U.S. Olympics 2012 Basketball Team: Analyzing Team USA's Opponents in Group A

Today in Brazil, FIBA announced the first-round groups for the 2012 Olympic Games. The U.S. was drawn into Group A with France, Tunisia and Argentina, along with the two other nations to be determined in a qualifying tournament in in July in Argentina.

So for now, we do know three U.S. opponents and we can look at the strengths of those teams and what sort of competition they will give Team USA.

It is a bit of a tough draw for the U.S., as they will be facing two formidable opponents in Argentina and France. Coincidentally, the best and most recognizable players of those nations are teammates that have won three NBA championships together in Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. 

Here is a closer look at what the U.S. will go up against in those two teams and Tunisia.

Tunisia

Tunisia gets in on the strength of their first ever FIBA African Championship, claimed in 2011 after they beat Angola in the finals.

Here is the roster that won that tournament, and which should be pretty much the same in the Olympics.

Name	P	Height	DOB
Radhouane Slimane	F	6'9"	16/08/1980
Marouan Laghnej	PG	6'4"	22/04/1986
Amine Maghrebi	SF	6'5"	31/07/1984
Mourad Mabrouk	SG	6'1"	19/10/1986
Marouan Kechrid	PG	5'10"	2/6/1981
Mohamed Hadidane	PF	6'9"	27/04/1986
Lassaad Chouaya	SG	6'3"	22/08/1989
Mohamed Ghyaza	C	6'8"	15/11/1986
Macram Ben Romdhane	PF	6'8"	27/03/1989
Amine Rzig	F	6'6"	25/08/1980
Zied Toumi	G	6'4"	17/07/1985
Salah Mejri	C	7'1"	15/06/1986

They were led by Ben Romdhane in scoring in the tournament. He averaged 12.7 points per game. Kechrid averaged 11.6 and also led them in assists with 2.6. Mejri led them in rebounding with nine per game. He is the only player for Tunisia who is in the Euroleagues. 

Tunisia really doesn't seem to present much of a threat as an Olympic medal contender. They have no NBA players and African teams haven't traditionally fared well in international competition. Angola had the spot in 2008 and finished 0-5, being outscored by an average of over 31 points per game. 

France

The French team has been growing for the past decade and they are a real threat to medal. In fact they've gotten to the point where they may be even with Argentina. 

Here is their current roster.

Name	Age - DOB	Ht.
Noah, Joakim	26 - February 25, 1985	6 ft 11 in
Batum, Nicolas	22 - December 14, 1988	6 ft 8 in
Seraphin, Kevin	21 - December 7, 1989	6 ft 9 in
Albicy, Andrew	21 - March 21, 1990	5 ft 10 in
Lombahe-Kahudi, Charles	25 - July 19, 1986	6 ft 6 in
Parker, Tony	29 - May 17, 1982	6 ft 2 in
Traore, Ali	26 - February 28, 1985	6 ft 9 in
Piétrus, Florent	30 - January 19, 1981	6 ft 8 in
De Colo, Nando	24 - June 23, 1987	6 ft 5 in
Diaw, Boris (C)	29 - April 16, 1982	6 ft 8 in
Tchicamboud, Steed	30 - June 18, 1981	6 ft 4 in
Gelabale, Mickaël	28 - May 22, 1983	6 ft 7 in

NBA players include Parker, Noah, Batum, Diaw and Seraphin. 

The French team tied their best Euroleague showing ever when they won the silver medal in 2011. They also won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympic games, albeit with a completely different team.

Perhaps what's intriguing about this team is that three of their NBA players, Parker, Noah and Batum, aren't just in the NBA, they're playing at a high level in the league. It's arguable that Parker and Noah would even be able to find their way on the U.S. team if they were American. 

It's a tough draw for France having both the U.S. and Argentina in their draw. All they have to do, though, is finish in the top four to advance to the second round, and they shouldn't have any trouble doing that. 

Argentina

Argentina is a considerably greater threat than Tunisia. While the U.S. should be favorites to beat them, it is not impossible for Argentina to give them a good fight, or even win a game against them.

Here is their roster. 

PG	Prigioni, Pablo	34 - May 17, 1977	6 ft 1 in
PG	Sánchez, Juan Ignacio	34 - May 8, 1977	6 ft 4 in
SG	Ginóbili, Emanuel	34 - July 28, 1977	6 ft 6 in
SG	Quinteros, Paolo	32 - January 15, 1979	6 ft 2 in
SF	Delfino, Carlos	29 - August 29, 1982	6 ft 6 in
SF	Nocioni, Andrés	31 - November 30, 1979	6 ft 7 in
SF	Jasen, Hernán	33 - February 4, 1978	6 ft 6 in
PF	Scola, Luis	31 - April 30, 1980	6 ft 9 in
PF	Kammerichs, Federico	31 - June 21, 1980	6 ft 9 in
C	Oberto, Fabricio	36 - March 21, 1975	6 ft 10 in
C	Gutiérrez, Juan Pedro	27 - October 10, 1983	6 ft 9 in
C	Leiva, Martín	31 - April 23, 1980	6 ft 11 in

The Argentine team has four NBA players: Ginobili, Delfino, Scola and Nocioni. Oberto has also played in the NBA. 

Of course, they are highlighted by Ginobili, one of the more dynamic and exciting players in the world. Argentina won the gold medal in 2004 and the bronze medal in 2008. 

They are also the present owners of the Americas Cup, which they won in 2011. USA did not field a team for the tournament. Still, there were 21 players represented from seven different nations. 

Argentina beat out Brazil for the title, 80-75, winning 12 of its 13 games in the tournament. 

Argentina will certainly put a highly competitive team on the court and may well be the third-best team in the tournament after the U.S. and Spain.