Spain, which features two All-Star 7'0 (Pau and Marc Gasol) as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder's Serge Ibaka, has been penciled in as the biggest threat to Team USA in London since their narrow loss in the gold medal game in Beijing four years ago.
However, with young phenom Ricky Rubio out after tearing his knee while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Spaniards are thin in the back-court, which could makes Juan Carlos Navarro's plantar fasciitis injury a devastating blow to their medal hopes:
"It was very strong and all of a sudden,'' Scariolo said. "It is nothing related with his former problems. It is a probably a new injury. It is plantar fasciitis, but it is probably in a different place [within the foot]. He couldn't play. I don't know how many games he will miss.''
Navarro only played one season in the NBA, but he's a widely respected international competitor who gives Spain some much needed creativity and firepower from the perimeter.
Spain, who should be able to advance out of Group B even with Navarro sidelined, will likely take their time in bringing him back into the lineup, but if they have any hope of surviving Team USA's fearsome perimeter defense, they'll need Navarro as close to 100% as possible as the Olympics continue.
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