USA Basketball and Spain will meet again in the playoff round of an Olympic men's basketball competition, only this time they have to do it again in the semifinal stage with the winner continuing the finals streak they began in Beijing 8-years ago.
What's on the line? (USA vs. Spain at 2:30 p.m US EST on NBC and NBC Sports)
USA: Despite not being able to live up to their billing as the best defensive team in USA basketball history, winning a third straight gold medal in men's basketball competition remains the top priority for Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and the rest of Team USA.
Domination had not been the theme for Team USA in their last three games of the group stages, but on Wednesday's quarterfinal showdown with another arch-rival Argentina, they showed why they are still the team to beat in the tournament.
USA stymied the Argentines to just 46 percent shooting on the floor and limited them to just 8 out of 32 shots from beyond the arc. The Americans wingman also had an excellent job containing Argentina big gunners Andres Nacioni to 12 points and Facundo Campazzo to 13 points.
On Friday, Team USA's defense will be tested once more against a Spanish team that has been shooting really well in the past three matches, including Wednesday's quarterfinal blowout victory over France 92-67.
Spain: As mentioned, Spain has been playing well as of late after struggling in their first two matches of the tournament. Pau Gasol, who is averaging 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds in the tournament, will need to deliver another big numbers on Friday, if he wants to keep his Olympic gold medal hope alive.
Spain has been in the finals the past two Olympics, and this could be their best chance of finally winning that elusive gold. Gone are the multiple talented big men for Team USA as Mike Krzyzewski to bring in a smaller but flexible lineup with only two natural centers on the roster, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndere Jordan.
Spain isn't that big either. With Marc Gasol deciding to skip Rio Games due to injury, Gasol had to move to the center spot. However, he's complemented very well with stretch-four forward Nikola Mirotic and backup center Willy Hernangómez, while the backcourt is loaded with veterans (Jose Calderon, Sergio Llull, Ricky Rubio and Juan Carlos Navarro). In short, this Spanish can compete inside and outside.
Projected Lineup & Predictions:
USA: DeMarcus Cousins / Carmelo Anthony / Kevin Durant / Klay Thompson / Kyrie Irving
Spain: Pau Gasol / Nikola Mirotic / Rudy Fernandez / Sergio Llull / Ricky Rubio
Predictions: USA will enter Friday's clash with Spain as the favorite, but not as overwhelming as they were four years or even eight years ago. Their performance in the group stages gives me reasons that this team is beatable. Unless Kyrie Irving provided a point guard clinic by dishing the ball wall and becoming the leader in the backcourt, USA is heading for a rough one in Rio.
Knowing that this is their last shot at a gold medal, Gasol, Jose Calderon and Juan Carlos Navarro will pour it all on this one. Brace yourself for another classic international ballgame for this one will surely come down the wire. As a bold prediction, I have Spain stunning team USA by single digit, 88-85.