Rollenspiele » No. 57) showed enough promise to merit second-round selec

RIO DE JANEIRO -- If its an Olympic year, there are at least two slam dunks in the world of mens basketball ?that should reflexively pop into your head.The first, of course, is that Team USA will open the tournament as an embarrassingly huge favorite to scoop up all the gold medals.And then theres the follow-up lock: ESPN.coms internationally known Power Rankings committee (of one) faithfully resurfacing to rank the 12 participating countries no matter how big the gap is between No. 1 and Nos. 2-12.NBA Power Rankings will be back soon enough -- 49 days to be exact -- but this Olympic batch should get you back in the habit nicely and get you properly prepped before Olympic group play begins Saturday.?1. UNITED STATESTake all the time you want.There simply isnt a set of circumstances you could dream up, no matter how hard you try, to come up with a scenario where this group of Americans doesnt romp to the gold.Dont bother clinging to the list of all the big names missing or the threat of injury or buying into the misguided idea that theres a nation on this list below that could take advantage of the proverbial perfect storm nightmare game where the Yanks cant make an outside shot.Even without LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Anthony Davis, etc., theres simply too much length and defense and and now even size again on Mike Krzyzewskis squad for Team USA to struggle for long against anyone. A perfect 8-0 tournament would stretch the programs winning streak to a new all-time record of 76 wins in a row ... and thats exactly where the Americans will be on Aug. 21 after winning Coach Ks swan song.Yet we know you still feel that pull, that burn, to learn as much as you can about the rest of the world, even if the United States looks this invincible. ?So read on. Not unlike ?USA Basketballs depth chart ... its all here.2. SPAINThe committee (of one) is as guilty as anyone of writing the Spaniards off as a team whose time has passed, thanks largely to three unignorable truths:A. We still cant believe Spain failed to even reach the medal round on home soil at the 2014 Worlds; B. Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro and Felipe Reyes are all 36 ... with Jose Calderon not far off at 34; C. Marc Gasol (foot) hasnt healed in time to join his older brother and the rest of his longtime amigos to try for a third successive trip to the gold-medal game after they lost the last two Olympic finals to the fancied Americans by a mere 11 and seven points, respectively.Then you look at Spains roster and realize that all but one of its 12 players in Rio -- Reyes -- either plays in the NBA or has played in the NBA or is headed to the NBA or, at worst, can be classified as an NBA draftee. Our pal @mellentuck has all the delicious roster details sorted for you nicely.The best fivesome France can put on the floor might be more athletic, but the continuity ?and understanding Spains core players have after so many years and battles together ensures theyll have Team USAs respect and attention.Which is why Spain -- at least with us -- enters the tournament on a higher rung.3. FRANCEWe repeat: No opponent in the tournament can put a stronger starting five on the floor to counter Team USA than the French: Tony Parker and Nando De Colo at guard, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw in the frontcourt and rim protector extraordinaire Rudy Gobert at center.The coach putting everyone in those positions, furthermore, is the highly underrated Vincent Collet, who is Europes finest NBA coaching prospect no one ever talks about.Still ...France lost some of our confidence with its failure to finish higher than third in EuroBasket 2015, which was not only on French soil (and hardwood) but came with the program at a peak in terms of talent and recent results. The likes of Joffrey Lauvergne, Thomas Heurtel and Mickael Gelabale are quality backups in the international game, ?but there isnt quite the depth here to cope with the inevitable fatigue Frances main men will face given the load theyre shouldering.Bringing Orlandos Evan Fournier to Rio certainly could have helped there, so Monsieur Collet -- fond as we are of him -- cant duck the criticism sure to follow if that controversial-in-France decision backfires. And while Collets crew might be more than an Evan Fournier away from upsetting the United States, whos to say Fournier wouldnt be the difference between silver and bronze in the next duel with Spain?4. LITHUANIAGuess who wasnt surprised at all by Lithuanias automatic qualification for these Olympics thanks to a runner-up finish at the 2015 EuroBasket that few international basketball mavens saw coming?Answer: Anyone connected with USA Basketball.Outside of Spain, no one consistently plays Team USA tougher than the Lithuanians, who wont be fielding as many familiar names as usual, but have given the Yanks too many scares over the years with their toughness and dogged execution to be overlooked should the countries meet in the knockout round in Rio.Big man Jonas Valanciunas -- who, yes, still makes us of think of Charles Barkley calling him VAL-SU-éEE-NU-ON-SAUCE every time we see him -- is quite literally the centerpiece of this team, which always seems to play better if the game is bigger. And there are at least two more Lithuanians to watch.Domantas Sabonis is not just the son of the legendary Arvydas Sabonis but also suddenly a key figure in Oklahoma Citys post-Kevin Durant future after the Thunder acquired him along with Victor Oladipo in the Serge Ibaka trade. New York Knicks fans, meanwhile, will get an early glimpse of Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who sprinkles in some tangible shooting range and athleticism with his all-out effort.5. SERBIA?It doesnt take much daring to proclaim that Serbia wont be duplicating its runner-up finish from the 2014 World Cup in Spain. Any team that fields Denvers Nikola Jokic will be worth watching, but the 1-to-12 talent here tells you a reasonable expectation for these guys isnt in medal range.This squad could have been really must-see had former San Antonio-turned-Detroit sensation Boban Marjanovic joined Jokic on Serbias front line. But the incomparable Boban, sadly, didnt make himself available for national-team duty this summer, leaving Jokic to keep NBA Twitter engaged.Serbias other true star, of course, is still crafty lead guard Milos Teodosic, who is still also sadly no closer to making the jump to the NBA he has always resisted despite the urging of international hoop geeks like moi.Bogdan Bogdanovic (whose NBA rights were recently dealt from Phoenix to Sacramento in a deal featuring Junes No. 8 overall pick) and big man Miroslav Raduljica (whos known, as much as anything, for his James Harden-esque beard) also have some decent name recognition, but the second-place finish in the worlds last major competition honestly flattered the Serbs.Dont forget that they needed to win one of FIBAs three last-chance qualifying groups last month -- and duly routed Puerto Rico to oblige -- just for the right to join the United States in what was looking like a particularly weak Group A until Serbia and France were added.6. ARGENTINAOne more ride for Ginobili, Scola, Nocioni and Delfino ... mainstays for the Albiceleste that should be so familiar by now that ?last names surely suffice.Weve been lamenting since the 2014 World Cup in Spain what a shame it is that Argentina seems to have so little in the pipeline to try to carry on the proud tradition established by its Golden Generation, which won an unforgettable gold medal in Greece in 2004. Yet we must note that there is some new blood here with a couple of Texas-bound youngsters joining the vets: Dallas Mavericks signee Nicolas Brussino and San Antonio Spurs-bound Patricio Garino.The sad reality, though, is that this figures to be the last major tournament for some time that Argentina can expect to be any sort of force.The end is unavoidably at hand, more than a decade removed from Argentinas famous victories over the United States in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis and the 2004 Summer Games in Greece that played such a big part in triggering the broad changes Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski would eventually implement with USA Basketball.Scola is Argentinas flag-bearer at these Olympics and point guard Facundo Campazzo is always good for a Jason Williams-esque highlight or two, so perhaps were getting sucked into the nostalgia of it all to have the Argentinians this high. A bronze medal would represent a tremendous (and frankly improbable) showing for a proud squad fighting a futile battle against Father Time.7. BRAZILThe hosts qualified automatically for the 12-team field, as all hosts do, but arent exactly swimming in advantages as tournament tipoff draws near.Much like Spain and Argentina, Brazils most dependable players are largely in their twilight years: Nene, Leandro Barbosa, Marcelo Huertas and Alex Garcia. Worse yet: Two more ol reliables -- Tiago Splitter and Anderson Varejao -- are unavailable because of injury.Throw in the undeniable pressure Brazil will be facing to produce some sort of medal, which isnt quite soccer-level pressure but still a real thing for the national team because itll be playing on Brazilian soil, and you cant call yourself a responsible committee if you dont ask this question: Is this really a top-6 team?We werent convinced.Brazil did manage to eliminate hated Argentina in the Round of 16 of the 2014 FIBA World Cup, avenging painful losses to its most bitter rival in the two previous major tournaments, but the depth of Group B -- compared to what surrounds Team USA in Group A -- means that the hosts getting to the knockout phase is not assured. Sacrilegious as it sounds.8. AUSTRALIAEven with more than half of its roster sporting NBA experience, Australia ranks as the What If team of these Games.As in: What if Ben Simmons and Dante Exum were playing for the Aussies alongside the likes of Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Aron Baynes?How much fun would that be?Of course, even without Simmons, you can count on the ever-gritty Aussies to make their Aug. 10 encounter with the United States in group play feel as frisky as any game the Yanks have, with Delly surely eager to harass Kyrie Irving from end to end. (Theres also the wholly unexpected bonus of getting to see three Washington State alumni -- Klay Thompson, Baynes and Brock Motum -- share an Olympic floor.Three guarantees from Team Australia: No one will play harder, itll win at least one game you dont expect, and Boguts unfiltered Twitter commentary about the shortcomings of the living conditions in the athletes village will be a highlight of the tournament.9. CROATIALong known for its penchant for self-destruction, Croatia is finally starting to rewrite its reputation, thanks to a promising crop of youngsters and a huge recent overtime victory over Italy -- in Italy -- to secure its Olympic berth in a win-or-go-home game.This is the Mario & Dario Show now: Orlandos Mario Hezonja and Philadelphias Dario Saric will team with top scoring threat Brooklyns Bojan Bogdanovic to lead a squad of potential spoilers in Group B.Depth is a problem at the moment -- as is point guard play -- but Mario and Dario have brought a new spirit and fight to a basketball nation that badly needed both.Croatia also arrives in Rio, like France and their forever rivals from Serbia, freshly battle tested because it had to win the last-chance qualifier featuring Italy and Greece just to get here. Which can only help with sharpness.The committee obviously would have been even more enthused about whats happening with the Croats if Dragan Bender, freshly drafted by the Phoenix Suns away from perennial Israeli power Maccabi Tel Aviv, was on the Olympic roster. But theres plenty to see here even without Bender ... especially for Sixers fans who have been waiting for a firsthand glimpse of Sarics talents for two years.10. NIGERIAOne of the factors that makes Group B so much tougher than Group A: Nigeria, as the presumed bottom-feeder of the pack, is a stronger team than Venezuela or China at the foot of the Americans pool.Perhaps even far stronger as it seeks to become the first African team in Olympic mens basketball history to advance out of group play and reach the final eight.Nigeria might have been a real Rio sleeper if the Portland duo of Al-Farouq Aminu and Festus Ezeli didnt make late withdrawals from the squad, but its coach -- NBA D-League product Will Voigt -- can put length on the floor at every position and has more shooters at his disposal than weve seen in green in the past.The focus here, as loyal readers surely already figured, will be on Josh Akognon, who had only a brief NBA stint in 2013 with the Dallas Mavericks but also happens to rank as the all-time leading scorer among two-year players in the history of Committee alma mater Cal State Fullerton. (Which, yes, is good for some bonus points with us.)The backstory with more widespread appeal undoubtedly belongs to either veteran big man Ike Diogu (who, dont forget, was selected by Golden State with the ninth-overall pick in the 2005 draft) or Ben Uzoh (whos on the comeback trail after two years of scary health woes).11. VENEZUELAThe one name you would have recognized on Venezuelas roster is gone; recent Brooklyn Nets signee?Greivis Vasquez is still recovering from the ankle injury that cost him most of last season in Milwaukee.Star status with the country Vegas pegs as the longest shot in the field was thus inherited by a 35-year-old named John Cox, whose father, Chubby, played briefly in the NBA ... and who can claim a certain Kobe Bean Bryant as his cousin.The Venezuelans, though, are as plucky as any team in the field, having qualified for these Olympics without Vasquez ... and with zero NBAers in uniform compared to the eight Canada featured -- including Minnesotas Andrew Wiggins -- when the teams dueled for the right to go to Rio in September 2015.Team USA found out just how scrappy coach Nestor Garcias squad is in a recent exhibition in Chicago, where Venezuela slowed the game down as much as humanly possible to keep the margin closer (35 points) than Argentina, China or Nigeria did.According to the latest FIBA rankings, Venezuela (No. 22 worldwide) is the weakest team in Group A. Yet the committee is actually rather confident that Venezuela will not finish last in the group. The belief here is that China is headed for the basement, with France, Serbia and Australia also bound to be annoyed by the defense, togetherness and, yes, pluck that comes from Garcias gang.12. CHINAIt sounds reasonable to presume that two recent exhibitions in California against the United States, followed by Saturdays Group A Olympic opener against the Yanks, could prove beneficial in terms of toughening China up for its four remaining group games.But thats not how itll play out.The real-life benefit in this case figures to be negligible, because this is a younger-than-usual Chinese team with little proven help in support of former lottery pick Yi Jianlian, whos the only certifiable NBA talent on the current squad.Point guard Zhao Jiwei has a little flair in his game and a willingness to try some stuff that can lead to a moment or two of fun -- and young big men Zhou Qi (Houston at No. 43) and Wang Zhelin (Memphis at No. 57) showed enough promise to merit second-round selection in the June draft -- but Chinas medal was winning the game it had to win against the Andray Blatche-led Philippines to clinch an Olympic berth in a qualifying showdown pitting Asias two hoops-obsessed nations.Chinas realistic goal in Rio is gaining experience that leads to tangible progress by the time it hosts the next FIBA World Cup in 2019. 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Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Alyssa Thomas scored 15 points to lead the Connecticut Sun to an 84-80 victory over the defending champion Minnesota Lynx on Friday night in the WNBAs return from the Olympic break.Jasmine Thomas scored the tiebreaking basket with 15.2 seconds to play and finished with 12 points, and Alex Bentley and reserve Courtney Williams also had 12 points for the Sun (9-16) in their third straight victory. Chiney Ogwumike had 11 points and 10 rebounds.Seimone Augustus pulled second-ranked Minnesota (21-5), which had four players and coach Cheryl Reeve with the champion U.S. team in Rio, into a tie with a tough baseline jumper with 1:03 to play.Then 5-foot-9 Jasmine Thomas respondedd with a baseline jumper of her own over 6-2 Rebekkah Bru