4 teams that could stun Team USA at 2014 FIBA World Cup

Team USA still is the heavy favorite.

No Kevin Durant. No Kevin Love. No Paul George. No LaMarcus Aldridge. No major worries.

USA Basketball is so deep with NBA talent that it is expected to take a fourth consecutive major international tournament in the FIBA World Cup in Spain. Bovada lists Team USA as a 1-to-2 favorite in the tournament.

But the roster that takes the court Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Bilbao for the tournament opener vs. Finland does have weaknesses.

• None of the big men are older than 24.
• Small forward, once a strength with Durant and George, is now a weakness.
• Derrick Rose, who has played six games in the past two NBA seasons, is the sixth man.
• The backcourt defense is questionable.

With that said, other countries have felt the impact of injuries and withdrawals, as well. Tony Parker (France), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Andrew Bogut (Australia) are among the most prominent non-USA players skipping the tournament.

So which teams have the best shot at stunning Team USA?

1. Spain

Best players: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Pau Gasol

Why they can win: That frontcourt, with the Gasol brothers and Ibaka, is the best in the world. Ricky Rubio and Jose Calderon are true pass-first point guards, and the wings are loaded with scoring.

Why they can't: Their wings mostly are NBA shooting guard-types, and their guards are not going to be able to exploit the USA backcourt's defensive weaknesses off the dribble.

2. France

Best players: Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw, Evan Fournier

Why they can win: Batum may be the best small forward in this tournament, and Diaw's versatility will give opposing defenses nightmares. This team won the European title last year and remains strong.

Why they can't: Parker and Nando De Colo withdrawing hurts this team at the crucial point guard position, which will be tough against the USA and Spain teams, both of whom are deep there.

3. Greece

Best players: Nick Calathes, Kostas Papanikolaou, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Why they can win: NBA fans won't be too familiar with the Greek roster, but it's loaded with top-tier European stars. Big men Ioannis Bourousis and Georgios Printezis are decorated veterans, while the three NBA players listed above offer serious upside.

Why they can't: Many of the best players from the past decade are either retired from international play or sitting this one out, including Sofoklis Schortsanitis and Vassilis Spanoulis. Their experience and talent will be missed.

4. Argentina

Best players: Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni, Pablo Prigioni

Why they can win: This is the last hurrah for the country's golden generation, which led the 2004 Olympic gold medal team. Scola, Nocioni, Prigioni, Walter Hermann and Leo Gutiérrez all are very experienced international stars.

Why they can't: Losing Ginobili and Carlos Delfino makes them very weak in the backcourt. They may not be able to get perimeter scoring from their younger players. The 20-somethings don't compare to other teams' rosters.