Semifinals: Russia vs. Spain

[JGX]

IBN posters nailed it when they said Russia would be the top team at the qualifying tournament and they've continued their strong play here. Spain hasn't impressed so far but they are capable of better.

[GustavoGanso]

Russia is a awesome team... I don't know... very hard to decide. Spain by 8.

[NorCal]

I think Russia is the stronger team right now with the inconsistent play from the Spanish backcourt but it is very close. I have a feeling either Calderon or Navarro are going to come through along with the Gasols which will be enough to win the ball game by a small margin. Spain+4

I know I'm getting ahead of myself but if the USA makes it to the final this will be very exciting as a USA vs Spain matchup will be very hyped for obvious reasons and a USA vs Russia matchup will have the whole "40 years after 1972" factor hyping it up.

[Dtown]

Spain's just been too inconsistent for me to feel confident in them, I think this is simply Russia's time.

[reamily]

Russia is a scoring guard away to be a so good one of the most feared team in the basketball world..

[durden_tyler]

Cheering for Russia because i feel they have a better chance of serving the upset against USA...

[greenarcher]

Russia by 4pts.

[carlo]

Russia has the best structured team in the Olympics, but Spain is sniffing the final...and P&M Gasol can make the difference.

[Shawshank]

Its hard to say for me ,but spain are just to F"""ing good to lose.Yesterday France played just brilliant defence on them,but those cheaters are just too good...Russia cant beat this spain team second time in a row...In group game russian were lucky after they got start 2-20 and won by 2 points,but spain was ahead in entire game.Sorry people i would just love to see russia winning,but i dont think it gonna happen.Spain +10

[toikins]

russia by 1pt.
I want Russia.

But i do feel its gonna be Spain because of the Gasol bros.

[naumoski]

This is a decisive game, so I think Spain will win.

Spain can make an accurate scouting...they already know that can be beaten...

[L8DBACK]

I believe that Spain will win this against Russia. Some of you keep saying they are playing poorly in their games in the preliminaries and won't make it to the Gold medal game, guess what, they will! When you get to the knockout stages every teams are 0-0. Spain is not that stupid and they will find a way to win, either hook or by crook. They intentionally lost their game against Brazil to get a better positioning in the bracket to the Gold medal. Stop pretending that Spain is not cheating. But when they get to the Gold medal game, some people will change their tune and realized how blind they were not seeing this or still be in denial and too blind to see the truth.

[usagre]

Great silver medal matchup.

[Kwijibo]

The tournament starts now

[Chopin]

It is going to be a close game, but I think that Spain will win it, this Spanish team is a missmatch for Russia. I will cheer for Russia though and hope that Shved will stop playing for himself and ballhoging. We will see the battle under the rims and I already see images in my head of Gasol brothers floping and crying. Ibaka might be the difference maker (besides Rudy and Navarro) if they let him play 25-30 min.

And now looking one step ahaid and the olympic finals: I honestly think that Russia is the biggest missmatch for the USA team in this tournament and therefore have the biggest chance of upseting the americans. Remember, Russia and USA played in the quarterfinals 2 years ago in the world championship and it was 10 points for USA. But Russia was without Kirilenko, Khyrapa, Shved and Fridzon out of shape playing only 12min, but they had Voroncevich... Of course USA was also without Lebron, Bryant and Melo, but with Rose, Billups and Odom... Too bad that the final will probably be USA-Spain and quite boring, americans probably winning it quite easily, since the spanish golden generation is in a decline and american leaders are at prime.