RIO DE JANEIRO -- Count Brazilian legend Oscar?Schmidt among those eager to see the United States and Spain reunite in Olympic basketball one round earlier than normal.In a rematch of the previous two gold-medal games, Team USA (6-0) meets Spain (4-2) in Fridays semifinals at 2:45 p.m. ET at the Carioca Arena 1.The United States should win, said Schmidt, who ranks as the all-time leading scoring in mens Olympic basketball and works now as a TV broadcaster.But Spain can win.Much will depend on the health of Spanish center Pau Gasol, who, at 36, remains his countrys most important player at both ends. Coach Sergio Scariolo told Spanish reporters Thursday that, because of a lingering calf injury, Gasols participation in the game cant be guaranteed.The Americans, of course, are convinced theyll see Gasol in uniform anchoring both Spains offense and defense, especially since his brother, Marc Gasol, couldnt join the national team this summer thanks to his ongoing recovery from foot surgery.Yet even with Spain fielding only one Gasol, no one will have to convince Team USA that Schmidt is right about the threat posed by the Spaniards. Coach Mike Krzyzewski knows it better than anyone after Team USA narrowly defeated Spain in the past two Olympic title games, in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.The Americans achieved those victories by just 11 (118-107) and seven points (107-100), respectively, then dodged a highly anticipated showdown with the Spaniards on Spanish soil -- with a weakened U.S. roster -- at the 2014 FIBA World Cup when the host country was stunningly ousted in the quarterfinals by France.We know who they are, Krzyzewski said.Spain is playing with -- they should and they usually do -- a great deal of confidence.The Spaniards have won their past four games in Rio by an average margin of 25.8 points, dramatically reversing their fortunes after going 0-2 to start pool play with losses to Croatia and host Brazil. To reach the semifinals, Spain pounded France by 25 points in Wednesdays quarterfinals.Every player on the 12-man Spanish roster except Felipe Reyes either plays in the NBA, has NBA experience or, at the very least, has been drafted by an NBA team. Its a highly motivated group as well, thanks to many critics who wrote Spain off as too old to threaten Team USA entering the tournament.They were wrong, Spain guard Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves said of the critics.?Said Spanish teammate Jose Calderon, who has been traded twice since the 2015-16 NBA season ended and will soon join the Los Angeles Lakers: I think this generation was [written off] eight years ago. And were still here.We know each other. We know when to support, when to yell to a teammate, when to say the right things. I think that helps us. ... I think thats why were better than some teams. Just because of that friendship, relationship, whatever you want to call it.The chemistry and continuity Calderon describes have been areas of concerns for the Americans, who are the only unbeaten team in the 12-nation field but endured three straight nervy fourth quarters in pool play against Australia, Serbia and France, with the lack of familiarity on a roster featuring 10 first-time Olympians widely cited as a chief culprit.Asked what he made of watching Team USA in a few close games already, Calderon said: Hopefully well have another one.Said Team USA star Kevin Durant of the Spaniards: Just like the Spurs, you can count em out as much as you want, but theyre always gonna be there.When have they not been? Krzyzewski added. They show up and show up big time. They have their key players from 08 and 12. Beating them would be a huge accomplishment for us.Nike Shoes Clearance Sale . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. 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Cheap Nike Shoes Ireland .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park.LOS ANGELES -- The protesters who ambushed Ryan Lochte on Dancing with the Stars are defending their actions after being released from jail.Sam Satoodeh and Barzeen Soroudi were arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor trespassing and each held on $1,000 bail after the pair rushed the stage Monday to protest the Olympic swimmer on the ABC ballroom dancing competition.Our purpose is to get the message out that Lochte is a coward, a liar and under Brazilian law, a criminal, Satoodeh told ABC News outside of jail Tuesday.Soroudi added that he believed Lochte embarrassed Americans on the worlds stage, and this was our form of protesting against that.Lochte and his swimming teammates have faced criticism since they were involved in an early-morning drunken encounter during the Olympics last month at a gas station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They later claimed they were threatened and robbed.Satoodeh and Soroudi rushed the stage in anti-Lochte T-shirts while the swimmer was receiving scores from judge Carrie Ann Inaba for his debut performance during a live installment of the celebrity ballroom dance competition.dddddddddddd.Hey, back off, Inaba said as the altercation was occurring off screen.ABCs Good Morning America aired video that wasnt shown during the live broadcast of Satoodeh being tackled on stage by security and other protesters in the audience chanting liar as they were escorted out of the soundstage.During the episode, the Olympic medalist performed a foxtrot routine with professional partner Cheryl Burke to Call Me Irresponsible. They received a combined score from the judges of 24 out of 40.When I was asked to do the show, the one thing that I kept hearing was that it was like joining a big family, Lochte wrote in a statement posted Wednesday on Instagram. After Mondays incident, I now know what that means. I have gotten so much love from everyone on the show, including my partner Cheryl, my fellow competitors, the producers, the security team and its fans. ' ' '