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We have Giannis and Thanasis playing for Greece, Ersan for Turkey, Middleton and Brook Lopez competing for a spot on Team USA and Donte possibly suiting up for Italy. Let’s talk about it all here.

Didn't know Brook, Khris, and Donte might be in it.

Team USA playing in Melbourne pre-tournament, at the world famous Marvel (yes that Marvel) Stadium. 2 games and expecting 50k spectators at each.

Will be interesting to see how the USA goes without all their big names. Who's the best player on the squad? Harden?

Is there a schedule/TV schedule?

MickeyDavis wrote:Is there a schedule/TV schedule?

USA schedule (training camp starts August 5th)

https://www.usab.com/mens/national-team/schedule.aspx

World Cup Schedule:

http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/games

No DiVincenzo on Italy’s 24 man preliminary roster.

Serbia is fully loaded with their NBA guys and probably the biggest threat to knock off Team USA, though I disagree with some of their top tier Euroleague omissions.

If only Tito was still alive and Yugoslavia still united LOL

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Pachinko_ wrote:If only Tito was still alive and Yugoslavia still united LOL

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Would be a heck of a squad.

Anyone know how it is being broadcast is Australia? Free-to-air or Pay-TV?

Yeesh we copped a bit of a group of death. Is Canada sending its NBA guys? We’re already weakened without Thon playing.

tyland wrote:Anyone know how it is being broadcast is Australia? Free-to-air or Pay-TV?

Fox/Kayo

blazza18 wrote:

tyland wrote:Anyone know how it is being broadcast is Australia? Free-to-air or Pay-TV?

Fox/Kayo

Ugh. Maybe I'll use the free trial of Kayo.

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tyland wrote:

blazza18 wrote:

tyland wrote:Anyone know how it is being broadcast is Australia? Free-to-air or Pay-TV?

Fox/Kayo

Ugh. Maybe I'll use the free trial of Kayo.

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Screw them, its $6 early bird pass on livebasketball.tv for the whole tournament

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I know everyone is anti Foxtel / Murdoch but Kayo is great. Very easy to use and cast things through Chromecast etc. Like the watch from start or live feature too.

Pachinko_ wrote:

tyland wrote:

blazza18 wrote:
Fox/Kayo

Ugh. Maybe I'll use the free trial of Kayo.

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Screw them, its $6 early bird pass on livebasketball.tv for the whole tournament

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How does one get this early bird pass? Can't see it on the site

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Ben Simmons bailing on playing for Australia after a public commitment. Not surprising.

Chuck Diesel wrote:Ben Simmons bailing on playing for Australia after a public commitment. Not surprising.

This is some artwork that Basketball Australia had thrown up on the outside of the stadium in Melbourne where the friendlies against the US will be played in the lead up. Whoops!


Very disappointing, given the timing you have to assume this is pressure from the Sixers tied in as part of that big contract offer (I see it referred to as Rich Paul and the Sixers deciding it's best). He obviously needs to work on his game, but there's a real disconnect if Rich Paul thinks Simmons not playing for the AU national team is the same as any of his other clients opting not to play for the US team (both in impact on the team and fan reaction).

There will be a little bit of side eye thrown at Brett Brown from over here if this is a demand from the Sixers: he knows how hard it is for national teams (in particular this national team) to work with guys in major leagues and their teams to balance a player's offseason.

I'd have been fine with Simmons not playing if he didn't already say he was. The excuse is weak.

blazza18 wrote:I'd have been fine with Simmons not playing if he didn't already say he was. The excuse is weak.

If he'd just flat out said "these guys want to give me an offensive amount of money, but suggested I should learn how to throw the ball in the hoop from a bit further away if I want to get it" upfront then some PR folks could highlight how big the dollars involved are and most folks would say "makes sense".

Wow, is that Bogut with Liz Cambage? They make up?