It wasn’t until the country’s last two group-stage games that Spain finally looked like the gold-medal favorite that it truly is. After a narrow nine-point victory over Group B lightweight Nigeria, the Spaniards responded with a 50-point obliteration of then-undefeated Lithuania followed by a 19-point rout of perennial contenders Argentina, giving them a ton of momentum entering the knockout stage in Rio.
Pau Gasol continues to be an Olympic wonder despite his 36-year-old frame, leading all Olympians with an average of 8.8 rebounds per game, as well as ranking third overall in blocked shots (2.0 BPG) and fourth in scoring (19.4 PPG). He even had a dazzling 5-for-5 night from three-point range in the blowout of Lithuania.
Gasol’s teammates and fellow NBA players of past and present have also shone bright, with the likes of Nikola Mirotic (7-for-7 field-goal shooting versus Lithuania) and Rudy Fernandez (ranked fourth in Rio with 2.0 steals per game) pitching in tremendously. Having said that, another monster outing from España may be in the works this Wednesday, and just in time before a possible semifinal clash with the United States.
Much like Spain, France is one nation that boasts plenty of NBA-caliber talent in its roster along with being touted as a true contender for the gold this year. However, the team has had a rocky path towards its quarterfinal berth. The French started off the tournament with a 21-point drubbing at the hands of Australia, but then took care of Group A pushovers China and Venezuela with ease.
A close victory over Serbia showed that France can hang tough in the clutch, even in the team’s three-point defeat to the USA’s freight train of doom at that. However, four-time NBA champion and team star Tony Parker has lost a bit of his tenacity, as his teammate Nando de Colo (two 8-for-8 free-throw shooting performances; 1.6 steals per game) has basically and surprisingly taken over Parker’s duties as the team’s floor general.
Even with Parker not at the top of his game, at least the French are still playing some terrific defense. They’re averaging nearly four blocks per contest (second in the Olympics behind Nigeria), with half of them coming from Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert alone.
Then again, Spain’s offense is on a roll right now. Plus, it was the Spaniards who also handed France that brutal overtime loss in the 2015 Eurobasket semifinal, making Wednesday’s showdown all the more necessary and tense for rightful redemption.
Writer’s Prediction
Spain (-4.5) ousts France from an international tournament yet again, 91-86.
