FIBA World Cup 2023 part 2 SEMIS (USA vs GERMANY : SERBIA vs CANADA) poll added

[AdagioPace]

Not sure why anyone would like this tournament, at least with this format. There is no game worth watching tonight. 32 teams is just too much, if Fiba really wants to make this tournament interesting, reduce the number of teams to 24 max. Basketball is just not that popular to warrant so many teams.
In the old Olympics group phase format there were 4-5 great teams in a group of 6 which guarantees 1-2 great games everyday. They **** that up, but they should at least get this right

as always people should understand difference between NBA and FIBA first.

FIBA's goal (but also FIFA in soccer) is to allow the sport to grow worldwide. Growing doesn't mean only "more valuable 1st world views" like the NBA's interpretation of the word.
You achieve this goal by also letting less competitive national teams gain experience on an international stage, while unfortunately sacrificing entertainment.

[UcanUwill]

Sedekerskis had big game against Montenegro 11reb (4 oreb) + 2blk and good defence against Vucevic (4-13 FGA) and 4 reb

His defence is big surprise for me. On other end Valanciunas plus minus -3 and Lithuania w/o him +79

Valanciunas can still be great, but his lineups arent working well, in part that heavy of his minutes are starting ones, and Lithuania started slow a lot of it's game. But it's encouraging because it is not one mans team, like seven different guys can be best player any given game. Normantas has been most surprising to me.

Sedekerskis is defensive specialist, one of the most versatile defenders in Euroleague, 6'9, amazing lateral speed, can guard any position and pick and roll action to a point. If he was better rebounder and just better spot up shooter, then he could be in the NBA.

Biggest star in Montenegro game was the coaching. Gameplay to put Tadas on Vooch, shut down pick and pops, make him receive ball high, and make Jonas and Motiejunas a help defenders was world class. Best coached game in tournament so far maybe.

Motiejunas lineups in general tho has worked far better than Valanciunas ones so far.

[SpreeS]

Not sure why anyone would like this tournament, at least with this format. There is no game worth watching tonight. 32 teams is just too much, if Fiba really wants to make this tournament interesting, reduce the number of teams to 24 max. Basketball is just not that popular to warrant so many teams.
In the old Olympics group phase format there were 4-5 great teams in a group of 6 which guarantees 1-2 great games everyday. They **** that up, but they should at least get this right

I would look at Ice Hockey WC concept. The modern format for the World Championship features

16 teams in the championship group
12 teams in Division I
12 teams in Division II
12 teams in Division III

The first two places of every division advance into stronger division next year.

Looking at basketball WC by this concept:

WC group

USA/Canada/Brazil/Argentina/Australia/Spain/Germany/Italy/Greece/Turkey/Serbia/Slovenia/Lithuania/Croatia/France/Latvia

Division 1

2 America
2 Asia + Oceania
2 Africa
6 Europe

Division 2

3 America
3 Asia + Oceania
3 Africa
3 Europe

Division 3

3 America
3 Asia + Oceania
3 Africa
3 Europe

Total teams

America 12
Asia + Oceania 9
Africa 8
Europe 23

[The Number 9]

Like I heard Rugby WC is also going on, but how many people beside English colonies know about that? I remember Lithuanian team won some kind of rugby euro champ once, and it later made the news, because their victory didn't even make national sports news. Basically it was news because it wssnt news at all. I wonder is this basketball thing is the same to same countries.

It begins on september 8th so it's not going on. And there are a few more countries interested than "English colonies" (way less than basketball anyway).
In France, definitely not a former English colony , it has a lot more media coverage than the FIBA WC, and not only this year because it will take place in France. It's not the first year those 2 sports have international competitions a bit at the same time, and rugby is way more discussed on the news every time.

That nightmare of a WC we did barely get the news. If it was the same in rugby (and not talking about soccer), it would do the headlines for days.

[SpreeS]

Sedekerskis had big game against Montenegro 11reb (4 oreb) + 2blk and good defence against Vucevic (4-13 FGA) and 4 reb

His defence is big surprise for me. On other end Valanciunas plus minus -3 and Lithuania w/o him +79

Valanciunas can still be great, but his lineups arent working well, in part that heavy of his minutes are starting ones, and Lithuania started slow a lot of it's game. But it's encouraging because it is not one mans team, like seven different guys can be best player any given game. Normantas has been most surprising to me.

Sedekerskis is defensive specialist, one of the most versatile defenders in Euroleague, 6'9, amazing lateral speed, can guard any position and pick and roll action to a point. If he was better rebounder and just better spot up shooter, then he could be in the NBA.

Biggest star in Montenegro game was the coaching. Gameplay to put Tadas on Vooch, shut down pick and pops, make him receive ball high, and make Jonas and Motiejunas a help defenders was world class. Best coached game in tournament so far maybe.

Motiejunas lineups in general tho has worked far better than Valanciunas ones so far.

How does ball move on offence with Valanciunas on the floor and with Motiejunas? Maybe with feeding JVal LIT offence becomes more stangtant?

[UcanUwill]

Like I heard Rugby WC is also going on, but how many people beside English colonies know about that? I remember Lithuanian team won some kind of rugby euro champ once, and it later made the news, because their victory didn't even make national sports news. Basically it was news because it wssnt news at all. I wonder is this basketball thing is the same to same countries.

It begins on september 8th so it's not going on. And there are a few more countries interested than "English colonies" (way less than basketball anyway).
In France, definitely not a former English colony , it has a lot more media coverage than the FIBA WC, and not only this year because it will take place in France. It's not the first year those 2 sports have international competitions a bit at the same time, and rugby is way more discussed on the news every time.

That nightmare of a WC we did barely get the news. If it was the same in rugby (and not talking about soccer), it would do the headlines for days.

Thanks for correction. I vaguely know some euros are into rugby obviously, but I honestly know next to nothing about it at all. I know Japan won Baseball WC, because Outani striked out Trout in final, and that's already more than my rugby knowledge and probably enough to be biggest Baseball expert in eastern Europe, but yeah, I bet most people here think rugby and NFL is the same thing if they even heard about it at all.

But that's what I am saying. France is a basketball powerhouse and they don't care. I wonder how many mexicans for example even heard that FIBA is happening now?

[UcanUwill]

Sedekerskis had big game against Montenegro 11reb (4 oreb) + 2blk and good defence against Vucevic (4-13 FGA) and 4 reb

His defence is big surprise for me. On other end Valanciunas plus minus -3 and Lithuania w/o him +79

Valanciunas can still be great, but his lineups arent working well, in part that heavy of his minutes are starting ones, and Lithuania started slow a lot of it's game. But it's encouraging because it is not one mans team, like seven different guys can be best player any given game. Normantas has been most surprising to me.

Sedekerskis is defensive specialist, one of the most versatile defenders in Euroleague, 6'9, amazing lateral speed, can guard any position and pick and roll action to a point. If he was better rebounder and just better spot up shooter, then he could be in the NBA.

Biggest star in Montenegro game was the coaching. Gameplay to put Tadas on Vooch, shut down pick and pops, make him receive ball high, and make Jonas and Motiejunas a help defenders was world class. Best coached game in tournament so far maybe.
Free
Motiejunas lineups in general tho has worked far better than Valanciunas ones so far.

How does ball move on offence with Valanciunas on the floor and with Motiejunas? Maybe with feeding JVal LIT offence becomes more stangtant?

Definitely stagnant with Jonas. Stagnant and predictable, because they try to post him constantly. Jonas is still a wiliing screen setter, but yeah, they aren't smart with him on the court, I think Jokubaitis and Jonas should use more pick and roll action. That said, Jonas still dominant force inside,but opponents also prepped to just stop him mostly so far, so there's that. Motiejunas is also a just far better passer to begin with him, and offense is more creative with motiejunas just because they aren't just trying to post him every time.

But at the end, we will need Jonas to be great agsinst big teams, we aren't beating favorites with normantas and kuzminekas heroics, they outclassed Egypt, mexico and Montenegro sure, but it ain't happening agsinst Australia, Germany, Canada etc. We need to thickheadedly play Jonas into scoring mode.

[UcanUwill]

I think Serbia was the only team I haven't watched at all so far, good reminder how good bogdanovic and guduric are, with these two and Milutinov inside, that is still a medal contender easily.

[Phreak50]

Expecting a 35-40 pt blowout here US vs Jordan.

[AussieCeltic]

First game I’ve watched USA play. Ant really doesn’t like to pass the ball does he?

[Sakkreth]

Expecting a 35-40 pt blowout here US vs Jordan.

The only intrigue is which team will have the highest scorer of the game on their squad. Edwards vs Rondae Hollis Jefferson

[Sakkreth]

First game I’ve watched USA play. Ant really doesn’t like to pass the ball does he?

Yeah, plays like Kobe. But that's fine, he has the talent to back it up

[AussieCeltic]

First game I’ve watched USA play. Ant really doesn’t like to pass the ball does he?

Yeah, plays like Kobe. But that's fine, he has the talent to back it up

Agreed he’s super talent but if he played within the offense, he’d get even better looks.

[KillMonger]

man....ant edwards shot selection is an acquired taste

[iamoti]

Jovic 8/8 with 5/5 from 3 at the moment, Portland you **** up

[zimpy27]

Jovic 8/8 with 5/5 from 3 at the moment, Portland you **** up

green font?

[Calinks]

How the hell are these guys going to come out here and call themselves team Jordan and disrespect the GOATS name like this? Ya hate to see it.

[Pachinko_]

If jokic had bothered to honour us with his presence instead of getting drunk at horse races, Serbia would be my pick to win it all. Maybe next year his doctor will prescribe abstinence + exercise.

[AdagioPace]

How the hell are these guys going to come out here and call themselves team Jordan and disrespect the GOATS name like this? Ya hate to see it.

Both american surname and the country's name originate from the "jordan river", which historically happens to be important to Jews in the Holy Land (today Israel), to Christians and nowadays to Arabs (Jordan and Cisjordan/West Bank). Impressive name!

Arabic: نَهْر الْأُرْدُنّ, Nahr al-ʾUrdunn; Hebrew: נְהַר הַיַּרְדֵּן, Nəhar hayYardēn; Classical Syriac: ܢܗܪܐ ܕܝܘܪܕܢܢ Nahrāʾ Yurdnan)

[remiga007]

What sport are you talking about, NFL?

Yep, he's exaggerating for effect but yeah american football has stoppage after every play with a 40 second play clock to setup the next play after the ref spots the ball.

And yet still more exciting than soccer. LOL

For whom? Only for US I suppose, as literally all 200+ countries in the world enjoy football far far more than NFL. And being American sport has nothing to do with it, NBA does awesome outside of US.
NFL is just so boring, it's quite unbelievable.
Tried watching super bowl a few years ago, had to turn it off after like 20 minutes, there were literally 10 seconds of play interrupted by minutes of not doing ANYTHING. A few of my friends watched it separately from me, I asked them next day how was it - they only watched for the commercials, the gameplay had no flow whatsoever, they all agreed on it.

Around 99% of people outside of US get excited about football more than NFL, even with flopping etc. So congrats being American I suppose.