Spain spent a decade preparing to beat USA Basketball. Now’s their chance

It seems impossible now with Team USA in the midst of a 51-game winning streak, but the 2008 Olympic team had one word on its mind: Redemption. The “Redeem Team” cruised to the gold medal game in Beijing, setting up a battle with a Spain team they beat by 37 points in prelims. USA Basketball’s return to the top of world basketball seemed certain.

Somebody forgot to tell the Spanish.

They had no business hanging around with that iteration of Team USA — combining the talents of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade just wasn’t fair — but a three-point jumper from Carlos Jimenez put Spain within four points of the Americans with a little over two minutes to play. The Spanish fought until the bitter end, forcing an American turnover with 3.8 seconds left despite being down 11 points.

What’s so compelling about this game was not what happened, but how it happened. How did Spain tighten the gap between prelims and the medal round? How could a team playing a 17-year old Ricky Rubio stand toe-to-toe against future Hall of Famers in Chris Paul and Jason Kidd?

They did it as they always have, by remaining steady while everything changes around them.

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While USA Basketball can rely on a massive talent pool to bail them out of missteps in roster makeup, the rest of the world has to create a perfect blend in order to have a chance to dethrone the Americans. Spain challenged the U.S. in 2008 and continues to do so today because of their focus on continuity.

Spain’s primary conspirators haven’t changed much over time. Six of the players that made an appearance in the 2008 gold medal game are still on the team today, and the carry-over from 2012 is even greater, with nine of the silver medalists from London appearing in Rio. Those numbers would be even higher if not for Marc Gasol’s absence due to injury.

Continuity for continuity’s sake isn’t worth much, but the value of Spain’s chemistry shines through in their performances. They are unflappable, capable of withstanding tough stretches and able to develop counters to their opponent’s strategy on the fly.

Written off as too old after two early losses in Rio, the Spanish have since ripped off four impressive victories, settling into their familiar rhythm. Rubio, long since free of the awful bowl cut he rocked in the 2008 gold medal game, is barking at Spain’s doubters like a curmudgeon twice his age:

The starring figures of Spanish basketball have long been aware that familiarity is their counter to America’s talent. In the words of Pau Gasol, circa 2012:

We have a really talented team, but I do think our talent is a little different from the one of the US National Team. Hopefully our experience as being together for many years now will be a big plus for us.

Spain’s stalwarts have been together so long that perhaps they can’t even consider what it would be like to change the formula. They play with a flair made possible by hundreds of hours spent together, knowing their no-look passes in transition will find a teammate.

That continuity nearly allowed Spain to get the drop on Team USA in a 2012 gold-medal rematch. Entering the fourth quarter, the Americans led by only one, and Spain was within six with three minutes left to play. The elder Gasol had a tremendous game, pouring in 13 straight points in the third quarter on his way to 24 for the game...

...and it simply wasn’t enough to beat the best effort from America. Kevin Durant scored a U.S. gold-medal game record 30 points, and Team USA won by seven.

The Americans have been able to hold off Spain all these years, but never have they entered a meeting with the Spanish as vulnerable as they are right now. Unlike in ‘08 and ‘12, there’s not a base of familiarity for many of Team USA’s leading players. Carmelo Anthony is the only player left representing the 2008 team, with Durant the only player joining from 2012.

All the problems besieging Team USA in Rio — poor off-ball defense, uninspired sets and puzzling lineup decisions — can be connected on some level to lack of familiarity amongst the players. The Americans have spent a mere month playing basketball together, and it shows.

There is no clear identity for Team USA. They spent exhibition season raving about their defensive potential, only for Coach K to insist on starting several minus-defenders. They have the athletes to play some of the greatest small- ball lineups ever assembled, but Draymond Green is quickly learning that FIBA refs don’t appreciate his bully-ball style as much as the NBA does.

Spain has spent the better part of a decade settling into an identity; though the younger Gasol has been removed from the equation for now, nothing much has changed for the European giants. Mirotic, stepping into the naturalized citizen spot vacated by Serge Ibaka, has emerged as the perfect inside-outside threat to partner with Pau.

The edge Spain plays with against America may be the most important factor of all. They have long been defiant in the face of Team USA’s talent; in the aforementioned 2008 gold medal game they racked up multiple technical fouls in the final minute, unable to accept that America got the best of them. Earlier in the contest, a towel was fired onto the court from the Spanish sideline in apparent protest of a non-call.

Spain’s belief that they can take Team USA’s best punch, even if delusional, still pulses through the team today:

It will take a lot more than immeasurable qualities for Spain to best America in a game of basketball. Despite all their issues, Team USA is still comfortably the more talented team and the favorite to win the gold medal.

Still, there’s something charming about the Spanish running it back with the same faces one more time, hoping to capitalize on a rare moment of vulnerability for their opponent. If Team USA wants to reach their third straight final, they’ll have to beat a team that spent the last decade preparing for this game.