USA Basketball Lackluster in Win Over Lithuania

As the United States finished up an uninspired game against Lithuania, winning 77-61, thoughts shift to their upcoming opponent and most likely biggest challenge, Spain.  The Spanish are the defending FIBA world champions, winning the honor in 2006 by dispatching the Greeks in a lopsided basketball win. 

In the semis, the United States was easily banished by an underpowered Greek team, and nearly fell out of the medal race when 2002 FIBA world champion Argentina gave them a good run.  Had Manu Ginobili’s injury not kept him from the game, Lebron and company would not have had any medals to speak of. Two years later, at the Olympics, a Kobe Bryant-equipped US olympic team struck gold, barely nudging out a Pau Gasol led Spanish team.

Lebron and company are long gone, now toiling around South Beach daydreaming about kissing the Larry O’Brien trophy for real this time, and not for a commercial shoot.  The US national team is a strange bunch, with geezers and youth playing alongside each other, some with significant accomplishments in the NBA, others not even an ESPN moment.  The geezers include Billups and Odom, both NBA champions, and the diaper dandies include Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Stephen Curry, just to name a few.

The Spanish media are having a field day with this upcoming friendly game, and the Spanish team, sans Pau Gasol, are looking forward to the challenge, though not underestimating the Americans.  Pau’s brother Marc Gasol believes the Americans are the team to beat, despite the absence of the magic trio from South Beach.