Summer Olympics 2012: Spain or Argentina–Who's the Bigger Threat to Team USA?

When pondering which team poses the greatest challenge to Team USA's gold medal aspirations, it's tempting to simply submit that no one poses much of a challenge.

After all, when a roster can draw the finest talent from the mecca of basketball, who can stand a chance?

Not so fast.

If you've been living under a rock the last couple of decades, you might have missed just how global this game has become. The NBA has itself become a global institution of sorts, relying on a talent pool that knows no borders.

Unfortunately for the United States, some of that talent returns home to play for their native countries in the Summer Olympics.

Though the dynamic doesn't exactly sap the pool from which Team USA's roster is assembled, it certainly helps the international competition field some well-oiled and well-traveled machines. No two countries benefit more than Argentina and Spain.

The United States got a look at both clubs over the course of its five tune-ups, and it became abundantly clear that they had a lot more going for them than a chip on their shoulder.

Kevin Durant led Team USA to a narrow 86-80 win against Argentina that looked more like a throw-down between two NBA teams than a lopsided meeting between a roster full of All-Stars and your run-of-the-mill international competition.

Though the United States at one point pushed the lead to 20 points, it wasn't enough to keep a proud Argentinian team at bay. Led by the San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili, it cut the lead to just four late in the fourth quarter to no avail.

Meanwhile, the 100-78 pounding Spain took appears less thrilling at first glance, but the final score obscures some important facts about the exhibition game.

Spain got out to a pretty convincing early lead thanks to hot starts from Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka, an ominous sign against a U.S. roster with a clear size deficit in the paint.

The formidable Spanish opposition did this without Marc Gasol, mind you. Team USA won't be so lucky should the two sides meet again after the preliminary games in London.

Though Team USA eventually claimed an insurmountable lead on account of some deadly perimeter shooting and an accelerated tempo, Spain made it clear its NBA-heavy roster shouldn't be taken lightly.

Indeed, it would be unwise for the United States to take either of these teams lightly.

But, which one should scare it the most?

Though Argentina put up the better fight, there's a good case to be made the Spain presents the bigger problems. Ginobili and Luis Scola are a dangerous duo, and the Argentinians have a dangerous combination of NBA experience and chemistry derived from years of familiarity amongst the team.

Nevertheless, Spain's strengths are Team USA's weaknesses.

Between the Gasol brothers and Ibaka, Spain has proven to have the kind of interior size that can ruffle Team USA's feathers, at least temporarily. The Spaniards also feature impressive ball movement, and that starts with the Toronto Raptors' Jose Calderon.

That passing can get the team in trouble thanks to the United States' aggressive perimeter defense, but it also gives the team a fighting chance to control the tempo and beat Team USA at a half-court game.

In reality, neither of these clubs is especially likely to derail the United States' gold medal push. There's just no answer for the depth, athleticism and superior talent.

Just don't be surprised if a second face-off against Spain is quite a bit closer.