Leading up to the Olympics, it was thought that the United States and Spain were destined for a rematch in the gold medal game. But after every team has taken the court once, Russia looks like the potential second best team in the field.

Russia easily handled hosts Great Britain, 95-75, behind the inside-out duo of Alexey Shved and Andrei Kirilenko. Teammates last year with European power CSKA Moscow and and future teammates in Minnesota this coming season, Shved and Kirilenko were nothing short of spectacular against the Brits.

If Russia wins Group B, it's highly plausible that the United States and Spain could meet before the gold medal game. As we have known for the last decade, the rest of the basketball world has caught up withe the United States and it will no longer be a cakewalk to the top of that podium.

Read more on the Olympics at our StoryStream and the SB Nation Olympic hub page.