but they might have a situation where the whole is better than the individual parts and that will give them a chance for the Cup.

The USA’s advantage in most FIBA games is that nearly every player is better than the guy that is guarding him. Even with only a short training camp and a few games together, that can get them past just about anyone. This year, however, they are missing a few top tier talents, which diminishes that ability a bit. Spains big advantage, in addition to a pretty good cache of NBA talent, is that the core of the team have played together for awhile. They might not have an advantage in every player match up, but they might have a situation where the whole is better than the individual parts and that will give them a chance for the Cup.

Does not have 1 guard who stops dribble penetration.  Spain will cause issues. All those PG on the US are more so scorers. 

Does not have 1 guard who stops dribble penetration.  Spain will cause issues. All those PG on the US are more so scorers. 

Rudy Fernandez would even be a decent starting player in the NBA.

I already mentioned this: Davis and Faried are poor defenders in the post. Yes, they can block shots from the weak side, but if they get isolated, experienced big men can take them to school. Turkey fouled US  players in order to prevent them from scoring in transition, which was effective for a little while. So I don’t know whether the US doesn’t really have any solid offensive sets or they didn’t really need to used them so far. My opinion is that more experienced teams like Spain can beat the US in the halfcourt game.

Rudy Fernandez would even be a decent starting player in the NBA.

I already mentioned this: Davis and Faried are poor defenders in the post. Yes, they can block shots from the weak side, but if they get isolated, experienced big men can take them to school. Turkey fouled US  players in order to prevent them from scoring in transition, which was effective for a little while. So I don’t know whether the US doesn’t really have any solid offensive sets or they didn’t really need to used them so far. My opinion is that more experienced teams like Spain can beat the US in the halfcourt game.

 I have been a little worried when thinking about if we play Spain, Spain has alot of experienced talent and size, I think where the US has a big advantage is in quickness and althleticism and I think if we are to win it will be by taking advantage of that and running and pressuring  Spain , getting the game to be uptempo, causing turnovers, creating easy scoring opportunities. If Spain can slow the game down, make it a half court match, we could be in trouble.  With great determination and our athletic advantage I think we can and will win but it’s not a sure thing.

 I have been a little worried when thinking about if we play Spain, Spain has alot of experienced talent and size, I think where the US has a big advantage is in quickness and althleticism and I think if we are to win it will be by taking advantage of that and running and pressuring  Spain , getting the game to be uptempo, causing turnovers, creating easy scoring opportunities. If Spain can slow the game down, make it a half court match, we could be in trouble.  With great determination and our athletic advantage I think we can and will win but it’s not a sure thing.

Don’t let the US "starting slow" thing fool you. The US can do several things on offense and they have been experimenting with lots of plays. They have really failed to get their three point shooting in gear, but other than that they have a solution.

They give the ball to Harden and run a pick with Davis. This is basically unstoppable. It would be unstoppable in the NBA against any collection of NBA talent. And it will work against Gasols and Ibaka.

So while Spain should give them a game and might, on a hot shooting night, even win. You can’t entirely judge the US based on their games. The US is not playing at full capacity. And they are also experimenting with things that they won’t use in crunch time.

Crunch time. Kyre and Rose don’t play. Wings are Harden witht he ball, Currey and Thompson spreading floor. Davis running the pick and role. PF probably Faried but possibly someone else. Faried is too small to stop a Gasol from posting up. And he isn’t an ideal guy to be hanging around supporting the Harden/Davis roll. But the US doesn’t have too many options. Check and see if they try to play Cousins or even (and this would be a bit crazy) Plumlee with Davis a bit to see if that works.  Davis has to stay on the floor as he is now the US’s best player and certainly most important player (he is the US’s defense and part of their crunch time offense). But you don’t ideally want Davis to have to bang with a Gasol. You’d rather have him guarding Ibaka. 

Don’t let the US "starting slow" thing fool you. The US can do several things on offense and they have been experimenting with lots of plays. They have really failed to get their three point shooting in gear, but other than that they have a solution.

They give the ball to Harden and run a pick with Davis. This is basically unstoppable. It would be unstoppable in the NBA against any collection of NBA talent. And it will work against Gasols and Ibaka.

So while Spain should give them a game and might, on a hot shooting night, even win. You can’t entirely judge the US based on their games. The US is not playing at full capacity. And they are also experimenting with things that they won’t use in crunch time.

Crunch time. Kyre and Rose don’t play. Wings are Harden witht he ball, Currey and Thompson spreading floor. Davis running the pick and role. PF probably Faried but possibly someone else. Faried is too small to stop a Gasol from posting up. And he isn’t an ideal guy to be hanging around supporting the Harden/Davis roll. But the US doesn’t have too many options. Check and see if they try to play Cousins or even (and this would be a bit crazy) Plumlee with Davis a bit to see if that works.  Davis has to stay on the floor as he is now the US’s best player and certainly most important player (he is the US’s defense and part of their crunch time offense). But you don’t ideally want Davis to have to bang with a Gasol. You’d rather have him guarding Ibaka.