Ricky Rubio Tells Kobe Bryant U S Team Will Take Silver In 2012 Olympics

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The USA-Spain exhibition is the first matchup between FIBA's No. 1 and 2 world powers since the two national teams squared off in 2010 in an exhibition game in Madrid, Spain. The USA, in preparation for the 2010 FIBA World Championship, pulled out a narrow 86-85 win in the friendly. In that last meeting, the 2010 USA National squad fought through adversity and fended off a second half attack to edge host and the defending world champion Spain team 86-85 on Aug. 22, 2010, inside the Magic Box in Madrid, Spain. Playing in a raucous stadium filled to its 10,960 capacity, the USA's charge was led by Kevin Durant, who posted game-highs of 25 points and 10 boards, and also had a pair of key blocks in the closing seconds. Also in double digits for the U.S. were Derrick Rose, 13 points; Lamar Odom, 12 points and nine boards; and Chauncey Billups, 10 points. The last official FIBA competition between the two squads came in the 2008 Olympic gold medal game. In a down-to-the wire game that has been described as one of the greatest international games ever played, the USA fought off the determined Spaniards 118-107 to earn gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Two years earlier, while the U.S. finished third at the 2006 FIBA World Championship after being stopped by Greece (101-95) in the semifinals, the Spaniards defeated Greece 70-47 in the gold medal game to claim the '06 World Championship title. Spain, currently ranked No. 2 in the world by FIBA, won the 2009 and 2011 EuroBasket titles, placed sixth in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, earned the silver medal in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic Games and won gold at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. Since NBA players became eligible to participate in FIBA competitions, the USA has compiled a 5-1 win-loss record versus Spanish national teams in official FIBA competitions. USA Basketball National Teams comprised of NBA players are also 2-0 versus Spain in exhibition action. The USA nipped Spain 86-85 in a friendly in 2010 held in Madrid prior to the start of the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the USA defeated Spain 95-66 in the opening game of the Super Dream Games 2000 in Saitama, Japan. The USA team is scheduled to arrive in London for the 2012 Olympic Games on July 26, and open play July 29 versus France in a 2:30 p.m. (local London time) game. "usa basketball olympic team" "exhibition game" "fiba" "basketball" 2012 "USA" "SPAIN" "London Olympics" "dream team" "blake griffin" "PAU GASOL" "MARC Gasol" "serge ibaka" "Mike Krzyzewski" "practice" "Las Vegas" "kobe bryant" "LeBron James" "Kevin Durant" "anthony davis" "Dwyane Wade" "Chris Bosh" "Andre Iguodala" "Carmelo Anthony" "Deron Williams" "Chris Paul" "Kevin Love" "Tyson Chandler" "Russell Westbrook" "James Harden" usa vs spain usa basketball olympic team exhibition game fiba basketball 2012 USA SPAIN London Olympics dream team blake griffin PAU GASOL MARC Gasol serge ibaka Mike Krzyzewski practice Las Vegas kobe bryant LeBron James Kevin Durant anthony davis Dwyane Wade Chris Bosh Andre Iguodala Carmelo Anthony Deron Williams Chris Paul Kevin Love Tyson Chandler Russell Westbrook James Harden