[Optional]

Opening game at 4.00am ET tomorrow





Might also add a little on Giddey Ov19.5 +290 as well.

[SBR Andy]

Promos available for the FIBA World Cup:

Betway:




bet365:




Caesars:

[IBetYou]

The tallblacks have decent guards; the Webster brothers. Bright team overall. Pity Steven Adams wont suit up for them. Is he ashamed to do the Hacka?

Actually... the Webster brothers aren't playing either. Going to be a rough go for them. USA have by far the easiest group -which is not a good thing for them really.

[IBetYou]

DR are 6.5pt dogs for game 2 vs Italy in spite of having an NBA star on their roster and a solid supporting cast. I can't say it's wrong... If Towns wasn't such a selfish (unt they'd be favs. Yes, your lead guy being a selfish (unt is worth at least 7.5pts ATS.

[Eddy Munny]

If you guys are looking for something to watch, USA is trailing Lithuania at halftime right now by 17 points.

Uh oh!

[pavyracer]

If you guys are looking for something to watch, USA is trailing Lithuania at halftime right now by 17 points.

Uh oh!

80-72 Lithuania now in the 4th.

[19th Hole]

Team USA loses to Lithuania; Italy up next in FIBA quarters

[IBetYou]

Banchero said during the NBA season he would play for Italy. Changed his mind... Italy not happy about it. Would be great if they got revenge here but it appears highly unlikely. They might put up a good fight. THeir halfcourt execution is excellent.

[actiondan]

a disgrace

[Eddy Munny]

a disgrace

What is, the losing?

I mean it shouldn't come as a surprise anymore. The world has closed the gap in the hoops game as it should, and the United States isn't always sending their best of the best. If you look at this roster, who would really make the "A" team? Anthony Edwards? I guess you could make a case for one or two others but it's not the cream of the crop.

Now they play Canada for the bronze. They better not lose to a hockey nation.

[johnnyvegas13]

Eddy mushed them

[Eddy Munny]

Eddy mushed them

Which means you have zero reading comprehension.

Ask an adult who doesn't wear a helmet and chinstrap what the word "comprehension" means then get back to me.

[pavyracer]

Eddy mushed them

What's your higher education degree in English language? Did you graduate elementary school?

[Thefix13]

What is, the losing?

I mean it shouldn't come as a surprise anymore. The world has closed the gap in the hoops game as it should, and the United States isn't always sending their best of the best. If you look at this roster, who would really make the "A" team? Anthony Edwards? I guess you could make a case for one or two others but it's not the cream of the crop.

Now they play Canada for the bronze. They better not lose to a hockey nation.

Exactly, why send your best when losing has become perfectly acceptable. As Dan stated it's a disgrace.

[Eddy Munny]

Exactly, why send your best when losing has become perfectly acceptable. As Dan stated it's a disgrace.

Well it's not like the committee is intentionally not sending the best, the best just don't wanna go... They typically skip the FIBA's and go to the Olympics if anything.

[IBetYou]

Serbia aren't sending their best, dopey.

[Mac4Lyfe]

Now they play Canada for the bronze. They better not lose to a hockey nation.

James Naismith was a Canadian, born outside of Ottawa. So basketball really was invented by a Canadian.

[Eddy Munny]

James Naismith was a Canadian, born outside of Ottawa. So basketball really was invented by a Canadian.

I get that... but it's still a hockey nation. I don't think I'm just whistlin' dixie when I say that.

[Eddy Munny]

Serbia aren't sending their best, dopey.

They didn't lose to Serbia, numbnutz. And even if they did, there's a colossal difference between missing one or two of your best players versus missing 11 or 12.

[IBetYou]

They didn't lose to Serbia, numbnutz. And even if they did, there's a colossal difference between missing one or two of your best players versus missing 11 or 12.

If you think Germany are Europe's best team I don't know what to tell ya! Hardly any of the teams brought their best. This has been a weak year...

USA are missing their 11 or 12 best players? I'm curious to read what they might be. Curry/ Durant/ James sure..... don't say K.Leonard; that guy is doing his utmost in training to get through 60 games this coming season.

[IBetYou]

Ingram is one of their top 12 players. Kerr told him to ride the pine so he fkd off. Kerr wanted Edwards in the 6th man role initially but he balked. Selfish team, got what they deserved.

[Eddy Munny]

Well if we're not counting Embiid as American then I guess our best bigs would be two of:

Brook Lopez
Bam Adebayo
Anthony Davis

Rest of team could fill out with:

Steph Curry
Dame Lillard
Jason Taytum
Devin Booker
Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Zach LaVine
Haliburton
Bridges
Jackson Jr.

(The last three are the only ones currently on the USA roster, I'd keep them for their two-way ability and playmaking)

[IBetYou]

Damn right you're not LOL

[Eddy Munny]

But like I said, the rest of the world has closed the gap and has been doing so since '92 so I'm not discounting other countries and their talent. That's why my opening post was dripping with sarcasm... I knew they'd encounter hiccups sending the junior varsity team. You can't just don the jerseys and roll out the ball anymore.

[IBetYou]

Lopez was on the '19 WC team and fell out of the rotation (Myles Turner the starting centre). They lost that year as well.

Lillard played poorly at the '20 Olympics -not everyone cut out for FIBA play.

I think there's only a half-dozen or so players that aren't on the team that should be. That's a big difference to a small country missing one of their top players.

[IBetYou]

Curry & Durant are really the ones that would make a big difference. The others don't move the needle much.

[Eddy Munny]

Lopez was on the '19 WC team and fell out of the rotation (Myles Turner the starting centre). They lost that year as well.

Lillard played poorly at the '20 Olympics -not everyone cut out for FIBA play.

I think there's only a half-dozen or so players that aren't on the team that should be. That's a big difference to a small country missing one of their top players.

You could swap out Lillard for a number of guys if you really wanted to. Guards are plentiful in the NBA. He's not great on defense but he wouldn't need to be on the aforementioned roster. Length galore, would create constant havoc for opposing offenses.

[IBetYou]

I take that back actually. Not a big difference... that was my initial point; Serbia missing the best player in the world is about the same as USA missing Curry/ Durant.

[Eddy Munny]

Curry & Durant are really the ones that would make a big difference. The others don't move the needle much.

I disagree... You don't think there's a difference between Austin Reaves and Zach LaVine, for instance?

And I actually hesitated on Durant only because his playoff form deteriorated so much last time we saw him on the court, but I believe that was probably more of rust and having to shoulder so much of the load. Again, his length would be a defensive nightmare when combined with those other guys.

[Eddy Munny]

I'd throw in Julius Randle as a candidate too or a healthy Zion.

[IBetYou]

I disagree... You don't think there's a difference between Austin Reaves and Zach LaVine, for instance?

And I actually hesitated on Durant only because his playoff form deteriorated so much last time we saw him on the court, but I believe that was probably more of rust and having to shoulder so much of the load. Again, his length would be a defensive nightmare when combined with those other guys.

I prefer Reaves to LaVine. He's a complete player, and has done v.well in the FIBA game. Booker over Reaves would be a better argument, but it's really about the guys at the top, and surrounding them with good teammates.

[Eddy Munny]

I prefer Reaves to LaVine. He's a complete player, and has done v.well in the FIBA game. Booker over Reaves would be a better argument, but it's really about the guys at the top, and surrounding them with good teammates.

Well of course Booker is better than Reaves, but I was picking potentially the "weakest" link on my theoretical roster to prove a point. LaVine's athleticism, three point shooting, rebounding, length on the defensive end all superior to Reaves.

[IBetYou]

Well of course Booker is better than Reaves, but I was picking potentially the "weakest" link on my theoretical roster to prove a point. LaVine's athleticism, three point shooting, rebounding, length on the defensive end all superior to Reaves.

If you're picking for an NBA team, at the same salary, then yes. But for a 20 mins off the bench in a FIBA game where you might not get to handle the ball much, and there's going to be a lot of pressure in some of the games..... Reaves was one of their best players when it mattered. He bailed them out of that early 15-25 hole yesterday. Poised.

[IBetYou]

Might be under-selling him there actually. Reaves might be the better player overall. He's just getting started. LaVine has a horrible attitude and a 1D game. I probably would pick Reaves over him on an NBA team.

[Eddy Munny]

Might be under-selling him there actually. Reaves might be the better player overall. He's just getting started. LaVine has a horrible attitude and a 1D game. I probably would pick Reaves over him on an NBA team.

Fine, Booker over Reaves...

LaVine over Hart then...

Tatum over Cam Johnson etc...

You're getting lost in the weeds. The point is a better roster is possible. USA has more talent sitting at home than any other country by a wide margin.

It doesn't really matter. We got football tomorrow and beyond. Hoops is just filler.