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How important is Sunday's game?

On one level, it is completely unimportant. It is nothing more than an exhibition, but Krzyzewski assured a group of inquisitive Spanish reporters that the Americans will be playing to win -- although they'll also be trying to work on offensive and defensive schemes that they are only now starting to introduce at practices.

"This Sunday will be a big game, but it won't be bigger than the games we play in Turkey, and that's what we have to gear ourselves for. All the games in Turkey are bigger than any game here, or in Athens [where the Americans will play the Greeks next Wednesday]," Krzyzewski said.

"This is a good group of guys, but they need to get their international experience. They'll even get that through pool play. By the time the medal round starts, that's when I want to be at our best. If there is such a thing as peak, and I don't know if there is, I don't want to peak for this weekend. I want to peak for the medal round, and that's how we're approaching it."

Will Spain bring its A-game Sunday night?

Doubtful. As much as it would mean to Spain to defeat the United States in front of its home fans, it does not want to reveal too many of its schemes.

Said Krzyzewski: "I know how the international game works, and nobody wants to show too much. We beat Spain by over 30 points in pool play [in Beijing], but in the gold-medal game we were up by just two points with eight minutes to go. We don't have our whole system in yet, what we're going to do offensively and defensively, whereas Spain -- they already know what they're doing. They've been playing together for a long time."

Spain will almost certainly be listed as the favorite for Sunday night's game (ESPN, 3 p.m. ET). And if the Americans sleepwalk into it the way they did Saturday night (Coach K said he could tell during warm-ups that his team was not ready to play), it's safe to say they're going to get slaughtered. (Do I expect that to happen? No. As I wrote in my preview piece for this weekend, I expect the game to come down to the last possession.)

"They are a well-oiled machine, and they're going to be crisp, run their stuff and do what they do, and of course they're going to be excited to be playing at home against us," Billups said. "So I expect to see their best tomorrow, I'm looking forward to it."

jc23 wrote:Is Rudy playing for Spain?

DJhitek wrote:The US is in trouble if they don't shoot the ball better, they also need to take care of the ball as well.

tenritsu wrote:

jc23 wrote:Is Rudy playing for Spain?

Creo que si.

WT wrote:I'm not seeing this game in my listings for ESPN. The Team USA site says that it'll be on NBA TV (http://www.usabasketball.com), which I don't get. Anyone know where to stream it?

WT wrote:I'm not seeing this game in my listings for ESPN. The Team USA site says that it'll be on NBA TV (http://www.usabasketball.com), which I don't get. Anyone know where to stream it?

rico wrote:bruta its not on the list, thats where i usually watch all my games they may update it but since its in less than =an hour if they do they better do it soon. im trying to stay up just to try to find a stream to watch it. if someone lands one please pm me