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

[RookieStar]

Latvia announced its 12-man roster yesterday, which will include:

Rodions Kurucs (Murcia, Spain)
Mareks Mejeris (Cluj Napoca, Romania)
Dāvis Bertāns (Charlotte Hornets, NBA)
Dairis Bertāns (VEF Rīga)
Jānis Timma (Obradoiro, Spain)
Rolands Šmits (Žalgiris, Euroleague/Lithuania)
Artūrs Strautiņš (Derthona, Italy)
Jānis Strēlnieks (Obradoiro, Spain)
Klāvs Čavars (Yokohama, Japan)
Rihards Lomažs (Virtus Bologna, Euroleague/Italy)
Artūrs Žagars (Wolves Vilnius, Lithuania)
Kristers Zoriks (Petkim Spor, Turkey)

Last 3 cuts were:

Anzejs Pasecniks (somewhat surprising cut, as he had a nice 13p+5r season in Spanish ACB)
Arturs Kurucs (he was part of last year's FIBAWC squad, but did not play much this year and as I mentioned previously this year's backcourt is much deeper)
Marcis Steinbergs (had a considerable role on a Spanish ACB team and looked good in friendlies, therefore I was somewhat surprised that he was cut instead of Mejeris, for example)

Given that there is only 1 somewhat real center in the final-12 (Cavars), seems that we will lean heavily on the small-ball/5-out offense/switch everything on defense ball that worked so well last year in the FIBAWC.


Lastly, NBA fans that are not following FIBA ball that much here is how you may recognize some of the guys from this roster:

Dāvis Bertāns - the most obvious one, an 8-year NBA veteran, "Latvian laser", most recently with Charlotte Hornets
Rodions Kurucs - any Brooklyn fans here remember his rookie season for the Nets?
Dairis Bertāns - only real Pelicans sickos will remember his 12-game stint for the Pels in 2018-19 season
Jānis Timma - Orlando Magic Summer League legend
Artūrs Žagars - before the world got to know him in last year's FIBAWC, he actually had a short summer league stint with the Wizards in the summer of 2022

Let this be a lesson, nobody cuts Timma two summers in the row!

They'll miss Andrejs Gražulis and possibly Artūrs Žagars, who wasn't his usual self after injury then his season ended 3 weeks ago

This is the Timma " extra goon in a john wick movie" bleached hair right? I wondered what happened to him

[UcanUwill]

Latvia announced its 12-man roster yesterday, which will include:

Rodions Kurucs (Murcia, Spain)
Mareks Mejeris (Cluj Napoca, Romania)
Dāvis Bertāns (Charlotte Hornets, NBA)
Dairis Bertāns (VEF Rīga)
Jānis Timma (Obradoiro, Spain)
Rolands Šmits (Žalgiris, Euroleague/Lithuania)
Artūrs Strautiņš (Derthona, Italy)
Jānis Strēlnieks (Obradoiro, Spain)
Klāvs Čavars (Yokohama, Japan)
Rihards Lomažs (Virtus Bologna, Euroleague/Italy)
Artūrs Žagars (Wolves Vilnius, Lithuania)
Kristers Zoriks (Petkim Spor, Turkey)

Last 3 cuts were:

Anzejs Pasecniks (somewhat surprising cut, as he had a nice 13p+5r season in Spanish ACB)
Arturs Kurucs (he was part of last year's FIBAWC squad, but did not play much this year and as I mentioned previously this year's backcourt is much deeper)
Marcis Steinbergs (had a considerable role on a Spanish ACB team and looked good in friendlies, therefore I was somewhat surprised that he was cut instead of Mejeris, for example)

Given that there is only 1 somewhat real center in the final-12 (Cavars), seems that we will lean heavily on the small-ball/5-out offense/switch everything on defense ball that worked so well last year in the FIBAWC.


Lastly, NBA fans that are not following FIBA ball that much here is how you may recognize some of the guys from this roster:

Dāvis Bertāns - the most obvious one, an 8-year NBA veteran, "Latvian laser", most recently with Charlotte Hornets
Rodions Kurucs - any Brooklyn fans here remember his rookie season for the Nets?
Dairis Bertāns - only real Pelicans sickos will remember his 12-game stint for the Pels in 2018-19 season
Jānis Timma - Orlando Magic Summer League legend
Artūrs Žagars - before the world got to know him in last year's FIBAWC, he actually had a short summer league stint with the Wizards in the summer of 2022

Let this be a lesson, nobody cuts Timma two summers in the row!

They'll miss Andrejs Gražulis and possibly Artūrs Žagars, who wasn't his usual self after injury then his season ended 3 weeks ago

This is the Timma " extra goon in a john wick movie" bleached hair right? I wondered what happened to him

Janis Timma always was the guy doing his thing, 12 different teams, maybe it is not crazy for international player, but for TImma it always felt like he is this guy who will just be somewhere anywhere. When he was 30, he just played for Magic g league team for a while, guy never gave up his NBA dream. Fran Vazquez he was not.

[Nuntius]

I do not feel confident at all that Greece will advance, for example, even though we're the hosts of our tournament and have won all of our friendlies convincingly.

In Giannis we trust.

I mean, yeah, we do trust in Giannis but Slovenia trusts in Luka. It won't be easy

[_jin]

All 24 final rosters for the OQTs starting tomorrow have been set. No real surprise as far as I've seen, except maybe for Isaiah Mobley getting cut by Bahamas.
All rosters are linked on this page from the official FIBA site: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-olympic-qualifying-tournament-2024-piraeus-greece/news/oqt-greece-2024-news-roster-tracker-who-will-be-playing-in-the-2024-fiba-olympic-qualifying-tournaments

[durden_tyler]

Day 1 of the OQTs later (tonight/early morning in different parts of the world):

My bets for the opening day (vs spread and totals):

Brazil -6.5
Brazil-Montenegro Over 159.5
Dominican Republic -14.5
Bahamas -6.5

Georgia +7.0
Croatia +5.5
Spain -39.5
Italy -35.5

[Muizha]

This is the Timma " extra goon in a john wick movie" bleached hair right? I wondered what happened to him

Yep, the same guy! I think after a stint in Magic's G-league team he played in the BIG3 (Aliens Team if I'm not mistaken), then some other weird basketball "league" in US, where the winners would win 1 million dollars (do not remember what was the name, but I suspect the quality was not super high). And then last season he returned to Europe, first part of the year he played in Turkey and the second part in Spain. He was a Euroleague level player, when he went to the US, now not anymore, but still a quality 8th-9th player on a FIBA team I would say.

Day 1 of the OQTs later (tonight/early morning in different parts of the world):

My bets for the opening day (vs spread and totals):

Brazil -6.5
Brazil-Montenegro Over 159.5
Dominican Republic -14.5
Bahamas -6.5

Georgia +7.0
Croatia +5.5
Spain -39.5
Italy -35.5

Yeah!! some 5.5hrs until the first games, getting excited!

[RookieStar]

This is the Timma " extra goon in a john wick movie" bleached hair right? I wondered what happened to him

Yep, the same guy! I think after a stint in Magic's G-league team he played in the BIG3 (Aliens Team if I'm not mistaken), then some other weird basketball "league" in US, where the winners would win 1 million dollars (do not remember what was the name, but I suspect the quality was not super high). And then last season he returned to Europe, first part of the year he played in Turkey and the second part in Spain. He was a Euroleague level player, when he went to the US, now not anymore, but still a quality 8th-9th player on a FIBA team I would say.

Day 1 of the OQTs later (tonight/early morning in different parts of the world):

My bets for the opening day (vs spread and totals):

Brazil -6.5
Brazil-Montenegro Over 159.5
Dominican Republic -14.5
Bahamas -6.5

Georgia +7.0
Croatia +5.5
Spain -39.5
Italy -35.5

Yeah!! some 5.5hrs until the first games, getting excited!

Man.. talk about journeyman. Why does he travel around the world to play ball?

[_jin]

Vucecic feasting on Brazil early on, Felicio can't do anything against him and he's their tallest player.

[durden_tyler]

Montenegro poised to pull off the upset here. 6 point lead over Brazil at the half.


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[_jin]

Montenegro leads Brazil 42-36 at halftime. Vucecic had 8 pts in 3mins but has struggled since. Bruno Caboclo with 12 and 5, a typical Caboclo game, athleticisim and talent are shining, focus and iq at times are lacking. Brazil using a 12 man rotation that doesnt make sense. Huertas needs to stop hogging the ball if Brazil wants to win this.

[_jin]

Brazil beats Montenegro 81-72 thanks to a great run at the end of the 3rd/start of the 4th and some clutch shots. Amazing game and 2nd half in particular from Bruno Caboclo 25 and 9. Huertas was really good in the 2nd, he remembered he's supposed to pass the ball.
Kendric Perry is **** ****, I absolutely hated watching him play. 4/18 FG, 1/8 from 3P, 3 assists total. He had 2 assists to Vucecic for easy baskets on the first 2 possessions and decided to never pass the ball gain. Horrible game from Radoncic as well, those 2 are supposed to be Vucecic's lieutenants but they shat the bed. Vucecic with 17 and 13, he disappeared from 5 mins into the 1st to the end of the 3rd.

Brazil are now poised to win the group and avoid Latvia in SF.

[BigJimFinn]

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.
------.

In fact both parents of Miikka Muurinen were Finland NT regulars, 6'8" and 6'2" respectively. He is definitely our best prospect since Lauri. 6'11" with 7'2" wingspan, at least OK mobility, coordination and touch. Just too skinny at 17 to survive in the paint against grown men banging, but has shown a real knack for timing his blocks. Has played abroad since 15 and is very determined to make it as a pro and surpass his father, just like Lauri did.

[durden_tyler]

Brazil beats Montenegro 81-72 thanks to a great run at the end of the 3rd/start of the 4th and some clutch shots. Amazing game and 2nd half in particular from Bruno Caboclo 25 and 9. Huertas was really good in the 2nd, he remembered he's supposed to pass the ball.
Kendric Perry is **** ****, I absolutely hated watching him play. 4/18 FG, 1/8 from 3P, 3 assists total. He had 2 assists to Vucecic for easy baskets on the first 2 possessions and decided to never pass the ball gain. Horrible game from Radoncic as well, those 2 are supposed to be Vucecic's lieutenants but they shat the bed. Vucecic with 17 and 13, he disappeared from 5 mins into the 1st to the end of the 3rd.

Brazil are now poised to win the group and avoid Latvia in SF.

Thanks for the -6.5 cover Brazil. LOL


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[durden_tyler]

Dominican Republic had a bad start but settled down and will take a respectable lead at the half. i don’t think i can wait for Luka’s game, it’s scheduled at 2AM our part of the world. LOL


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[_jin]

Brazil beats Montenegro 81-72 thanks to a great run at the end of the 3rd/start of the 4th and some clutch shots. Amazing game and 2nd half in particular from Bruno Caboclo 25 and 9. Huertas was really good in the 2nd, he remembered he's supposed to pass the ball.
Kendric Perry is **** ****, I absolutely hated watching him play. 4/18 FG, 1/8 from 3P, 3 assists total. He had 2 assists to Vucecic for easy baskets on the first 2 possessions and decided to never pass the ball gain. Horrible game from Radoncic as well, those 2 are supposed to be Vucecic's lieutenants but they shat the bed. Vucecic with 17 and 13, he disappeared from 5 mins into the 1st to the end of the 3rd.

Brazil are now poised to win the group and avoid Latvia in SF.

Thanks for the -6.5 cover Brazil. LOL


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I was surprised bookies had Brazil as the favorites, I thought Montenegro wass the better team and I still think that way after that game. Brazil played at their level while Montenegro underperformed, I'd still take the latter in a 7 game series. Congrats to Brazil, they deserved the win.

[_jin]

Dominican Republic had a bad start but settled down and will take a respectable lead at the half. i don’t think i can wait for Luka’s game, it’s scheduled at 2AM our part of the world. LOL


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Andres Feliz is literally showing Kendrick Perry how to play PG when your shot isnt falling. He's 2/8 but controlling the game.

Croatia-Slovenia starts at 8pm here, so I wont be able to watch the 2nd half, it was the game I was the most interested in today.

[durden_tyler]

Bahamas was perhaps playing too loosely in the warmup games. The NBA quality is showing early, but question is if they can keep this up for the entire game.

[FollowTheSound]

Where are y'all watching all these games????? I'm trying to find a website but nothing so far.

[durden_tyler]

Where are y'all watching all these games????? I'm trying to find a website but nothing so far.

If you're signed up to a betting site (which likely you aren't) they always provide for most of these major international events. (Or FIBA has its own paid app i believe Courtside# something but that's paid and not sure on country restrictions).

[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.
------.

In fact both parents of Miikka Muurinen were Finland NT regulars, 6'8" and 6'2" respectively. He is definitely our best prospect since Lauri. 6'11" with 7'2" wingspan, at least OK mobility, coordination and touch. Just too skinny at 17 to survive in the paint against grown men banging, but has shown a real knack for timing his blocks. Has played abroad since 15 and is very determined to make it as a pro and surpass his father, just like Lauri did.

I wish him all the best. Finland does need another player to develop like Lauri did.