European champions and Beijing Games silver medalists Spain must improve or face elimination in the Olympic basketball tournament, forward Pau Gasol said after they faded to an 88-82 loss against Brazil on Monday.

“We didn’t come here to avoid anyone,” he said. “The way we’re playing right now we just have (to) concentrate on getting better or we will be beaten in the quarter or semi-finals.”

“We have great stretches where we dominate. And then there’s stretches where we’re nowhere,” added the growling 32-year old, who averages 17 points a game with the LA Lakers.

“It is a lack of concentration, a lack of effort. We can’t win with talent alone.”

via Reuters