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James and Bryant retain their spots and Tyson Chandler has become the starting center. Krzyzewski could bounce between Anthony and Durant at one forward spot, and Paul and Deron Williams, who also scored 19 on Thursday, at point guard.
"I don't necessarily think there is any permanence to our starting lineup," Krzyzewski said. "You basically have a group, a core group, of veterans, mostly from the Beijing Olympics that I think do need to be the core of this team because they're older, they've been through the Olympics. Durant, talent-wise, is right there with any of them. So, some combination of the six or seven of those guys will start.
"We've talked about it. They're fine with it. It has to start there. I'm not sure who will start against Argentina. I don't think it really makes a difference. Like this morning, I just talked to them, `What if we did this' and they said, `Fine. Whatever you want to do.' It will be within that realm of seven players with Tyson at the center spot."
The game against Spain is the more anticipated one and should provide the U.S. with the bigger challenge. The Americans edged the Spanish in an exhibition game in Madrid before the 2010 worlds, but both teams played that summer without key players from the Americans' 118-107 victory on the last day of the Beijing Games.
"They are a great team," James said. "They've been together for a long time. They have a great chemistry, and they have great inside-outside depth and we look forward to playing against them."
With Pau Gasol and younger brother Marc, and NBA All-Star this season, and nationalized Spanish player Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Spain is powerful inside. The Americans don't have much size and don't seem interested in using what they do have, Krzyzewski using some lineups in which the 6-foot-9 Durant is his tallest player.
If the size factor really is a threat to their hopes, the Americans will know it by the time they leave here a day before the opening ceremonies next week.
"I mean, we definitely have weaknesses that teams can take advantage of, and I think this trip to Barcelona is going to be very big for us because you are playing Argentina and Spain," Bryant said. "So, we'll get a good look at that."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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