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The World Championship will be played this summer, but I think USA will win easily, the rival will be Spain again, Pau Gasol wont play it, 100% sure, and Spain will play without his leader. But talking about the olympics....I think the final will be locked again, USA remains as favourites as always, but watch out how the spanish national team will be in 2012....

PG Ricky Rubio (6,3 1990)----probably the biggest european prospect since Petrovic or Sabonis, a skillful point guard, a true genius. I thought he would be a bust, but this guy is showing all people he is an outstanding player who only can improve. He will be one of the best point guards of all times. In 2012, he will be playing in the NBA already, Top 5 PG easily.

SG Rudy Fernandez (6,5 1985)----He showed worldwide in that olympics final what type of player he is, he can score from everywhere, amazing shooter, athletic, playmaker and clutch. In 2012, he will be playing out of Portland showing all people he is All Star material, borderline Superstar as first option.

SF Victor Claver (6,9 1988)----Claver was drafter number 22 by Portland in 2009, he is another great prospect in Europe, agile, athletic, good hands, great defender. In 2012 he would be playing NBA too.

PF Pau Gasol (7.1 1981)----- What I can say about Pau? Seven footer who can do everything on court, and he is a leader in his National Team, always plays with more confidence than playing in the NBA. He has been MVP in European and World Championships and TopScorer in two olympics 2004 and 2008. In 2012, he will be in his peak with 31 years.

C Marc Gasol (7,0 1985)----- He is rated as one of the best young big men in the NBA, he can compete against all the best players in the competition, in 2012 he will be even better, maybe All Star already.

Bench

PG-----Jose Calderon(6,3 1981)......A great Back-up PG, he was sometimes rated as all star in the East from some people, solid playmaker and great shooter. In 2012, he will continue do his work in the NBA.

PG/SG----Sergio Llull......(6,3 1987)....He is the new sensation in Spain, he is the second best PG in Europe currently after Rubio, exciting player, super clutch, athletic, amazing shooter, In 2012 he will be playing in Houston, the Rockets have a lot of interest for this man.

SG-----JC Navarro.....(6,5 1980.....The ex-Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard is rated as one of the best shooters in the history of the european bball, he couldnt triumph in the NBA but no doubt he always was a talented player. In 2012, he will be a good veteran back up for this team.

PF-----Fran Vazquez...(6,10) 1983)...He was drafted number 11 for Orlando in 2006, but he denied to play there, now he is stepping up, he was a rare man with a special character, but he seems more mature, he will play for his national team again this summer, and in 2012 he will be probably one of the best big men in Europe and why not, he can play in the NBA.

C......Felipe Reyes....(6,9) 1980)....He is one of the best centers who still are playing in Europe. Another veteran great back up in 2012.

This team has a shot to win it all. I think Spain will have an amazing team with All Stars calibre players in almost every position. In 2012 I think the USA team will be the same team who played the last olympics.

CP3-Kobe-Lebron-Bosh-Howard

CP3 vs Rubio is a tough face up.
Kobe in 2012 will have 34 years, far from his prime.
Bosh-Howard is a great froncourt, but P.Gasol-M.Gasol has nothing to envy them.

And Lebron, he will be the best player in the world without any discussion in 2012, but playing with FIBA rules Lebron will have more problems than Kobe, Durant Wade or the same Melo to lead USA.

Sorry about my language...I am not american, I live in Africa... What do you think?? I loved that Usa-Spain final, but I think this will be even more amazing!!

I think you should take your thread somewhere else.

brassviews wrote:I think you should take your thread somewhere else.

Great, thats the kind of attitude that lead US to be the joke they were in 2006 during the World Cup in Indianapolis.

Spain has the best shot to win, but I believe that Serbia, Argentina, Lithuania, Italy and maybe my Brazil all have a chance to upset USA under the FIBA rules in 2012

USA will win with ease. They've proven that when they send their best players they can coast and still win.

Honestly they could probably send their practice squad and win easily if the practice players try and are fairly officiated (which often isn't the case, the referees tend to HEAVILY favor teams like Spain and Greece because they need the help).

NetsForce wrote:USA will win with ease. They've proven that when they send their best players they can coast and still win.

Honestly they could probably send their practice squad and win easily if the practice players try and are fairly officiated (which often isn't the case, the referees tend to HEAVILY favor teams like Spain and Greece because they need the help).

Spain could win that Olympics Final, I dont know where was you seeing that day. And it was with a prime Bron Kobe and Wade, and Kobe scoring 4 point plays for the win in the last 2 minutes.....

^ Right Team USA was coasting the entire game though, go back and watch it the difference in effort level is comical... ^

Don't get me wrong it's good Spain went all out and had the game of their lives, it'd be better if Team USA tried, but for whatever reason they don't...

Spain is european and world champion for some reason, not because they did "the game of their lives". Not even Calderon was playing, and Rudy was fouled out in crunch time, not even Marc Gasol played at his NBA level. Spain only had lost 2 games in the last 4 years or something like that, both times against Team Usa in the Olympics. They have all star caliber players in every position.

I am sorry, but Rubio and Llull are definitely not the two best point guards in Europe. Greatly exaggerating their current level IMO.

NetsForce wrote:^ Right Team USA was coasting the entire game though, go back and watch it the difference in effort level is comical... ^

Don't get me wrong it's good Spain went all out and had the game of their lives, it'd be better if Team USA tried, but for whatever reason they don't...

Team USA barely escaped and was lucky to win that game. If Spain would have had Calderon they would have won that game. You have no objectivity and cannot be taken seriously to say USA coasted and was clearly on another level in that game. If Kobe did not hit that 4 point play, TEAM USA loses.

JVGs World wrote:I am sorry, but Rubio and Llull are definitely not the two best point guards in Europe. Greatly exaggerating their current level IMO.

I have to agree.

Rubio has been decent this season. The only reason he's been labeled the best guard is due to his draft selection and Barcelona's performance so far. I say he's a top 5 guard in Europe but certainly not the best.

Llull, who I like a lot, is not a point guard let alone one of the best point guards right now. He's more of a shooter in a point guard's body. His comparison is that of Shannon Brown but a better passer and ballhandler.

If anyone has been watching Euroleague this season, Milos Teodosic has been the best point guard. Unfortunately, he doesn't get recognition because he puts Rubio in his shadow and everyone wants Rubio to be #1.

brassviews wrote:

JVGs World wrote:I am sorry, but Rubio and Llull are definitely not the two best point guards in Europe. Greatly exaggerating their current level IMO.

I have to agree.

Rubio has been decent this season. The only reason he's been labeled the best guard is due to his draft selection and Barcelona's performance so far. I say he's a top 5 guard in Europe but certainly not the best.

Llull, who I like a lot, is not a point guard let alone one of the best point guards right now. He's more of a shooter in a point guard's body. His comparison is that of Shannon Brown but a better passer and ballhandler.

If anyone has been watching Euroleague this season, Milos Teodosic has been the best point guard. Unfortunately, he doesn't get recognition because he puts Rubio in his shadow and everyone wants Rubio to be #1.

Nobody in Europe with common sense would say that Rubio is the best PG. What he really is is best 19 y.o. player. That´s why he´s all that hyped. He is so good and mature to be 19.

sorokii wrote:Nobody in Europe with common sense would say that Rubio is the best PG. What he really is is best 19 y.o. player. That´s why he´s all that hyped. He is so good and mature to be 19.

I agree

But the most casual fan (like the OP) will say that Rubio is the best PG because of his draft selection. That's where my problem comes from mostly.