Olympic Qualifiers Results: Brazil, Spain, Greece and Puerto Rico Off to Paris!

[durden_tyler]

Poland played with their food and settled for a 2 pt win. Obviously, we are just outmatched at this level so these close losses we’ll take. Hoping we gained some confidence in these friendlies (Poland and Turkey) as we take on Latvia (home team) and Georgia in the OQT next week.


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[FollowTheSound]

Going back to U17 from if I mind, USA just beat France 104-81, Cameron Boozer, Carlos' son, who is often ranked neck and neck to Cooper flagg, had 29 points and 12 rebounds...

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u17-basketball-world-cup-2024/games/114347-USA-FRA#boxscore

Nah, that was like 1-2 years ago. Cooper surpassed him by a decent margin since then and reclassified to be in the 2025 draft rather than 2026.

[UcanUwill]

Going back to U17 from if I mind, USA just beat France 104-81, Cameron Boozer, Carlos' son, who is often ranked neck and neck to Cooper flagg, had 29 points and 12 rebounds...

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u17-basketball-world-cup-2024/games/114347-USA-FRA#boxscore

Nah, that was like 1-2 years ago. Cooper surpassed him by a decent margin since then and reclassified to be in the 2025 draft rather than 2026.

Ok, thanks for update. Still looks good tho. Flagg must be different beast entirely, he has to be the most hyped up american out of highscool in a very long time, correct?

[_jin]

Preparation friendlies are over and the OQTs start next tuesday. We have a full schedule of games throughout the first 3 days with 8 games everyday.

Tuesday 07/02

14:30 CET 08:30am ET Brazil - Montenegro
16:30 CET 10:30am ET Egypt - Dominican Republic
17:30 CET 11:30am ET Finland - Bahamas
18:00 CET 12:00pm ET Georgia - Latvia
20:00 CET 02:00pm ET Slovenia - Croatia
20:30 CET 02:30pm ET Lebanon - Spain
23:30 CET 05:30pm ET Italy - Bahrain
02:30 CET 08:30pm ET Mexico - Lithuania

Wednesday 07/03

14:30 CET 08:30am ET Montenegro - Cameroon
16:30 CET 10:30am ET Croatia - New Zealand
17:30 CET 11:30am ET Bahamas - Poland
18:00 CET 12:00pm ET Latvia - Philippines
20:00 CET 02:00pm ET Dominican Republic - Greece
20:30 CET 02:30pm ET Spain - Angola
23:30 CET 05:30pm ET Lithuania - Ivory Coast
02:30 CET 08:30pm ET Bahrain - Puerto Rico

Thursday 07/04

14:30 CET 08:30am ET Philippines - Georgia
16:30 CET 10:30am ET New Zealand - Slovenia
17:30 CET 11:30am ET Angola - Lebanon
18:00 CET 12:00pm ET Cameroon - Brazil
20:00 CET 02:00pm ET Greece - Egypt
20:30 CET 02:30pm ET Poland - Finland
23:30 CET 05:30pm ET Ivory Coast - Mexico
02:30 CET 08:30pm ET Puerto Rico - Italy

[FollowTheSound]

Going back to U17 from if I mind, USA just beat France 104-81, Cameron Boozer, Carlos' son, who is often ranked neck and neck to Cooper flagg, had 29 points and 12 rebounds...

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u17-basketball-world-cup-2024/games/114347-USA-FRA#boxscore

Nah, that was like 1-2 years ago. Cooper surpassed him by a decent margin since then and reclassified to be in the 2025 draft rather than 2026.

Ok, thanks for update. Still looks good tho. Flagg must be different beast entirely, he has to be the most hyped up american out of highscool in a very long time, correct?

Yeah, #1 guy since Zion.

[UcanUwill]

Nah, that was like 1-2 years ago. Cooper surpassed him by a decent margin since then and reclassified to be in the 2025 draft rather than 2026.

Ok, thanks for update. Still looks good tho. Flagg must be different beast entirely, he has to be the most hyped up american out of highscool in a very long time, correct?

Yeah, #1 guy since Zion.

Wasn't ZIon just third highest rated highschool recruit on Duke alone, behind RJ and Reddish? Googling back, he was ranked 7 in recruit class 2018, ZIon was the guy who dominated highschoolers, but people didn't really believe yet, because it was highschool, it was when he went to college and dominated NCAA just as much, then his hype skyrocketed and he leapfrogged RJ in the draft, he had one of the best college seasons of all time.

I never follow these recruit classes, but as Raptors follower, I definitely was aware of this one, cause of RJ, and ZIon wasnt most hyped up even in his class. So it cant be him.

Just googling now, I think the fairer would be, most hyped up American (Wiggins and RJ out) since OJ Mayo maybe? Or Greg Oden? I think Flagg is more hyped up than Anthony Davis was.

[durden_tyler]

Preparation friendlies are over and the OQTs start next tuesday. We have a full schedule of games throughout the first 3 days with 8 games everyday.

Tuesday 07/02

14:30 CET 08:30am ET Brazil - Montenegro
16:30 CET 10:30am ET Egypt - Dominican Republic
17:30 CET 11:30am ET Finland - Bahamas
18:00 CET 12:00pm ET Georgia - Latvia
20:00 CET 02:00pm ET Slovenia - Croatia
20:30 CET 02:30pm ET Lebanon - Spain
23:30 CET 05:30pm ET Italy - Bahrain
02:30 CET 08:30pm ET Mexico - Lithuania

Wednesday 07/03

14:30 CET 08:30am ET Montenegro - Cameroon
16:30 CET 10:30am ET Croatia - New Zealand
17:30 CET 11:30am ET Bahamas - Poland
18:00 CET 12:00pm ET Latvia - Philippines
20:00 CET 02:00pm ET Dominican Republic - Greece
20:30 CET 02:30pm ET Spain - Angola
23:30 CET 05:30pm ET Lithuania - Ivory Coast
02:30 CET 08:30pm ET Bahrain - Puerto Rico

Thursday 07/04

14:30 CET 08:30am ET Philippines - Georgia
16:30 CET 10:30am ET New Zealand - Slovenia
17:30 CET 11:30am ET Angola - Lebanon
18:00 CET 12:00pm ET Cameroon - Brazil
20:00 CET 02:00pm ET Greece - Egypt
20:30 CET 02:30pm ET Poland - Finland
23:30 CET 05:30pm ET Ivory Coast - Mexico
02:30 CET 08:30pm ET Puerto Rico - Italy

To simplify for all groups, win at least a game in the group stages then win the next two KO matches. Of course going 2-0 in the group stage means an easier draw in the crossover semis.


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[durden_tyler]

Opening lines are in for the opening games in the various OQTs:

Brazil -6.5 vs Montenegro
Dominican Republic -15. vs Egypt
Bahamas -8.5 vs Finland

Latvia -6.5 vs Georgia
Slovenia -5.5 vs Croatia
Spain -28.5 vs Lebanon
Italy -28.5 vs Bahrain
Lithuania -13.5 vs Mexico

[UcanUwill]

Opening lines are in for the opening games in the various OQTs:

Brazil -6.5 vs Montenegro
Dominican Republic -15. vs Egypt
Bahamas -8.5 vs Finland

Latvia -6.5 vs Georgia
Slovenia -5.5 vs Croatia
Spain -28.5 vs Lebanon
Italy -28.5 vs Bahrain
Lithuania -13.5 vs Mexico

I could roll a dice on Croatia and Montenegro.

OT. China U17 just beat France, what happened there?

[durden_tyler]

Opening lines are in for the opening games in the various OQTs:

Brazil -6.5 vs Montenegro
Dominican Republic -15. vs Egypt
Bahamas -8.5 vs Finland

Latvia -6.5 vs Georgia
Slovenia -5.5 vs Croatia
Spain -28.5 vs Lebanon
Italy -28.5 vs Bahrain
Lithuania -13.5 vs Mexico

I could roll a dice on Croatia and Montenegro.

OT. China U17 just beat France, what happened there?

Most curious line for me is that the Bahamas are the considerable favorites. Not sure what quality of that Finland team is and obviously Bahamas sucked in their preparation games but after all those are warm-up games for a reason. Early leans include covering that 8.5 spread and i am liking the big favorites to win real big (40+ points) so Spain and Italy then maybe even Lithuania and Dominican Republic too.

[UcanUwill]

Opening lines are in for the opening games in the various OQTs:

Brazil -6.5 vs Montenegro
Dominican Republic -15. vs Egypt
Bahamas -8.5 vs Finland

Latvia -6.5 vs Georgia
Slovenia -5.5 vs Croatia
Spain -28.5 vs Lebanon
Italy -28.5 vs Bahrain
Lithuania -13.5 vs Mexico

I could roll a dice on Croatia and Montenegro.

OT. China U17 just beat France, what happened there?

Most curious line for me is that the Bahamas are the considerable favorites. Not sure what quality of that Finland team is and obviously Bahamas sucked in their preparation games but after all those are warm-up games for a reason. Early leans include covering that 8.5 spread and i am liking the big favorites to win real big (40+ points) so Spain and Italy then maybe even Lithuania and Dominican Republic too.

Oh yes, Bahamas being favorites by 8.5 is interesting, passed my eye, but in fairness, Finland will be without Lauri, and he is truly the only player of theirs thats worth a damn. Finland can probably still easily win that game just because their guys are EUro PROs who just know how to do this thing, but best players at least on paper, will be in Bahamas uniforms.

Lithuania could cover 13.5, but I wouldnt bet on it at all. I would not bet on those favorites with big lines, it is 4 game 5 day tournament and +/- does not really matter much, they just need to win those games, and that will be their goal.

Italy and Spain could have 30+ wins, simply because Bahrain and Lebanon are so much worse teams, but I myself would not place bets there,

Myself, as said, more interested in those even sided games. To me, Croatia can easily win that game, 5.5 cushing makes it interesting.

[UcanUwill]

Man, yesterday I thought our U17 team must be insane. I had to look up these GIlas players right now, their tallest guy is listed 6'6 and 4 out of 12 guys are under 6'... How did they qualify?

[_jin]

Man, yesterday I thought our U17 team must be insane. I had to look up these GIlas players right now, their tallest guy is listed 6'6 and 4 out of 12 guys are under 6'... How did they qualify?

Asians are a bit shorter in general, that Philippines squad may be short but it's probably not much shorter than their opponents in asian qualifiers. Look at the Japanese squad for the Olympics, their 2 PGs are 5'6" and 5'8" and their tallest players are Rui Hachimura and Josh Hawkinson who are respectively of mixed descent and not asian at all.

[UcanUwill]

Man, yesterday I thought our U17 team must be insane. I had to look up these GIlas players right now, their tallest guy is listed 6'6 and 4 out of 12 guys are under 6'... How did they qualify?

Asians are a bit shorter in general, that Philippines squad may be short but it's probably not much shorter than their opponents in asian qualifiers. Look at the Japanese squad for the Olympics, their 2 PGs are 5'6" and 5'8" and their tallest players are Rui Hachimura and Josh Hawkinson who are respectively of mixed descent and not asian at all.

Yes, I know Asians are shorter. Still pretty wild to see on Basketball court. I always thought these countries have such huge populations, they must have options, but maybe I am wrong, because someone here once provided stats comparing Philippines to Slovenia I believe, and numbers suggested, that despite Philippines having 60 times bigger population, the way their height scales, Slovenians most likely still have way more 6'8+ guys overall, which is crazy, but I guess that can be true?

[UcanUwill]

I can't recall FIBA game where team grabbed 71 rebound. More than twice as many rebounds as total points from opponent team.

Turkey also looks terrible, did they even qualify or are they there just because they are host? New Zealand smoked them yesterday, and they aren't looking like they have a shot against Italy. Man, Turkey is usually good at this, they have 7 foot 250 guys with beards all the time in these children tournaments, at these levels, these guys always dominate (Karnowski). Rrezon Elezay is trying in this game, he is probably one of the biggest guys here at 7'2, but Italy looks like a better team.
And as I writing this, Turkey makes a run and makes it a game, so we will see...

EDIT : And Turkey wins... never mind. Meanwhile NZ beat Argentina, this Goodman guy looks legit. also Troy
Plumtree, 6'5 forward with 12.5 rpg, 5 offensive rebounds per game across both games, damn.

[UcanUwill]

FInland announced their final squad. Ok, how many names from this list you guys actually recognize, cause me, A FIBA fan, beside Sasu Salin, I do not really know anyone here...

Jacob Grandison (Vilpas Vikings)
Andre Gustavson (Karhu)
Mikael Jantunen (Paris)
Severi Kaukiainen (Kalev/Cramo)
Miro Little (Utah)
Alexander Madsen (MoraBanc Andorra)
Edon Maxhuni (ESSM Le Portel)
Miikka Muurinen (Arizona Compass Prep)
Olivier Nkamhoua (Michigan)
Remu Raitanen (Caceres Patrimonio de la Humanidad)
Sasu Salin (La Laguna Tenerife)
Elias Valtonen (Coviran Granada)

[Long2_noD]

Jantunen played somewhere in a Summer League last year, but that is it for me.

[AussieBuck]

Man, yesterday I thought our U17 team must be insane. I had to look up these GIlas players right now, their tallest guy is listed 6'6 and 4 out of 12 guys are under 6'... How did they qualify?

Asians are a bit shorter in general, that Philippines squad may be short but it's probably not much shorter than their opponents in asian qualifiers. Look at the Japanese squad for the Olympics, their 2 PGs are 5'6" and 5'8" and their tallest players are Rui Hachimura and Josh Hawkinson who are respectively of mixed descent and not asian at all.

Yes, I know Asians are shorter. Still pretty wild to see on Basketball court. I always thought these countries have such huge populations, they must have options, but maybe I am wrong, because someone here once provided stats comparing Philippines to Slovenia I believe, and numbers suggested, that despite Philippines having 60 times bigger population, the way their height scales, Slovenians most likely still have way more 6'8+ guys overall, which is crazy, but I guess that can be true?

The numbers are there but being NBA tall against a very short average height is like an extra standard deviation away from the local average.

Being an NBA 6'3, I'm a **** giant everywhere I've been in Asia. Hell my tiny wife is roughly average man height in a lot of SE Asia.

[Nuntius]

FInland announced their final squad. Ok, how many names from this list you guys actually recognize, cause me, A FIBA fan, beside Sasu Salin, I do not really know anyone here...

Jacob Grandison (Vilpas Vikings)
Andre Gustavson (Karhu)
Mikael Jantunen (Paris)
Severi Kaukiainen (Kalev/Cramo)
Miro Little (Utah)
Alexander Madsen (MoraBanc Andorra)
Edon Maxhuni (ESSM Le Portel)
Miikka Muurinen (Arizona Compass Prep)
Olivier Nkamhoua (Michigan)
Remu Raitanen (Caceres Patrimonio de la Humanidad)
Sasu Salin (La Laguna Tenerife)
Elias Valtonen (Coviran Granada)

I have followed Finland's NT ever since the 2011 EuroBasket in Lithuania. Finaldn was in the same group with my country, Greece, and when I saw that this relatively unknown team managed to advance from our group over Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro, well, I was just hooked. Seeing an undersized Tuukka Kotti go up against Ante Tomic and Nikola Pekovic and somehow advanced instead of them, it was just **** inspiring.

The ones I do not really recognize here are Andre Gustavson, Severi Kaukiainen and Remu Raitanen. I have not seen Miikka Muurinen playing either but he's the son of Kimmo Muurinen and I do recognize him. His father played 153 games for the Finnish NT and given that his son is invited to the team even though he's still 17, I'd say that he has a good chance to follow on his father's footsteps.

Everyone else on that roster (Jacob Grandison, Mikael Jantunen, Miro Little, Alexander Madsen, Edon Maxhuni, Olivier Nkamhoua, Sasu Salin and Elias Valtonen) were all members of the 2023 World Cup squad.

So, there have basically only been 4 roster changes for this Finland NT. Lauri Markkanen, Alex Murphy, Henri Kantonen and Ilari Seppala. They are replaced by the aforementioned 4 players that were mentioned in the first paragraph. Andre Gustavson, Severi Kaukiainen, Remu Raitanen and Miikka Muurinen.

Lauri will miss the Qualifiers due to injury. As for Murphy, Kantonen and Seppala, they were all used as bench players in the WC so they probably didn't return because the coach decided to go with other players over them. Murphy and Seppala are also both over 30 so that probably played a role there too. Kaukiainen, Raitanen and Gustavson are all in their mid-20s while Muurinen is 17 so it does make sense to see if there's something you can build off of there.

For what is worth, Kalev/Cramo is a EuroCup side and Kaukiainen seems to have been successful there. Maybe he can be a good back-up for the still young Miro Little. Edon Maxhuni did not do a good job as the back-up PG in the World Cup but he's a good shooter.

Finland's NT is in a transitional stage right now but they're still pretty intriguing. Miro Little just turned 20 and has already had 3 years of experience for the NT (debuted at 17). Miikka Muurinen will probably debut at the same age that Little did, at 17. Mikael Jantunen is a key contributor to the team that just won the EuroCup, Paris Basketball, and he's still only 24. And they also have Lauri, of course, who is in his prime.

[durden_tyler]

Any info on Georgia? We’ll probably get plastered by Latvia so if we want to advance to the group stages, it’s the Georgia game we need to win, via a minor upset methinks and i am assuming they are not that strong relative to the other Euro squads.


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