Previous finals: 2002 (2nd), 1950 (1st).
Quarterfinals: beat Turkey 83-58.
Leading scorer: Manu Ginobili (15.0).
Leading rebounder: Luis Scola (7.0).
On offense: 89.4 pts; 49 pct overall; 37 pct 3s; 19.9 asts; 13.1 tos.
On defense: 65.6 pts.; 37 pct overall; 25 pct 3s; 9.3 asts; 15.9 tos.
";
spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i++] = new Array("","Spain","Pau Gasol","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/deujpmt10308290828.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Mark J. Terrill", "AP", "358", "245", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i-1].body = "SPAIN (7-0)
Previous finals: none.
Quarterfinals: beat Lithuania 89-67.
Leading scorer: Pau Gasol (21.6).
Leading rebounder: Pau Gasol (9.1).
On offense: 93.1 pts; 51 pct overall; 38 pct 3s; 14.6 asts; 13.3 tos.
On defense: 68.3 pts; 40 pct overall; 30 pct 3s; 12.4 asts; 18.0 tos.
";
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spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i-1].body = "BREAKDOWN
Argentina is the hottest team in international basketball having won the silver medal in the 2002 worlds and the gold at the Athens Olympics.
Spain, however, has had the South Americans’ number, beating them in pool play in Athens and twice earlier this summer in exhibition games leading to this tournament.
Both have been dominant in Japan, each having an average margin of victory around 25 points. Each has an NBA star — San Antonio’s Ginobili with Argentina and Memphis’ Gasol with Spain. The supporting casts are solid and neither team has a real weakness to exploit.
The blowout run is over with this matchup with most experts thinking this will be the best game of the tournament. Look for Argentina’s big-game experience to be the difference.
PICK: Argentina"; spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i++] = new Array("","USA VS. GREECE","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "358", "236", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i++] = new Array("","United States","Carmelo Anthony","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/spanjpbko12408301150.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Dusan Vranic", "AP", "358", "242", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i-1].body = "UNITED STATES (7-0)
Previous finals: 1994 (1st); 1986 (1st); 1982 (2nd); 1959 (2nd); 1954 (1st); 1950 (2nd).
Quarterfinals: beat Germany 85-65.
Leading scorer: Carmelo Anthony (19.6).
Leading rebounder: Dwight Howard (4.7).
On offense: 105.9 pts; 51 pct overall; 38 pct 3s; 19.4 asts; 10.7 tos.
On defense: 80.9 pts; 44 pct overall; 36 pct 3s; 12.6 asts; 20.0 tos.
";
spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i++] = new Array("","Greece","Vasilis Spanoulis","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/jpbko14008271300.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Dusan Vranic", "AP", "358", "236", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i-1].body = "GREECE (7-0)
Previous finals: none.
Quarterfinals: beat France 73-56.
Leading scorer: Vasilis Spanoulis (11.3).
Leading rebounder: Antonis Fotsis (4.6).
On offense: 81.7 pts; 49 pct overall; 33 pct 3s; 11.7 asts; 14.7 tos.
On defense: 68.3 pts; 46 pct overall; 37 pct 3s; 13.7 asts; 23.7 tos.
";
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spt_NBA_WORLDS_semi_previews[i-1].body = "BREAKDOWN
Greece has been playing the best defense in the tournament and the United States is easily the highest scoring team, so something has to give.
Greece makes the opposing point guards’ lives miserable with good pressure and by using its size in the backcourt, forcing an average of 24 turnovers. The U.S. has three of the NBA’s better point guards on its roster and the forwards have no problem helping bring the ball up.
Greece had three wins of less than 10 points, while the U.S. has had only one opponent stay within single digits. The U.S. has struggled with its 3-point shooting in a couple of the wins and Germany stayed in a 2-3 zone for most of the game to try and keep the ball from getting inside.
Greece has drawn the least attention of the four unbeaten semifinalists in a great run following its European championship last year, but it just doesn’t have the depth inside to stay with the United States.
PICK: United States"; // END editorial data