2012 Olympics: Spain Rallies to Beat Russia, Advance to Gold Medal Final

Spain didn’t decide to show up until the second half of their game, but they took advantage of a fizzled Russian squad to advance to the gold medal final and a potential showdown with Team USA.

Critics said during the game, and particularly during Spain’s atrocious first half, that it would take more than a poor second half by the Russian’s for Spain to pull this one out. Well it actually only took a poor second half by the Russian’s for Spain to advance and bounce Russia to a bronze medal meeting with either Argentina or Team USA.

Spain couldn’t have had a worse first half, mustering up just 20 points and trailing Russia by eleven points at the half. But the tables flipped (perhaps in the Spanish locker room) and Spain came out guns blazing in the second half, topping their first half point total in each of the remaining quarters.

Pau Gasol took control, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 boards in the win while fellow Spain starters Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon and brother Marc Gasol all went into double digit point totals.

The Spaniards didn’t take their first lead of the game until Jose Calderon hit a three pointer with 7:22 left to go in the game.

The Russian’s again had mild offensive production at best and couldn’t hold off a second half surge by Spain. It was looking like early the Russian’s would be able to hold Spain at bay. Andrei Kirilenko led the way for Russia with his 10 points and 8 rebounds while Sahsa Kaun added 14 points. If there’s one thing the Russian’s did better than the Spaniards it was centered on their bench play.

The Russian’s outscored the Spanish bench 21-11 in the semifinal match but that didn’t make up for the lack of defense when it came to guarding Spain’s starters. Russia was also blasted in points in the paint, getting outscored 24-18, getting liquified in the second half there.

Spain struggled but they pulled through in the clutch to advance to a potential meeting with Team USA. Even if Team USA isn’t there, Spain will be in the gold medal final. They didn’t show blazing skills however, not the ones analysts wanted to see at least, to prove Spain could overpower Team USA. Instead, Spain might be taking a strategy Russia tried against them were they go all Muhammed Ali and try to simply out last the American’s.

If there are two teams that have the skill to take down Team USA it’s the Argentinian’s (whom the American’s get later today here in London), and Spain. Both will get a a shot at taking them out and dashing their gold medal hopes.