Argentina - the cost of their defeat to Spain

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Manu Ginobili and Argentina lost to Spain on Monday, the last night of Group B action in Brazil, 92-73.

Now El Alma will have to deal with the consequences and that could mean a Quarter-Final clash with two-time defending champions USA.

"...we still don't want to play them (USA). Their athleticism, talent, and any given night they can get hot." - Ginobili

Argentina will finish third and take on Australia if Lithuania win against Croatia in the last game but fourth if the latter of those two sides prevails.

Ginobili, who got injured eight years ago in Argentina's Semi-Final defeat against the USA in Beijing and had to miss his team's Bronze Medal Game triumph over Lithuania, believes there are some uncertainties about the USA team after their recent performances but still says they are the team to beat.

"I still think they are the favorites for sure, but after what happened in the last two or three games, yes, there are some doubts," he said. "With all of that, we still don't want to play them. Their athleticism, talent, and any given night they can get hot."

Close games have been the norm at the Rio Olympics. The USA have won three of them against Australia, Serbia and France.

"The tournament is closer than what I thought, it doesn't look like it'll be easy for anybody," Ginobili said.

"I was kind of surprised, two games they were either a shot away from going to overtime or losing. I'm very surprised after playing them (in a friendly in Las Vegas before the Olympics) and looking at their roster."

FIBA