Who will defeat the United States Dream Team at the London Olympics?

[Kings]

1936: 5W - 0L.
1948: 8W - 0L.
1952: 8W - 0L.
1956: 8W - 0L.
1960: 8W - 0L.
1964: 9W - 0L.
1968: 9W - 0L.
1972: 8W - 1L.
1976: 7W - 0L.
1984: 8W - 0L.
1988: 7W - 1L.
1992: 8W - 0L.
1996: 8W - 0L.
2000: 8W - 0L.
2004: 5W - 3L.
2008: 8W - 0L.

1972 Olympic Games

Aug 27 URS 51 - USA 50

Sergey Belov 20pts.

1988 Olympic Games

Sep 28 URS 82 - USA 76

Rimas Kurtinaitis 28pts.

2004 Olympic Games

Aug 15 Puerto Rico 92 - USA 73

Carlos Arroyo 24pts, 4reb, 7ast, 4stl.

Aug 21 Lithuania 94 - USA 90

Sarunas Jasikevicius 28pts, 4ast.

Aug 27 Argentina 89 - USA 81

Emanuel Ginobili 29pts, 3reb, 3ast.

[saalsapr]

The UK no doubt. Their awesome team of whom I know nothing about will unexpectedly get a favorable result fueled by their hometown fans.

[madmax]

Spain (obvious candidate)
Serbia (if their threes are falling)
Lithuania (if they qualify and refs will call the game consistently for borh sides)
Argentina (maybe, or maybe they are too old already)
Brazil (can match USA athleticism wise and if they have a very good day)

well, that's about it

[Dtown]

Legit shot
Spain: US will be the favorites, but it wouldn't be shocking if Spain beat them.

Possible if things fall their way
Argentina: If they have a great shooting day, and haven't over extended themselves the game before. They're getting up in age, and aren't nearly as deep as the US.

Brazil and Russia: Force the US into a half court game, rely on their physicality and tough Defense. They've both given the US trouble in the past, they've never been able to finish the job though.

Lithuania: Limit turnovers, survive ball pressure D. On a good shooting night they have the offensive weapons, but the last few times they've played them US guards have eviscerated Lithuania.

And that's about it. France is good, but they play the same style as the US, only not as well.

[rocketstar47]

Serbia (if their threes are falling)

well, that's about it

Serbia has no quaified

[Jon_Koncak]

Lol at Lithuania or Argentina being candidates to beat Usa.Might as well add Tunisia then,you know if they hit all their shots and Usa miss theirs,they have a legit chance.Spain have about 10-20 % chances and that's it.Supposing ofcourse that no major player of them goes down and misses the tournament.They need to be in full strength in order to have a chance whereas Usa could field 12 new players and they'd still be favorites.

[pohani komarac]

Great Argentina is aging without replacments for their stars

Not candidates for beating US, but Australia might be very good if they come with full roster (with Irving) and create good team play

[madmax]

Lol at Lithuania or Argentina being candidates to beat Usa.Might as well add Tunisia then,you know if they hit all their shots and Usa miss theirs,they have a legit chance.Spain have about 10-20 % chances and that's it.Supposing ofcourse that no major player of them goes down and misses the tournament.They need to be in full strength in order to have a chance whereas Usa could field 12 new players and they'd still be favorites.

LOL @ you acting like LTU and Argentina never beat mighty USA before...
All argies have to do is play smart basketball and execute their offense with crisp precision...the only question mark currently is their age, but you can never doubt their coach and general basketball IQ.
As for Lithuania, they beat USA before and and came very close few times too. They have enough shooters and super efficient players to outscore nayone on their day, the only question mark here is "Will the refs call the game consistently for both teams or not?"...but I guess this can be said for any team USA faces in FIBA competition.

[Dtown]

While I'll defend Argentina and Lithuania, it's silly to think that because they won against the US eight years ago that it has anything to do with the current teams as they are now.

[Straight forward]

It's pretty hard to expect too much competition for USA in Olympics 2012. Argentina is probably too old, Lithuania is rebuilding confidently, but not at the peak yet, Greece I doubt would be at the level of 2005-2006 even if they would add all their best players. Russia off course might be dangerous because of their size, athleticism and defence, but they never were offensive force and that's what you need to beat USA. Serbia won't even be there and I'm not a believer of France, at least when we talk about competing with USA. And the key moment is that USA will probably be stronger than 2000, 2004 and maybe even 2008 team.

So yes the only real competitor is Spain.

[NorCal]

These are some obvious points but I think they need to be said..........the USA hasn't even had a chance to work together and practice yet. This team will probably have the majority of the 2008 core guys who seemed to play well together but you know, basketball is a funny sport and sometimes guys just won't 'gel' together. Also, the compacted NBA schedule could really tire our players by the time the Olympics roll around. Or one or two of them could get injured. Who knows. A lot of question marks six months out.

[CKR13]

The compacted NBA Season may also have an adverse effect on Spain's Pau Gasol (LA Lakers), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Jose Calderon (Toronto Raptors).

As of the moment, I don't picture Calderon and the Raptors making it to the post-season. While I expect the Lakers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves to make it.

The same could be said for the French as well.

By the time the NBA finals comes to a close, the eventual champions will be bruised and hurting all over.

[Hithilome]

The compacted NBA Season may also have an adverse effect on Spain's Pau Gasol (LA Lakers), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Jose Calderon (Toronto Raptors).

As of the moment, I don't picture Calderon and the Raptors making it to the post-season. While I expect the Lakers, Grizzlies and Timberwolves to make it.

The same could be said for the French as well.

By the time the NBA finals comes to a close, the eventual champions will be bruised and hurting all over.

And Rudy Fernandez with Denver Nuggets (probably making it to the post-season), and Serge Ibaka with OKC.

[CKR13]

And Rudy Fernandez with Denver Nuggets (probably making it to the post-season), and Serge Ibaka with OKC.

Indeed, I forgot about Fernandez and Ibaka. Both teams are prime candidates for the playoffs, especially the Thunder that are favored to come out of the western conference as champions.

[Hithilome]

Surprisingly all Spanish NBA players are playing at an acceptable high level, which is good for their careers and teams, but can be counterproductive for the Olympics. Nevermind, all Spaniards to the Playoffs! (Even Toronto!)

[CKR13]

Kobe Bryant: You talking about London?
Gasol: Oh yeah.
Rubio: You’re gonna be there?
Bryant: Yeah.
Rubio: You know you’re getting the silver medal? You know that?
Bryant: [expletive]. I’m taking bets! [laughs] If I win, I get the keys of Barcelona.
Rubio: I bet what you want.
Bryant: I take it!

Video at: http://www.marca.com/tv/?v=IdaFvAQGzgf

[Southpaw]

I would not be surprise if USA lost to Spain but I doubt it. The thing that Spain has is interior defensive presence which is Ibaka and Marc Gasol that USA will respect. So basically USA has to make jumshots and transition baskets. If Spain can keep it close, that is their only chance of winning. I dunno if they have enough firepower but they got Navarro and Rudy who can ht tough shots. And Rubio is gaining confidence. We will see. Derrick Rose too is extending his range, Durant can pretty much shoot against anyone. Aldridge and Bosh can step out and hit shots too.

[rikhardur]

[ESPARTACO]

If our federation prez can get FIBA to allow Mirotic on the roster, then anything´s possible, in 2008 we were on the verge of beating a full USA team, and by then we didn´t have Ibaka, Mirotic or LLul, and Marc Gasol and Ricky Rubio weren´t half the players they´re this year...

Anyway this is our last realistic chance of winning a full USA, team as far as Gasol,Navarro, Calderon...will be retired by 2014 I guess.

This is a foreseeable roster in case we get Mirotic on board

- Calderon
- Ricky
- Llul

- Navarro
- Rudy
- Claver/Suarez
- San Emeterio

- Mirotic
- Ibaka
- P.Gasol
- M.Gasol
- Felipe Reyes

[Shawshank]

If Usa bringing what they said they are nobody can came even close in beating them this year.I thought that in 2010 teams had chances beating usa,this year and what they are sending sorry it wont happen.

In historical point of view we lithuanians are one way or other involve in 3 looses of 5 to Usa...one time we beat them (2004) in 1988 four leaders of SSSR from lithuania (sabonis,marciuliuonis,kurtinaitis,chomicius) beat them, in 1972 sssr team had starting player paulauskas in there.I dont even want to remember 2000 semifinal lithuania-usa...Nobody said in those years too that we or anybody other has chances against usa...But when they are bringing 7-8 best players in the world from 10 ofcourse they gonna destroy the tournament...When usa are taking seriuosly they are just too good not to win it...