Coming into the Olympics Spain, the winner of the last two silver medals, was considered one of the top challengers to Team USA. And while this isn't the same team that gave the Americans a scare in 2008 -- Marc Gasol is out with an injury and Serge Ibaka elected to stay home -- Spain still has Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio and a number of other former and current NBA players.
Olympic basketball scores 2016: Brazil puts Spain on the brink of peril
Spain was a silver medal favorite coming into Rio. Now, Pau Gasol and the rest of the Spaniards will need to find a way to beat Argentina to avoid facing Team USA in the semifinals.
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Except here we are, two games into pool play, and Spain has dropped both its contests. First there was the two-point loss to Croatia after a last-second floater from Pau Gasol was swatted away. Then on Tuesday Spain fell once again, this time to host Brazill, 66-65. The winning basket came on a tip-in from Marquinhos with 5.5 seconds left to play.
Just like that Spain is 0-2 and now will have to pull of a number of upsets in order to return home with a medal. Spain’s next three games in pool play will come against Nigeria, Lithuania and Argentina. Nigeria and Lithuania should be victories, but Argentina will be tough. If Spain doesn’t run the table the rest of the way it will likely face Team USA in the semifinals, meaning they’d need to upset the Americans in order to guarantee at least another silver medal.
Spain’s issues Tuesday against Brazil came on the offensive end. The team shot just 37 percent from the field and 26 percent from deep and turned the ball over 13 times. Even Pau Gasol, one of the greatest international players of all time, connected on just four of his 11 shots for a team-high 13 points. Spain had just three players in double figures, despite boasting one of the deepest rosters in the tournament.
It will need players other than Gasol to step up if it hopes to turn things around.
Brazil made its fans proud
The six-point loss to Lithuania in its Olympic opener was no doubt a disappointment. But the upset over Spain on Tuesday in front of a home crowd was one of the top moments for the hosts thus far this Olympics.
Brazil has talent on its roster, but most of its most notable players -- from Leandro Barbosa to Nene -- are well past their primes. Still, Marcelo Huertas of the Lakers is a fine guard for international play, as is Jazz guard Raul Neto.
It remains unlikely that Brazil will find its way into the medal round. But knocking off Spain, the team that’s won the last two silver medals, is a major accomplishment. Doing so in front of its home fans makes the moment even sweeter.
Australia’s women are no joke
Australia knocked off France 89-71 on Tuesday. The Opals are now 3-0 in pool play. Penny Taylor led the way for Australia with 31 points, while star center Elizabeth Cambage added in 16 points and seven rebounds.
Team USA, of course, hasn’t dropped a game in Olympic play since the 1992 Bronze Medal Game, and remains the heavy favorite. And with Lauren Jackson out it’s hard to imagine Australia ending that streak.
That said, the Opals have certainly come out looking strong. With Cambage and Taylor playing at the level they are, it’s possible Australia can, perhaps, give Team USA a scare.
Final Scores
Women’s Scores
Australia 89, France 71
Belarus 65, Brazil 63
Turkey 76, Japan 62
Men’s Scores
Brazil 66, Spain 65
Lithuania 89, Nigeria 80
Argenita 90, Croatia 82
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