I saw the game between US and Lithuania and wasn't surprised. WAY too many turnovers on the side of the Lithuanians and still, until 2:00 before the end of the game (and two turnovers on the side of the Lithuanians), the game was more than "open". In fact, if it wasn't for Lebron, the Lithuanians would have won.
So as I said in another thread, when a team can rebound and tries to block the US team from running too many fast breaks, they are indeed beatable.
Lets not forget, the last time the US "Dream Team" played against a Lithuanian team (was it in 2008?), they won by 2 points I think (!!!).
Lets keep this in mind; a nation of 3 million people (!!!) has enough potential to compete with the best of the best of the nation with the most professional basketballers. And when it comes to athleticism, the European teams are still only 75-80% of the level of the NBA stars.
Today the US plays against Argentina.
And for the first time in this tournament (especially having watched the game on TV - US vs. Tunesia), I put my bet on Argentina.
If they gonna play SLOW, play the clock down and pass AROUND the zone, they gonna beat the US.
No matter how many 3-pointers Durant or Anthony gonna hit.
The only player who stretches the zone and breaks the defense is...........Lebron. The other players are basically neutralized and have to make their points from the distance/3-point land.
Today Chris Paul will have a REALLY, REALLY hard time competing, because he's gonna play against people, who are better than him. And lets not forget, he's probably the best point-guard in the NBA.
If Lebron doesn't take over and Durant and Anthony won't continue to get these easy long-distance shots, the game won't be only "open-ended"; no, I think, Argentina will win today.
Which would be a sensation, sure.
But hey, when you talk like Kobe and the rest and you think you gonna "sweep" through the competition, yet you win games because the opponent has too many turn-overs, then you are LUCKY.
Today, they gonna have to be MUCH BETTER than in the game vs. Lithuania to win.
And I doubt they CAN be much better.