Well its that time again to decide who is the best country in the world when it comes to International Basketball.I follow and read up a good amount on these teams so I feel like I have a pretty good read on the tendancies and skill levels.Im going to offer a brief bit on each team and and group plus a few futures plays and opening round picks(They are out on Bet US).First games are on Aug 28th with 10 being played.
Group A
Angola..Not much to say here.They are the FIBA Africa champs once again.Only 1 player plays outside of Angola's domestic league.Could win 1 game in group play.
Argentina..What can I say,a veteran team but old.Scola is palying as well as Delfino,Oberto,and Nocioni.A wealth of veteran talent here.games as usual should be grinders and defensive.Scola will be a beast down low and hard to stop.4 good NBA player will make them tough to beat.
Australia..My dark horse to win this group.Have no fear that Bogut is out and will not play due to injury.With patrick mills at guard I have a feeling this will be a tremendous tourney for him.In addition Alexs Maric joing the team is a HUGE plus for them to fill the void left from boguts absence.Points a plenty from the offense and they could have trouble stopping people.Overs would be a smart play.Alot of the players play ball outsid OZ for good euro clubs.
Germany...Weak side.No dirk and most of the players play ball in the german league.I cant see tham being much of a factor at all.Might have trouble scoring.
Jordan...This team surprised some placing 3rd in the FIBA asia tourney last year.They havent shown it so far but their pace was frenetic and many games went over.Depending on their style of play,overs could be a a plenty for them.Cant see them winning many games in this group but they will be entertaining.
Serbia...A national tradegy after not QF for the Olympics in Bejing.They have committed everyone to the fold to win here in Turkey,the favs IMO to win the group.
Group B
Brazil....Barbosa,Splitter and Varejao you will recognize.In the past a run and gun team with not alot of defense.Should finish 2nd in the group to the USA
Croatia...Hard to predict here what they will do.Tough defensive minded team with not alot of scoring output.Will have to win games in the half court.
Iran..The Fiba asia champs at first glance I thought could make some noise but I have a feeling they are in a very tough group.3 players 6 foot 11 or bigger so rebounding should not be a problem.But stopping other teams will be!
Tunisia..Thank you for playing.Points will be hard to come by.Stopping teams will be hard to come by.
Slovenia..Could finish 2nd to the USA here.Dragic should be good here.Expect high totals and fun games from this bunch.
USA..What can I say here.A 100% new roster from the Redeem Team.I dont care that they have Kevin Durant who might avg 35 a game in the tourney,and coach K.These are all new players that have played together a short time.And there lack of Quality Big men is a BIG concern.Honesly It would not surprsie me to see them lose 2 games and win the gold medal or win all there games and lose in the QF or semis.If you like value you can get them at -190 to win it which is the lowest EVER for a USA team.
Group C
China..No Yao.I dont expect them to do much at all and could get blown out of a few games.
Ivory Coast..They play bball there?Russia,Greece,PR and Turkey in your group? Good luck.
Greece..The greeks have the players,the style and the toughness to make it all the way to the final like in 2006.Great defensive team that smothers you and puts the foot on the gas and doesnt let up.Unders galore,but could get over valued due to their rep.They should win the group with ease.
Russia.I cant get a read on this team.Hard to gauge their identity.They might get shut out of this group with all the good teams sit down at the end.
Puerto Rico...They have never been known for defense and might sneak into 4th for a medal round bid.But thats all they will do.
Turkey....All the pressure is on them being hosts here and playing in Ankara.I think they will thrive on it and make Alot of noise here.Up temp style and could be some high scoring games.
Group D..
Canada..My favorite team to back in the WC.All these players have been playing well for a while and know each other very well.IMO they are the most undervalued team in the tourney.I will be on them alot!
France..Never accuse the French of being a scoring machine.Grinders all the way here.
Lebanon....Were lucky to get a berth here.Overmatched in every way.Will have trouble doing anything,the France/Leb game might be the under play of the tourney.
Lithuania..They are fielding their weakest team in a LONG time.Might be the most OVERVALUED team in the WC.High scoring games have alway been the MO for them.
New Zealand..something tells me the tall blacks could surprise here and cause an upset or 2.
Spain..Next to the USA,the odds on favorite to win this.Everyone but Pau is back for the title run.They have experience,depth and flair with rubio.At +600 you still cant beat the price.
I have my eye on a few plays which I will post later..
Group A
Angola..Not much to say here.They are the FIBA Africa champs once again.Only 1 player plays outside of Angola's domestic league.Could win 1 game in group play.
Argentina..What can I say,a veteran team but old.Scola is palying as well as Delfino,Oberto,and Nocioni.A wealth of veteran talent here.games as usual should be grinders and defensive.Scola will be a beast down low and hard to stop.4 good NBA player will make them tough to beat.
Australia..My dark horse to win this group.Have no fear that Bogut is out and will not play due to injury.With patrick mills at guard I have a feeling this will be a tremendous tourney for him.In addition Alexs Maric joing the team is a HUGE plus for them to fill the void left from boguts absence.Points a plenty from the offense and they could have trouble stopping people.Overs would be a smart play.Alot of the players play ball outsid OZ for good euro clubs.
Germany...Weak side.No dirk and most of the players play ball in the german league.I cant see tham being much of a factor at all.Might have trouble scoring.
Jordan...This team surprised some placing 3rd in the FIBA asia tourney last year.They havent shown it so far but their pace was frenetic and many games went over.Depending on their style of play,overs could be a a plenty for them.Cant see them winning many games in this group but they will be entertaining.
Serbia...A national tradegy after not QF for the Olympics in Bejing.They have committed everyone to the fold to win here in Turkey,the favs IMO to win the group.
Group B
Brazil....Barbosa,Splitter and Varejao you will recognize.In the past a run and gun team with not alot of defense.Should finish 2nd in the group to the USA
Croatia...Hard to predict here what they will do.Tough defensive minded team with not alot of scoring output.Will have to win games in the half court.
Iran..The Fiba asia champs at first glance I thought could make some noise but I have a feeling they are in a very tough group.3 players 6 foot 11 or bigger so rebounding should not be a problem.But stopping other teams will be!
Tunisia..Thank you for playing.Points will be hard to come by.Stopping teams will be hard to come by.
Slovenia..Could finish 2nd to the USA here.Dragic should be good here.Expect high totals and fun games from this bunch.
USA..What can I say here.A 100% new roster from the Redeem Team.I dont care that they have Kevin Durant who might avg 35 a game in the tourney,and coach K.These are all new players that have played together a short time.And there lack of Quality Big men is a BIG concern.Honesly It would not surprsie me to see them lose 2 games and win the gold medal or win all there games and lose in the QF or semis.If you like value you can get them at -190 to win it which is the lowest EVER for a USA team.
Group C
China..No Yao.I dont expect them to do much at all and could get blown out of a few games.
Ivory Coast..They play bball there?Russia,Greece,PR and Turkey in your group? Good luck.
Greece..The greeks have the players,the style and the toughness to make it all the way to the final like in 2006.Great defensive team that smothers you and puts the foot on the gas and doesnt let up.Unders galore,but could get over valued due to their rep.They should win the group with ease.
Russia.I cant get a read on this team.Hard to gauge their identity.They might get shut out of this group with all the good teams sit down at the end.
Puerto Rico...They have never been known for defense and might sneak into 4th for a medal round bid.But thats all they will do.
Turkey....All the pressure is on them being hosts here and playing in Ankara.I think they will thrive on it and make Alot of noise here.Up temp style and could be some high scoring games.
Group D..
Canada..My favorite team to back in the WC.All these players have been playing well for a while and know each other very well.IMO they are the most undervalued team in the tourney.I will be on them alot!
France..Never accuse the French of being a scoring machine.Grinders all the way here.
Lebanon....Were lucky to get a berth here.Overmatched in every way.Will have trouble doing anything,the France/Leb game might be the under play of the tourney.
Lithuania..They are fielding their weakest team in a LONG time.Might be the most OVERVALUED team in the WC.High scoring games have alway been the MO for them.
New Zealand..something tells me the tall blacks could surprise here and cause an upset or 2.
Spain..Next to the USA,the odds on favorite to win this.Everyone but Pau is back for the title run.They have experience,depth and flair with rubio.At +600 you still cant beat the price.
I have my eye on a few plays which I will post later..
