It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what is bigger for the Redeem Team, Winning group B and getting a top seed in the knockout stage or proving to themselves that they can decisively trounce the second and third best teams in the tournament on consecutive nights.

Though the game was played at a high pace, the way both teams prefer it, the US notched a 119-82 win which ran their record to 4-0. LeBron James was all over the court, scoring, passing and forcing turnovers.

In the second quarter it became clear that Spain was just not that good at defense and not nearly judicious enough in terms of offensive turnovers. They gave the ball to the US 10 times in the first quarter and 28 times in the game.

Eight Americans scored in double figures, led by James with 18 and followed by D-Wade and Carmelo Anthony with 16 apiece.

It seems odd that the commentators were hyping the fact that the new Spanish coach made the team less Pau Gasol-centric and more balanced. The problem with this ploy is that Spain possesses one of the least turnover prone players in all of basketball, Jose Calderon. It might have been better to run the game through his steady hands.

One of the more underrated aspects of LeBron James in these Olympics and really in the NBA as well is his passing. He had eight assists against Spain and has showed some nice skills passing out of the post against the zone.

Team USA pretty much executed everything they wanted to. They shot 58 percent form the field, 48 percent from three and, for the first time, shot free throws well. They held the Spanish to horrendous percentages and kept them from having any offensive continuity. The only real flaw for the US was 28 fouls but with the team finally hitting on all cylinders, it just didn’t matter.

Now all that’s left is getting past Germany without any injuries and preparing for the real competition in the medal round.

Knockout round picture growing clearer

The eight teams which will advance to the medal round have been determined though the seeding has not yet been set.

Yao Ming scored 25 in a win for China over Germany that sent the host country on to the next stage. The loss eliminates the Germans, and means that Dirk Nowitzki has just one game left in his international career.

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