Preview >> USA - Argentina Rivalry Set To Add Another Chapter

The USA Men’s Olympic Basketball Team concludes Pool A preliminary round action against Argentina. Argentina has compiled a 3-1 mark in Group A, with wins over Lithuania, Tunisia and Nigeria, and a defeat at the hands of France. Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola are carrying much of the load for Argentina as Ginobili is averaging 23.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while Scola is posting 22.7 points and 7.7 boards per game.

Playing in its sixth Olympic Games, Argentina cruised to a 102-79 victory over Lithuania in its opener behind 32 points from Luis Scola. Argentina dropped its next contest against France (71-64) before winning two straight versus Tunisia and Nigeria.

Scola and Manu Ginobili are carrying much of the load for Argentina as they are the squad’s two leading scorers (22.5 per game for Scola, 21.0 per game for Ginobili) and two leading rebounders (6.3 for Ginobili and 5.8 for Scola). Scola and Ginobili are shooting over 50 percent from the field at 57.6 percent and 50.9 percent, respectively, while Ginobili has yet to miss from the charity stripe (19-of-19).

Argentina qualified for the Olympics by winning as host at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship. They defeated Brazil 80-75 in the gold medal game to win its second Americas championship. Luis Scola was named MVP of the tournament after averaging 21.4 points per game as Argentina went 9-1.

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• Game Notes

Scouting Report:

Chris Collins (U.S. workout coach/scout & Duke University assistant coach)
What are your thoughts about Argentina?
Argentina’s a team, they are as experienced and veteran a team as there is in the Olympics. They have two of the great players internationally in (Manu) Ginobili and (Luis) Scola. Two guys that especially in big games are always going to be at their best. When you play them, you’re always playing against a team – they have played together for so long – that no matter what you try to do, they make reads, they’re smart, they can feel the flow of the game and how to keep themselves in it … and that’s why we’re going to have to play well on both ends of the ball to be able to win.

Going into the game, Ginobili and Scola are their best players and they’re going to score. You have to make them work for their points. One of the big keys is not to allow (Carlos) Delfino not to get 20+ points, not to let (Andres) Nocioni get 15-20 points … do a good job on their role players and make Ginobili and Scola work for everything they get, knowing that at the end of the day, they’re probably going to score some points.