Is Spain vs. Team USA Becoming Best International Sporting Rivalry?

September 6th, 2014 by Stephen Babb Leave a reply »

The 2014 FIBA World Cup isn't over yet, but all indications are that the United States and Spain are destined to clash in the Sept. 14 finals. 

The two clubs were favorites to do just that even before group play kicked off. After seeing them officially in action, little has changed. If there's any team with enough NBA talent to potentially rival Team USA, it's Spain—thanks primarily to a front line that boasts brothers Pau and Marc Gasol, along with Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka.

Add guards Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and Rudy Fernandez to the mix and you have a veteran squad replete with talent that's been cultivated at the NBA level.

That's a dangerous combination against any competition—even the vaunted Team USA.

Spain came up a close second to the United States in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, taking home silver medals, while the Americans claimed gold. The 2012 meeting in London was an especially tight contest, with Team USA leading by just one point after three quarters and eventually winning by seven points.



The Spanish te ...

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