{"id":115150,"date":"2016-08-06T21:58:55","date_gmt":"2016-08-07T01:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/news\/?p=115150"},"modified":"2016-08-06T21:58:55","modified_gmt":"2016-08-07T01:58:55","slug":"croatia-vs-spain-rio-2016-olympics-mens-basketball-group-b-predictions-and-betting-preview-august-7-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/news\/croatia-vs-spain-rio-2016-olympics-mens-basketball-group-b-predictions-and-betting-preview-august-7-2016.html","title":{"rendered":"Croatia vs. Spain \u2013 Rio 2016 Olympics Men\u2019s Basketball \u2013 Group B Predictions and Betting Preview \u2013 August 7, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/record.tbaffiliate.com\/_y8k7RB3Ll4xutv7iXV6HvmNd7ZgqdRLk\/44\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-114101 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/2016-Summer-Olympics-News-Banners-620x110-V1.gif\" alt=\"2016-Summer-Olympics---News-Banners-620x110-V1\" width=\"620\" height=\"110\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Croatia vs. Spain Men&#8217;s Basketball\u00a0Preview<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Where:\u00a0<\/strong>Carioca Arena 1 &#8211;\u00a0Rio de Janeiro, Brazil<\/p>\n<p><strong>When:<\/strong>\u00a0Sunday, August 7, 6:00 PM ET<\/p>\n<p><strong>Line:<\/strong>\u00a0Croatia (<strong>+9.5<\/strong>) vs. Spain\u00a0(<strong>-9.5<\/strong>); total <strong>148.5<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/sportsbook\/olympics\/olympic-mens-basketball\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>view all men&#8217;s Olympic basketball\u00a0lines<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>TV Broadcast:<\/strong>\u00a0NBCSN<\/p>\n<p><strong>Writer\u2019s Pick:\u00a0<\/strong>Croatia to cover<strong> (+9.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ffff00;\">Cash In on the Best Online Sportsbook Offers Now at TopBet!<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/record.tbaffiliate.com\/_y8k7RB3Ll4xutv7iXV6HvmNd7ZgqdRLk\/50\">Special Deposit Bonuses<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/record.tbaffiliate.com\/_y8k7RB3Ll4xutv7iXV6HvmNd7ZgqdRLk\/50\">Exclusive Betting Props<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/record.tbaffiliate.com\/_y8k7RB3Ll4xutv7iXV6HvmNd7ZgqdRLk\/50\">$250 Welcome Bonus<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/record.tbaffiliate.com\/_y8k7RB3Ll4xutv7iXV6HvmNd7ZgqdRLk\/50\">Tiered Deposit Bonuses<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Offensive Edge \u2013 Spain (<a href=\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/sportsbook\/olympics\/olympic-mens-basketball\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>-9.5<\/strong><\/a>)<\/h3>\n<p><p><a href=\"http:\/\/record.tbaffiliate.com\/_y8k7RB3Ll4xutv7iXV6HvmNd7ZgqdRLk\/44\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-114100 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/2016-Summer-Olympics-News-Banners-250x130-V1.gif\" alt=\"2016-Summer-Olympics---News-Banners-250x130-V1\" width=\"250\" height=\"130\" \/><\/a><\/p>Despite the absence of Marc Gasol, Spain should still have the decided edge on offense against Croatia. Even at age 36, Pau Gasol is still going to be the best player on the court. He can continue to dominate down low in the paint, and will require constant double teams.<\/p>\n<p>When Croatia does double, Spain\u2019s capable perimeter shooters \u2013 Juan Carlos Navarro, Rudy Fernandez, and Nikola Mirotic \u2013 can all rain fire from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n<p>The Spanish, who are <a href=\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/sportsbook\/olympics\/olympic-mens-basketball\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>-135<\/strong><\/a> favorites to win Group B, also have the distinct advantage at point guard. They can go three-deep in terms of capable playmakers \u2013 Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon, and Sergio Rodriguez \u2013 while Croatia will need their point guard, Roko Ukic, to play heavy minutes.<\/p>\n<p>The Croatians, though, do have the weapons to keep things close against Spain. Versatile big man Dario Saric, who was named MVP of Croatia&#8217;s\u00a0qualifying tournament after averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds, can get the better of his matchup against Spain\u2019s less athletic power forwards.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile Mario Hezonja and Bojan Bogdanovic, are knockdown shooters who will also have a bit more spring in their step than Spain&#8217;s wings.<\/p>\n<h3>Defensive Edge \u2013 Spain\u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/sportsbook\/olympics\/olympic-mens-basketball\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>-9.5<\/strong><\/a>)<\/h3>\n<p>Neither team has much in the way of truly lockdown defenders, although Spain has the best one. With his size, length, and basketball IQ, Ricky Rubio is an elite defender from the point guard position. Slowing down Croatia\u2019s point guard, Ukic will go a long way in disrupting Croatia\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n<p>On the other side, Croatia could have some problems containing Gasol inside. The Croatians will be without their top two big men &#8211; Ante Tomic\u00a0and\u00a0Justin Hamilton &#8211; for the tournament, which will leave the assignment of guarding Gasol to the mediocre pairing of Miro Bilan and Darko Planinic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Writer&#8217;s Prediction:\u00a0<\/strong>With Saric and Bogdanovic leading the way, Croatia has enough firepower to keep within striking distance of Spain. Take Croatia to cover the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/sportsbook\/olympics\/olympic-mens-basketball\" target=\"_blank\">+9.5<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>spread<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/record.tbaffiliate.com\/_y8k7RB3Ll4xutv7iXV6HvmNd7ZgqdRLk\/6\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"broken_link\" rel=\"nofollow\">Create a betting account now<\/a> and get into the Olympic spirit by wagering on some men&#8217;s Olympic basketball.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/record.tbaffiliate.com\/_y8k7RB3Ll4xutv7iXV6HvmNd7ZgqdRLk\/44\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-114101 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/topbet.eu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/2016-Summer-Olympics-News-Banners-620x110-V1.gif\" alt=\"2016-Summer-Olympics---News-Banners-620x110-V1\" width=\"620\" height=\"110\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"pvc_stats all \" data-element-id=\"115150\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> &nbsp;4,962&nbsp;total views, &nbsp;1&nbsp;views today<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Croatia vs. Spain Men&#8217;s Basketball\u00a0Preview Where:\u00a0Carioca Arena 1 &#8211;\u00a0Rio de Janeiro, Brazil When:\u00a0Sunday, August 7, 6:00 PM ET Line:\u00a0Croatia (+9.5) vs. Spain\u00a0(-9.5); total 148.5 \u2013 view all men&#8217;s Olympic basketball\u00a0lines<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"pvc_stats all \" data-element-id=\"115150\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> &nbsp;4,962&nbsp;total views, &nbsp;1&nbsp;views today<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":115745,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15362,393,42],"tags":[16235,16236,16688,16237,2327,2442,1536,16689,16690,16241,16659,16660,16661,16662,1525],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Croatia vs 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