Gasol Leads Spanish National Team

Lakers forward Paul Gasol will be leading what is perhaps going to be the biggest competition for the USA national basketball team in Beijing.  The Spain squad should make a formidable opponent and is a consensus top three team in this year’s games.  Gasol will be paired up with his brother Marc, who is expected to play his rookie season in the NBA this year and is a bonified bruiser.  The Gasol brothers will also be teaming up with shooting guard Rudy Fernandez, who the Blazers selected in the 2007 draft and will be crossing the Atlantic to play in the NBA’s 2008-2009 campaign as well.  With Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon and former Raptor Jorge Garbajosa on board, the talent on the team is substantial.

Spain and Greece are the two most likely teams to give the U.S. a run for their money.  While the Greek team is full of unknowns who just play solid team basketball, the Spanish team is crawling with NBA players and hopefuls.  Spain also has a trick up their sleeve in the form of teenage sensation Ricky Rubio, who at 17 is set to be one of the youngest players to partake in Olympic basketball.  Rubio is being projected as a top five pick in the 2009 NBA draft and has been compared to Steve Nash.  This blogger has watched plenty of tape on him and he looks like the real deal.

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