Team USA off to good start in Olympics and Games haven't even begun

August 8, 11:35 AMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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The schedule sets up beautifully for Team USA over the next two weeks at the Beijing Olympics. Not only is there a day off between each game (for every team), but the U.S. squad has some nice early games before it gets into the meatier part of the competition.

Team USA, part of Group A, opens on Sunday against China, a team featuring Yao Ming,  Yi Jianlian, Wang Zhi Zhi but nothing much in the backcourt. That will lend itself to a blowout, a perfect way to start.

After China comes Angola. Enough said.

Then comes Greece and Spain, when we’ll get a much better feel for the team. Of course, Greece, without any NBA players but boasting a lot of depth, knocked off the U.S. team in the 2006 World Championships.

Spain is a team with an impressive roster of former NBA players as well as current and future ones: Jose Calderon, Pau Gasol, Jorge Garbajosa, Rudy Fernandez and Juan Carlos Navarro.

Spain also has a player worth keeping an eye on: 17-year-old Ricky Rubio, a flashy point guard said to be destined for the NBA.

Argentina, in Group B, with Manu Ginoboli, Andres Nocioni, Fabricio Oberto and Luis Scola is looming after that.