Recap: USA Manhandles Spain in Battle for Olympics Basketball Supremacy

The United States men's basketball team handily defeated the Spanish team 119-82 in Beijing Saturday morning.

Forward LeBron James, who had 18 points, eight assists, and four steals, led the way to a blowout win for Team USA.

Guard Dwayne Wade and forward Carmelo Anthony also scored 16 points apiece.  Wade also had six rebounds and two steals, while Anthony had two boards and one steal.  Anthony shot 4-of-6 three-pointers, an area in which Team USA has struggled mightily in these Olympics. 

But not only did Anthony shoot well from three-point land, the team as a whole did, too.  Team USA shot 12-of-25 from three-point territory, a 48 percent shooting percentage. 

At the free-throw line, another major area of toil for Team USA so far in pool play, they shot 19-of-24 (79%). 

But Team USA overwhelmed the Spanish with its defense, like it has done to every other team it has played.  Throughout the game the Americans, particularly the guards, pressured the Spanish tremendously, which resulted in 28 turnovers for 26 points, including 16 steals.

Team USA's defense led to countless fastbreaks, on which they showed just how well they know each other.  Every American player on the floor touched the ball, and the team got a basket on almost every fastbreak.  All in all Team USA scored 32 fastbreak points to the Spaniards' none.  They also recorded 60 points in the paint, most of them fastbreak points or second-chance points.  There was no doubt that Team USA was excellent in transition situations.   

However, there were a couple negatives for Team USA.

They committed 16 turnovers, and several of those giveaways were offensive fouls caused committed by overzealous players who tried to do too much.

Team USA also got into foul trouble quickly.  Guard Kobe Bryant had picked up three fouls (five personal fouls result in a foul-out) by the 5:39 mark in the second quarter.  He sat for the rest of the first half.  Four players, including Bryant, who ended up with four fouls, finished with four or more fouls.  Guard Deron Williams even committed five fouls, which unlike the NBA, results in a foul-out in international play.

But overall, this was a highly impressive 37-point victory for Team USA over Spain, who is believed to be one of the best teams at the Olympics.  It's looking more and more like Team USA is the favorite to win the gold medal.     

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