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Olympics: 3 Key Battles In USA vs. Spain Basketball Semifinal

By Matthew Medley

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Kevin Durant #5 of United States celebrates during the Men's Basketball gold medal game against Spain on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympics Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Kevin Durant #5 of United States celebrates during the Men's Basketball gold medal game against Spain on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympics Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Jan 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) dribbles against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) dribbles against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

The Point Guard Battle

Although Spain’s most recognizable point guard is Ricky Rubio, there are four other players who have made big contributions throughout the tournament at the position.

Juan Carlos Navarro, 36, has provided valuable minutes off the bench, averaging 14.5 minutes per game. He scored 11 points in a win over Nigeria. He dished out five assists on two occasions, first against Lithuania, and most recently against France in the quarterfinals.

Sergio Rodriguez, 30, has played the second-most minutes of any guard on the roster. The Philadelphia 76ers guard leads Spain in assists, averaging 4.7 per game (tied for eighth in Rio).

Sergio Llull has been the most impressive Spanish guard throughout the tournament. The 28-year-old is averaging roughly 26 minutes (fourth-most of any player on roster), scoring 9.8 points and passing for 3.5 assists per game. He’s shooting 47 percent from the field and 90 percent at the free throw line. Llull can play point guard or shooting guard and has played alongside Rubio, Rodriguez and Navarro at various point of the tournament.

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    • This may be Rubio’s breakout game of the tournament, but it’s been a somewhat underwhelming tournament for the Timberwolves guard, who got off to a horrendous start in Spain’s first two games. Since those two games, in which he scored only three points and contributed one assist, he is starting to get back on track, averaging 8.5 points and 3.4 assists in Spain’s four wins.

    Perhaps head coach Sergio Scariolo opts to give Rubio more playing time in the crucial game against the U.S, but Rodriguez and Llull have both been playing slightly bigger roles in the rotation with more consistent production. Whatever Scariolo decides to do, this three-headed monster point guard committee, along with Navarro, is one of Spain’s strengths.

    The USA point guard duo of Kyrie Irving and Kyle Lowry is by far the most talented in the field.

    Irving is playing 22.3 minutes per game (third-most on Team USA), averaging 12.3 points and 5.5 assists per game (sixth in Rio). Lowry is averaging 15.4 minutes off the bench and has provided a spark when the team’s energy starts to get low, particularly on the defensive end.

    Although both of these players are elite point guards and fans throughout the world know them well, neither one has played in an Olympic tournament prior to 2016. Spain’s three main guards have each played in one Olympic tournament prior to Rio.

    What Spain lacks in talent compared to the U.S., it will look to make up for with team chemistry and international experience.

    Next: The Three-Point Battle