Although USA enters the 2014 FIBA World Cup as the heavy favorites, their national team is reportedly not in full force. Paul George is out after a devastating injury in training camp, while Kevin Durant, who is expected to lead the team, has suddenly withdrawn from the team a little less than 2 weeks before the start of the tournament. Pundits also said that Team USA's roster is currently not the best that the NBA can offer. Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, and LaMarcus Aldridge have all declined to participate in the tournament, while LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Kobe Bryant have to sit it out this year to give other NBA players a chance for international hoops glory.

With majority of the roster composed of young players - in terms of international competition experience- USA appears to be the team that could be beaten this year, D.J Foster of Bleacher Report suggests. The obvious team that could beat the mighty USA in the World Cup of Basketball is said to be Spain.

The Spanish Basketball National Team, currently ranked second in the world behind USA in FIBA rankings, is teeming with NBA caliber talent. Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and Pau Gasol, have all made their marks in the NBA. Daniel Zimmermann of International Sports Hub thinks that Spain's lineup can pose a threat to USA. The US squad may be better individually, but Zimmermann points out that Spain found a way to beat USA before and they have a chance to do it again. They also gave USA quite a scare in the finals of the 2012 Beijing Olympics - with US leading by 4 points then with 2:30 left in the 4th quarter.

But perhaps the biggest threat to USA when they end up facing Spain are the Gasol brothers, Pau and Marc, as what Steve Aschburner of NBA.com suggests. The US team's Powerforward/Center rotation is quite thin and lacks the size to hold off the towering Gasols who have made a name for themselves in the NBA with their formidable post moves. Big Man DeMarcus Cousin's recent injury doesn't help either.

The 7 foot 1, 265 pound Marc Gasol is a known beast in the post and he can easily muscle his way through the inexperienced Andre Drumond, the 237 -ound Anthony Davis, and the undersized Kenneth Farried who stands at a mere 6'8'', as he makes his way to the basket. Pau Gasol, on the other hand, is also a seven-footer and although he is not as physically bullish as his brother Marc, he is an exceptionally skilled and gifted big man who can post up, drive to the basket, and shoot the ball in the perimeter at a high percentage. What's even worse, both Gasols are terrific free throw shooters.

Based on their roster, the US national team looks like they will be trying to play small ball in the World Cup by incorporating quick and versatile players who can chase away shooters. This can be an advantageous approach against most European teams who tend to utilize Big Men men who can spread the floor and shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. This can be disadvantageous, however, when they go against Spain who rely on the Gasol brothers to pound the ball on the post. And with the Spanish team playing in their own home, they surely are the biggest threat to USA in the coming 2014 FIBA World Cup.