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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Two losses in two games by a total of three points have the Spanish mens basketball team in an unenviable, yet somewhat familiar position.Spain dropped to 0-2 after Tuesdays 66-65 loss to Brazil, but theres still a level of optimism in the locker room.The disappointing start to the Rio Games -- losing twice before the medial round -- is reminiscent of the London Games. The Spaniards started better in 2012, then lost twice only to rebound and capture the silver.Honestly, I dont like the situation for sure, Rudy Fernandez said. We lost the first two games, but I remember in London we lost two games, too.I trust in my teammates. ... We are very good players. We know the situation we are in. Honestly, we have a chance. We have a chance to win the next three games.Whats different this time, however, is a large part of that core team is showing signs of age, roles have changed -- or are not here.Spain has been an international power for a decade with silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games, gold in the 2006 world basketball championship, three FIBA EuroBasket titles and four other top -three finishes, but they are facing a transitional period.Its my last Olympics, thats for sure, point guard Jose Calderon said. I dont know, I think everybody is totally different. I think personal health and situations are different to decide if its the last one or not, but it is what it is. I think weve been playing two good basketball games and we just couldnt finish.Calderon, 34, is playing in his fourth Olympics, but has played less than two minutes in Rio.New San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol is reaching the twilight of his career and, at 36 years old, may be playing in his last Olympics.His brother, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, is not playing in Rio while he rehabs a broken foot.Fernandez is still playing big minutes, but he hasnt been knocking down jump shots like he did as player that logged four NBA seasons. Hes just 1 for 7 from the arc in Rio.There are six players on the team born in or before 1986 and just three who were on the team for the Beijing Games. Younger players like Ricky Rubio, Nikola Mirotic and Willy Hernangomez seem to be the future of the team.While still optimistic, Spain has clearly missed Marc Gasol, a two-time NBA All-Star and 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year. Brazil was physical with the Spanish team and got the go-ahead basket on a follow shot by Marcus Marquinhos with 5.5 seconds left.Spain lost 72-70 to Croatia in its opener when Dario Saric blocked Pau Gasols point-blank shot at the buzzer.Well it could sound like an excuse if we talk about Marc tonight, Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said. Of course. We became a special team especially when we found a way to have Marc and Pau play together a few years ago. Unfortunately in the last couple of years, this was not possible because Marc was out.So we are a good normal team and we have to find a way to compete like we are doing and to win without Marc. We are happy about the players we have. Theres no point to regret or to double-guess today.Scariolo called the situation frustrating, but lamented that they could easily be 2-0. The Spanish team plays Nigeria, Lithuania and Argentina in the final three games of pool play.I would call it challenging, Scariolo said. Challenging, not bad because this is not bad until youre out and we are still very in. For how our training camp went, it shows that we miss some fluidity in our offensive game. Our shooting percentages have been so far really low, even free throws tonight. Which is not usual.Of course we would have liked to be 2-0 instead of 0-2, but we lost by two with a block against in the very last second and by one today. So we cannot make a long speech about losing when you lose by such a small margin.Shea Weber Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Max Domi Canadiens Jersey . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-jesperi-kotkaniemi-canadiens-jersey/ . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Ken Dryden Canadiens Jersey . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Guy Lafleur Jersey NEW YORK -- Just one first-round selection failed to sign under the second year of baseballs new draft restrictions, with Toronto unable to reach an agreement with No. 10 pick Phil Bickford. Only nine players taken in the first 10 rounds didnt strike deals. There were fewer deadline-day contracts Friday than in recent years after more players signed in the weeks after the draft was held from June 6-8. "That was one of the goals, getting guys signed and getting them out there earlier," Major League Baseball Executive Vice-President Rob Manfred said. "Its obviously good for the clubs, because it allows the development process to start, but we think over the long haul its good for the players because they get to the major leagues faster." In the hours leading up to the deadline, the Chicago Cubs finalized a deal with No. 2 pick Kris Bryant ($6,708,400), Miami agreed with No. 6 selection Colin Moran ($3,516,500) and the New York Yankees completed a contract with No. 32 pick Aaron Judge ($1.8 million). Five first-round picks signed on the final day last year, down from 22 in 2011, the last year before restraints on signing bonuses were put in place. In addition to Bickford, the other picks who failed to sign among players in the first 10 rounds were left-hander Matt Krook (Miami with the 35th selection), shortstop Ben Deluzio (Miami, 80), left-hander Ben Wetzler (Philadelphia, 151), outfielder Jason Monda (Philadelphia, 181), right-hander Stephen Woods (Tampa Bay, 188), third basemman Dustin DeMuth (Minnesota, 230) and second baseman Ross Kivett (Cleveland, 291).dddddddddddd Bickford, who turned 18 on Wednesday, is a right-hander with a 97 mph fastball from Oaks Christian High School in California, and he appears set to attend Cal State Fullerton. His pick had a slot value of $2,921,400. The Blue Jays will get the No. 11 pick in next years draft as compensation. Teams are given bonus pools in the labour contract, which imposes penalties on clubs that exceed their threshold -- the total of the slots for a teams selections in the first 10 rounds. A team that goes as much as 5 per cent above its threshold incurs the first level of penalty, a 75 per cent tax on the overage. Ten teams went above their thresholds last year, but none by more than 5 per cent. Going over means losing a first-round pick the next year. Spending on amateur draft picks dropped 10 per cent last year, to $209.4 million from $233.6 million in 2011, but it was the second-highest total. Figures for this year will not be available until next week. Bonuses for international players dropped 18 per cent, from $95.6 million to $78.7 million, in the first year of restrictions, which ended July 1. While players signed from the Dominican Republic increased by 23 to 432, Venezuelans dropped by 30 to 201. The total each year has fluctuated, depending on which Cuban defectors were available. "The international numbers are very difficult to compare year to year because of that," Manfred said. ' ' '