Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Team USA Win Nailbiter Against Spain

Next up for the American basketball squad was Spain, the reigning world championships. 

Spain, playing with a team where nine of the 12 players have either played, are currently playing, or have been drafted into the NBA, just never really found their shooting stroke until the fourth quarter and made the game far too easy for the USA until that point. 

Both the sloppiness of Spain and the good defense of the USA helped the Americans start the game on a 8-0 run and finish the first quarter up 23-16.

Spain started the game 1-10 from the field and didn't score until Juan Carlos Navarro made a shot with 5:30 left in the first quarter. Spain finished with 3-16 shooting from the field in the quarter. 

In the second quarter Spain continued their shooting woes en route to a 45-33 halftime deficit. At one point they even missed four shots on the same possession. 

The third quarter belonged to Kevin Durant. Scoring double digits, he was on the court the entire quarter.

In the period the Spaniards cut the lead to just two points but fell back and trailed 69-58 at the end of the quarter. 

However the Americans would have been up by more had they not suffered a period of sloppy play, highlighted by a missed dunk, towards the end of the quarter. 

The Spaniards came all the way back and took their first lead at 82-80 with 1:50 left in the game. 

Thanks to the heroics of Derrick Rose and a last second block of Rudy Fernandez by Durant, the Americans pulled out a close win at the end 86-85. 

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose was one of the most impressive players for the American squad. 

He had the first bucket of the game when he hit a fadeaway bank shot after driving through the lane. This was a trend that would continue throughout the game.

The dynamic Bulls point guard made plenty of great plays throughout the game. 

In the second quarter he cleaned up after Kevin Durant got blocked with a heads up rebound and layup. He also almost managed to complete a tough maneuver and running shot but the ball wouldn't quite drop through the basket. 

The third quarter saw Rose's best play of the game when he dropped a fall-away one-handed runner from the right side of the basket. 

But the fourth quarter was when he truly took over. 

With the game tied at 82, Rose drove in and made a tough layup over Marc Gasol to take a two point lead.

Shortly thereafter he hit the deciding free throws to score the final two points of the game. 

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant lived up to his title of best player on the USA squad in this game. 

The Texas product opened up the game by hitting his first three shots while pulling down plenty of rebounds. 

Durant struggled in the second quarter, highlighted by his blocked first attempt, but was a star in the third quarter. 

The MVP candidate started the quarter off with a nothing-but-net three pointer and shot well throughout the quarter.

His success continued into the final period where he made a tough fadeaway jumper to increase the decreasing USA lead to 6. 

Later on he hit the shot to tie the game after the Spanish team took their first lead and he made the game-saving block at the buzzer.

Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom, the forward from the Los Angeles Lakers, lived up to his billing as a versatile do-it-all player. 

For example, Odom pulled down a tough rebound in the first quarter, drove the ball all the way down the court, evaded some opposing players, and threw down the ball for two points. 

He simply looked fluid throughout the game and performed well the entire time. 

Stephen Curry vs. Eric Gordon

The battle for the last roster spot seems to be coming down to two young guards: Eric Gordon and Stephen Curry. 

In this game, Gordon was somewhat invisible. He rode the pine for much of the game and failed to leave a lasting impression when he was on the court. 

He missed a shot in the second quarter and then showed negative mannerisms, a reaction which the announcers quickly caught on to. 

The next possession saw him receive a pass from Curry and leave a three pointer short. 

Curry on the other hand seemed to make an impact when he was in the game. 

While he missed his first shot and never really got his shooting stroke going, he did look good defensively. 

In the second quarter, the Golden State Warrior made a rally-stopping three pointer and then didn't see much action until the third quarter.

In that quarter he was involved in a lot of back-to-back plays. Curry started his streak of involvement with a telegraphed bounce pass that got picked off but then made a floater on the next possession.

He then stole a pass from Ricky Rubio and made a layup but then turned over the ball on the next possession with an awful pass and missed a three pointer on the ensuing chance. 

His play was good enough to prompt the announcers to declare him the winner of the final roster spot. 

Other Players

Rudy Gay

Gay entered the game and immediately hit a fadeaway jumper with his first shot. On the next possession he showed his leadership skills by calming down Tyson Chandler after a foul.

Throughout the game he showed off his athletic ability.

Russell Westbrook

Westbrook really made himself look quick.

The play that stood out the most was his lighting quick blow-by of a defender into the lane. He then completed the play with a two-handed slam.

Chauncy Billups

Every time the USA needed a big shot, Billups was there. He made some nice passes as well, but the clutch shooting stood out.

For example, in the fourth quarter Billups made a hanging bank-shot to end a Spanish run that had cut the Americans' lead to seven points.

Tyson Chandler

The big man had some trouble with fouls but showed off some heads-up plays during the game.

During the second quarter, Chandler made back-to-back plays that would have been called goaltends in the NBA. One was on the defensive end and one was on the offensive end but both helped the team.  

Positives To Take Away

The United States beat the reigning world championship team even without using all of their best players. Rajon Rondo never even entered the game.

The squad also showed their dominant potential by just man-handling the Spaniards in the first half of the game.

They also showed resiliency by not letting Rubio, Navarro, and the other Spanish players win the game despite some brave attempts to do so in the closing minutes. 

Most importantly, the team showed athletic ability, chemistry, and a better understanding of the international game. 

This was especially clear during the second quarter when Chandler made his impressive decisions to touch the ball on the rim twice. 

Things To Work On

The shooting in this game was a little bit off for the American squad, especially in the final periods. 

Had Spain shot well in the first quarter this game most likely would have had a different outcome.

Team USA also needs to work on their ability to close and not make Coach Mike Krzyzewski fret as their leads slip away.

Finally, and this will just come with more experience, the squad has to do a better job adapting to the international game. 

The Americans gave up possessions by playing NBA-style at the beginning of the game and forcing contact, not understanding that the Spaniards will flop and force the referees to call fouls. 

Also, everyone needs to adapt to the lightness of the international ball. During the fourth quarter with a minute left Odom airmailed the basket but his shot was right on line. Once again, this will come with time.

Finally, the extended continuation rule is something the Americans need to learn.

When Navarro drove by Andre Iguodala and got fouled in the closing minute to take an 85-84 lead, Iguodala just let him go after the whistle. This allowed Navarro to make the basket and have an opportunity for a free throw as well. 

All in all though, this game has to be viewed as a success. There's another W in the books and the team should have confidence for their final exhibition match against Greece on Wednesday.