USA vs. Argentina: What to Watch For in Exhibition Tuneup

You can't take anything away from an exhibition game.

Or can you?

Depending on the sport, you can judge whether or not a particular team is as good as advertised. 

When the United States plays Argentina on Sunday, there will be plenty to take away from the game. Here are three things to watch in particular.

Winning margin

A win is a win, right? Yes, but a double-digit victory would be more compelling to the average fan compared to a four- of five-point victory.

Fans want to know that this team is as powerful as the Redeem Team or the Dream Team. They want to know if this team can run the table.

Playing well against Argentina, a quality team, would prove that this year's team is ready to make a statement in London. 

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant has scored 13 points in the past two games—five against Great Britain and eight against Brazil.

In this exhibition tuneup, Bryant will need to prove that he's ready to make another run at gold.  

It's time for Bryant to stop messing with the media, stop playing to the cameras and simply focus on basketball. If any player needs to do well in this exhibition game it's Bryant.

Going up against a quality Argentina team, Bryant will have to be on top of his game.

Low-post game

Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love are going to receive their toughest challenge as a tandem thus far. 

Luis Scola and the frontcourt players of Argentina are crafty, skillful and know how to score the basketball with a plethora of low-post moves. 

Chandler will be able to hold his own, but Love should receive more minutes than he did against Great Britain given the size of the Argentinians. 

The frontcourt is one of the United States' biggest weaknesses, so Love and Chandler's play will be crucial.

Prediction

United States wins 87-70 in a statement victory. The score will look closer than what it should have been.