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

[RSP83]

Just got home from the double header game, Spain vs. Latvia, and Canada vs. Brazil.

My thoughts on the Spain vs. Latvia game:
Spain is a good and disciplined team. But to be ranked #1 team in FIBA ranking, I don't think they're that dominant. And I think they expect too much contribution from the OGs like Llull, Claver, and Rudy. Latvia is not a better a team than Spain, but they want it more in this game. Bertans, Rodions, Zoriks, Zagars, Grazulis didn't stop pressuring Spain all game. Especially in the 4th. Spain kept featuring the OGs in and out of the lineup in the 4th, and they couldn't match Latvia'a energy.

My thoughts on the Canada vs. Brazil game:
Canada beat themselves. They kept missing open shots, and rely too much on SGA running iso. Brazil did a decent job in slowing down SGA's iso. Brazil was really good on getting deflections and crashing the board. Overall I thought Brazil was pretty meh... But Canada kept shooting themselves on the foot. RJ Barrett and Dillon Brooks were useless. Caboclo is much bigger when you see him in person, and that wingspan is crazy. He has the quietest 19 points effort ever.

[jym85]

What would Slovenia have to do to automatically qualify for the Olympics?

[ROballer]

What would Slovenia have to do to automatically qualify for the Olympics?

Not have more than 1 team from Europe classify in front of them.

Basically getting in the semi-finals is pretty much a must. And maybe even winning the matchup for 3rd place, assuming Canada doesn't get their **** together.

If both Canada and the US get into the semis, then 4th place would be enough. So that means winning a single eliminatory game(QF).

[JJ_PR]

Tremont Waters is definitely NBA worthy. He had 37 points today to beat the Dominican Republic, who got 39 points from Karl Anthony-Towns. George Conditt has been great for us as well, could be a serviceable back-up in the NBA himself.

This isn't even our primary roster. We're missing a bunch of players like Jonathan Isaac, Alvarado, Napier & Harkless, to name a few. I'm really proud of how we've performed thus far.

[Hellcrooner]

lol at canada and spain losing on purpose to avoid a semifinal vs usa.
now one of the two is out.

[ROballer]

I haven't checked the thread non stop so maybe I'm wrong.

But I can't recall anyone mentioning Andres Feliz from the Dominican Republic.

Shooting 68/63/90 for the tournament, 19/5.5/5.8 and only 1.5 turnovers.
He's tied for 3rd in the entire tournament in EFF alongside Shai.

26 years old from Badalona. He's small at 6'0 but definitely a baller.

[GSWFan1994]

Yago Santos looks pretty good to me, even tho' he's 5'10.

Checked him out and he's only 24 as well.
Shooting the heck out of the 3 in this tournament(even with this shooting stinker against Canada), lots of assists and low turnovers.

I think he can be a backup in the NBA for a bunch of teams.

He played for the Chicago Bulls in the summer league, then signed with Serbia's Red Star for 3 years.

In the 22/23 season he played for Ratiopharm Ulm of Germany, won the national title and was Finals MVP.

I don't know if he has a NBA out clause. Maybe after the WC some teams will offer a contract.

[GSWFan1994]

Canada just got Exposed.

No shame in losing to Bruno Caboclo and Yago Santos.

We have to go with the traditional Brazilian mononym with Yago. That's too good to bog down with a last name.

Now I'm quite sure you don't know it, but "caboclo" is not a name (surname) in portuguese brazilian, but also means something. Via Wikipedia:

A caboclo (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɐˈboklu]) is a person of mixed Indigenous Brazilian and European ancestry, or, less commonly, a culturally assimilated or detribalized person of full Amerindian descent. In Brazil, a caboclo generally refers to this specific type of mestiço.

[Dirk]

who wants to take rj off our hands

Ignore him. On the Knicks board he's known for being happier when RJ has a bad game vs the Knicks winning a game. Has a perpetual hard on against RJ because he sees him as a threat to his idol, Julius Randle

RJ looked like playoff Randle today. Surprised 3th didn't enjoy his game.

[3toheadmelo]

who wants to take rj off our hands

Ignore him. On the Knicks board he's known for being happier when RJ has a bad game vs the Knicks winning a game. Has a perpetual hard on against RJ because he sees him as a threat to his idol, Julius Randle

RJ looked like playoff Randle today. Surprised 3th didn't enjoy his game.

i was too busy enjoying watching brunson's highlights from the playoffs instead. if only you can relate

[LuDux1]

53-24 second half Lithuania en fuego.
With a complete mess in another group, no idea if it is worth even trying versus USA

Lithuania absolutely dominated, but two really weird calls against Larentzakis. F U REFEREE chant kind off worked? But have you seen that Larentzakis double split, my god that mans a quality, if he was a bit more explosive, he could be Franz Wagner no kidding.

Got to love the fact Greece has sole NBA player, who is so NBA quality, he spent almost entire second half being a cheerleader. That team had Walkup, Larentzakis, Papapetrou, to a point PapaG, and after that, quality drops noticeably.

Lithuania again, I think eye test says Valančiūnas and Jokubaitis are best players, but team builds leads with them on the bench every time. I feared the opposite, I thought Kariniauskas minutes would be a disaster, thankfully it isnt.

Is it just me or is Jokubaitis looking quicker in this tourney?

I'm frustrated the Knicks haven't made a move with him, one way or another. There should be value there.

Quicken than in preparation games? Saras' swamp?

[Zespetjest]

OMG I came here to read about games played today and all I found was enormous amount of salt by Aussie supporters. Gotta effing LOVE it. Now cry more xoxoxo

[Karate Diop]

lol at canada and spain losing on purpose to avoid a semifinal vs usa.
now one of the two is out.

Canada did not lose on purpose, they were going all out.

[EH15]

lol at canada and spain losing on purpose to avoid a semifinal vs usa.
now one of the two is out.

Canada did not lose on purpose, they were going all out.

For real. Both Spain and Canada are a loss away now from potentially being eliminated from the Olympics - and having to play next summer's qualifying just to get into the Olympics. Imagine thinking both teams threw their games to avoid a specific semi final matchup

[levon]

It's going to be interesting to see Steve Kerr's career after Steph and Draymond.

In other news, every time Ant gets the ball my mind is already blacking out until the next play. This guy is straight up never passing. He has the athleticism and talent of all-time greats but so far hasn't shown the IQ or complete understanding of the game.

[G R E Y]

Wait what?! Canada lost? I had to leave at half time but felt confident about that lead. Wow. Just goes to show that when a talented team doesn't have energy and cohesion they can get caught.

Good for Brazil.

The upsets keep coming...

[Swuul]

Some posters on this board had them higher on their power rankings than Lithuania and called me out when I disagreed

Brazil for sure isn't behind Lithuania. For this years World Cup, any Power Rankings which place Lithuania above Brazil have to be written with green font

I haven't sadly been able to follow a single match for several days now, but I still stand by that opinion.

[jk31]

Just got home from the double header game, Spain vs. Latvia, and Canada vs. Brazil.

My thoughts on the Spain vs. Latvia game:
Spain is a good and disciplined team. But to be ranked #1 team in FIBA ranking, I don't think they're that dominant. .

you do understand that the FIBA ranking is not a "this is how good the teams are RIGHT NOW" but more a conglomeration of how well this team has performed in the past X years. for each win, each ranking in a tournament and each title you get a specific number of points. and the more points you have the higher you are in the FIBA rankings.

[Capn'O]

Lithuania absolutely dominated, but two really weird calls against Larentzakis. F U REFEREE chant kind off worked? But have you seen that Larentzakis double split, my god that mans a quality, if he was a bit more explosive, he could be Franz Wagner no kidding.

Got to love the fact Greece has sole NBA player, who is so NBA quality, he spent almost entire second half being a cheerleader. That team had Walkup, Larentzakis, Papapetrou, to a point PapaG, and after that, quality drops noticeably.

Lithuania again, I think eye test says Valančiūnas and Jokubaitis are best players, but team builds leads with them on the bench every time. I feared the opposite, I thought Kariniauskas minutes would be a disaster, thankfully it isnt.

Is it just me or is Jokubaitis looking quicker in this tourney?

I'm frustrated the Knicks haven't made a move with him, one way or another. There should be value there.

Quicken than in preparation games? Saras' swamp?

Than I'd seen in Euroleague highlights. He had one contested shot in today's highlights where the release in tight space was exceptional.

[Capn'O]

Lithuania absolutely dominated, but two really weird calls against Larentzakis. F U REFEREE chant kind off worked? But have you seen that Larentzakis double split, my god that mans a quality, if he was a bit more explosive, he could be Franz Wagner no kidding.

Got to love the fact Greece has sole NBA player, who is so NBA quality, he spent almost entire second half being a cheerleader. That team had Walkup, Larentzakis, Papapetrou, to a point PapaG, and after that, quality drops noticeably.

Lithuania again, I think eye test says Valančiūnas and Jokubaitis are best players, but team builds leads with them on the bench every time. I feared the opposite, I thought Kariniauskas minutes would be a disaster, thankfully it isnt.

Is it just me or is Jokubaitis looking quicker in this tourney?

I'm frustrated the Knicks haven't made a move with him, one way or another. There should be value there.

Knicks invited him to summer league and really wanted him there this summer, but he declined because he wanted to play for NT.

I dont think he looks quicker, he is not really slow, its only his handle thats not tight, I mean he is good at protecting the ball under pressure, but low dribble it is not. I am just surprised by his continiously growing basketball IQ on offense, he is just good PG, I never really fear when ball is in his hands anymore. But I did notice a lot of mental defensive errors, he loses or misses a box out his off ball guys quite often I would say.

He is still very young, one poster here said it is sadly probably his final form already, but I dont think that at all, if he stays in Europe, why couldn't he become next Micic, MVP caliber player, he is 22, big and smart PG with shooting and finishing ability, why couldnt he be MVP caliber EUroleaguer? And if somehow he makes the jump and somehow sticks around in the NBA< he could turn into someone even better, why not? I like him a lot.

Maybe it is his handle looks a bit tighter and release quicker than I've seen before.

I'd never seen anything like the move at 1:50 before from him and he seems more comfortable in traffic in this video.

Watch on YouTube

I'm not sure what the Knicks do with him. Not too many minutes at the 1 and him and Brunson is a somewhat sketchy defensive pairing. But I would like to see him in the NBA.