USA vs. Argentina: Stars That Must Step Up for Argentina to Upset America

Even though most basketball fans would tell you that it is a foregone conclusion that the United States will win the gold medal and ride off into the sunset after one of the most impressive runs in Olympic history. 

But just when you think you have sports figured out, the games go and smack you in the face.

Argentina is next up for the United States on Friday. This is a rematch of a preliminary-round game which the United States won, 126-97. 

With that tidbit of information, how can one reasonably predict Argentina to win this semifinal game?

Maybe you can't, but here are the stars for Argentina who need to step up their performances to at least give the team a shot to win this game. 

Manu Ginobili

Starting with the most obvious choice, Ginobili is the straw that stirs the drink for Argentina. He initiates everything this team wants to do, and has to do, in order to win games. 

In the first game against the United States, Ginobili led Argentina with 16 points on 4-for-7 shooting. He also contributed six assists. In a 40-minute game, those would be terrific numbers and put the team in a position to win. 

Sadly, Ginobili is going to have to significantly increase his output if he wants his team to have a chance in this game. He needs at least a double-double to keep Argentina close late.

We know he is capable of doing it. 

Juan Gutierrez

One of the biggest knocks against the United States heading into the Olympics was a lack of size on the inside. Tyson Chandler is a great rebounder and defender, though, which puts pressure on Argentina's center Juan Gutierrez. 

If Argentina is going to hang in this game, Gutierrez has to build on his 12 points and four rebounds from the first game against the United States. 

Argentina doesn't have the athletes to keep up with the United States, so the Argentines have to figure out a way to exploit the one "weakness" Team USA has.

Gutierrez is the best shot that Argentina has to do this, so he needs to make himself a force inside. 

Carlos Delfino

Delfino keeps making improvements in the Olympics. He was a bit player on Argentina's 2004 gold-medal-winning team. He became more of a significant role player four years ago. 

Now, he is arguably the third best player on the team, behind Ginobili and Luis Scola. He has been scoring in double figures with regularity, including 20 against Lithuania. 

A lot of offense is what it is going to take for Argentina to keep up with the United States. Delfino is the best weapon Argentina has because he is not the first person you focus your attention on.

If he can put together 20-25 points in this game, Argentina will have a shot. 

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