Slovenia only trailed by seven against the United States at halftime on Tuesday before the U.S. used a huge third quarter to turn the game into a rout. It might have been the best game that coach Mike Krzyzewski's team has palyed all tournament, but Slovenian guard Goran Dragic still doesn't think the USA will win gold.
Goran Dragic loses to USA by 43, calls Spain the favorite
The Slovenian guard is taking Spain over the United States in the FIBA World Cup.
Rob Carr
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Goran Dragic (Slovenia, Suns) on who is favorite at this point in FIBA World Cup: "So far, Spain."
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) September 9, 2014 “They’re good, very good,” Dragic said of Team USA. “The big guys under the basket, if they’re going to get offensive rebounds then (their teammates) don’t have pressure when they shoot the ball. They get second offense, but I think...it’s going to be hard against Spain.”
Whether Dragic was salty after a blowout loss that ended Slovenia’s run in the World Cup or offering an honest assessment is open for interpretation, but it’s been evident since the start of the tournament that Spain and the U.S. are the two best teams in the field. Both are undefeated, with the U.S. winning by an average margin of 33 points through seven games and Spain winning by 26.5 points through six games.
For his part, USA power forward Kenneth Faried caught wind of Dragic's assessment and didn't appreciate it.
Of suggestion Team USA will struggle vs. bigger teams, @KennethFaried35 said: "Is that what's going around? That's totally disrespectful"
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 10, 2014 Quote even better upon hearing clearer audio. "Massively disrespectful," @KennethFaried35 says. "We'll just have to see tomorrow, I guess"
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 10, 2014 Spain faces a tough France team (albeit one without Tony Parker) on Wednesday in the quarterfinals, and the French knocked them out of Eurobasket a year ago. Team USA is already onto the semis where they will face Jonas Valanciunas and Lithuania.
Should both win out, Spain and the U.S. will play for gold on Sunday. It’ll only be a few days before we know how good Dragic’s prognosticating skills are.
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