Official FIBA World Championship Thread (and long preview)

[brassviews]

Thats the best the world can offer ? I would gladly take the US big men over any the big men you mentioned . Besides Noah, Gasol , the guys you mentions are just mediocre big men ..

Schortsanitis is a borderline rotation player in the NBA yet he scored 14 against the 2006 USA team. I can only imagine what some of these other bigs who are better than him will do against this 2010 USA team.

Care to explain how Brazil/ Spain will defend him since he such a deadly perimeter game . Brazil is in trouble if guys like Nene are guarded him on defense

Cool....Durant has an advantage on the offensive end. What about the defensive end where he'll be guarding players with a 30+ lb weight difference in the low post? Yeah, he'll be in trouble.

Unless the USA is exceptionally perfect on the offensive end (i.e. perimeter shooting), they are going to struggle to beat teams due to their lack of defense in the frontcourt.

[cool007]

I thought they were going to announce the cuts yesterday?

Weren't they going to cut 4 of the members from US select team on Monday?

Any word yet?

[AkeemTheDream]

You list all those guys but leave off Felipe Reyes who is one of the best big men in Europe? What about Ali Traore? Fotsis is always a dangerous player.

I mentioned those specifically who are NBA-level players. I did this mainly for the NBA fans.

Reyes is not an NBA level player? Come on man, Reyes would be a rotation player for a playoff team. Ali Traore has amazing offensive talent, the only thing keeping him from the NBA is his atrocious defense.

Felipe Reyes is not an NBA level player. Ali Traore and Antonis Fotsis are NBA level players, especially Fotsis. Reyes? Not so much. He's a good third string center for Spain though.

Could he play in the NBA and make an NBA roster? Sure. And he would most likely be a third string center that would probably most likely never see the court. With that being said, Reyes is a very physical player in the middle and he will always control the paint and the rebounds for 5-10 minutes for his team. I don't see anyone on the US roster that is as physical as him or that can keep him off the offensive glass. And he really defends the paint area.

So no, he's not an NBA level player, but he can be effective against Team USA while he is on the court.

[AkeemTheDream]

Fotsis is always a dangerous player.

I can assure you that if there is a player that's not dangerous that's Fotsis.He is just indifferent.He doesn't care.And it's a shame because he once was the biggest Greek prospects.Now he is not even starting 5 material for his club Panathinaikos.I would prefer him to just retire from the Greek squad as soon as the World Championship is over but i don't see that happening

Fotsis is the starting PF of Panathinaikos, which is an elite Euroleague club, maybe the biggest of all of them. He is also the starting PF of Greece's national team, which is one of the top 3-5 national teams in the world.

It is true that he is a huge failure based on his talent, but he is nonetheless a very good role player for all of his teams. Excellent team defender, lock down man defender, athletic, great dunker, outstanding 3 point shooter, unlimited shooting range, excellent rebounder, especially offensively, very clutch player that hits many big time shots in the crunch time.

For sure he would be considered the toughest PF defender that Durant would have to face.

[Theo Papaloukas]

Felipe Reyes is not an NBA level player. Ali Traore and Antonis Fotsis are NBA level players, especially Fotsis. Reyes? Not so much. He's a good third string center for Spain though.

Could he play in the NBA and make an NBA roster? Sure. And he would most likely be a third string center that would probably most likely never see the court. With that being said, Reyes is a very physical player in the middle and he will always control the paint and the rebounds for 5-10 minutes for his team. I don't see anyone on the US roster that is as physical as him or that can keep him off the offensive glass. And he really defends the paint area.

So no, he's not an NBA level player, but he can be effective against Team USA while he is on the court.

How is Traore an NBA player but Reyes not?

Are we talking about the same Felipe Reyes?

Reyes isn't even a center, he's a power foward that only plays the 5 when the other big men are in foul trouble. How is he a third string center when he's been consistently starting alongside Pau for the last 4 years? Reyes isn't a post defender at all, he gets destroyed when playing against centers on defense. He was the ACB MVP last year and played through injuries this season.

To say he's not an NBA rotation player is laughable.


The US has a better rebounder than him in Kevin Love.

[peja_the_legend]

Coach K has to cut one of Rondo or Westbrook.Can't field a team with 2 guards who can't shoot.I'd give the edge to Rondo for his superior court vision.Also i''m sick of hearing how Billups deserves a spot for his veteran leadership,he has to EARN the spot and if he continues to look so slow and heavy as in the scrimmage Mayo would be a far better choice

[Nico Kolya]

Why is it that no one is bringing up Kevin Love as a potential impact player in this tournament? The guy averaged 17 and 11 in only 26 minutes per this past season. his stats are comparable to Dwight Howards (blocks excluded) when projected over the same time frame.

not only that, hes one of the best outlet passers in the game. with Durant, Iggy and Gay on the wings (to name a few) USA should see a lot of cherry picking opportunities and fast breaks thatll come out of nowhere from Loves passes.

Another point I'd like to bring up that no one has touched on yet is Fran Vazquez replacing Pau for Spain. I know he's nowhere near as talented and lacks the post moves of Pau, he's more athletic and has great chemistry with Ricky Rubio. IDK if you guys have ever seen a Ricky Rubio highlight reel from this last season with Barça, but half of those passes end with thunderous dunks by Vazquez. Expect Rubio to do his best to make Fran LOOK like Pau out there with the 2nd unit.

Any thoughts on this?

[peja_the_legend]

Vasquez for whatever reason has stopped playing for Spain since 2005.I agree he'd be an excellent fit.

[AkeemTheDream]

Felipe Reyes is not an NBA level player. Ali Traore and Antonis Fotsis are NBA level players, especially Fotsis. Reyes? Not so much. He's a good third string center for Spain though.

Could he play in the NBA and make an NBA roster? Sure. And he would most likely be a third string center that would probably most likely never see the court. With that being said, Reyes is a very physical player in the middle and he will always control the paint and the rebounds for 5-10 minutes for his team. I don't see anyone on the US roster that is as physical as him or that can keep him off the offensive glass. And he really defends the paint area.

So no, he's not an NBA level player, but he can be effective against Team USA while he is on the court.

How is Traore an NBA player but Reyes not?

Are we talking about the same Felipe Reyes?

Reyes isn't even a center, he's a power foward that only plays the 5 when the other big men are in foul trouble. How is he a third string center when he's been consistently starting alongside Pau for the last 4 years? Reyes isn't a post defender at all, he gets destroyed when playing against centers on defense. He was the ACB MVP last year and played through injuries this season.

To say he's not an NBA rotation player is laughable.

Felipe Reyes is a center. He has not played at the power forward position for more than a game here or there in his whole career. He's never been considered a power forward at any point in his career. You are exaggerating the level of this player.

[Theo Papaloukas]

Felipe Reyes is a center. He has not played at the power forward position for more than a game here or there in his whole career.

You've clearly never seen Reyes play.


Vazquez will be a big time contirbutor for Spain, he didn't play on the NT for a few years because apparently Garbajosa and Reyes picked on him and teased him too much. True story.

[AkeemTheDream]

Felipe Reyes is a center. He has not played at the power forward position for more than a game here or there in his whole career.

You've clearly never seen Reyes play.

I believe you have never seen him play. Either that or you are confused about which player is being discussed. Because he has always been a center through his entire career. BTW, it's actually Teo Papaloukas, not "Theo Papaloukas".

[Theo Papaloukas]

Felipe Reyes is a center. He has not played at the power forward position for more than a game here or there in his whole career.

You've clearly never seen Reyes play.

I believe you have never seen him play. Either that or you are confused about which player is being discussed. Because he has always been a center through his entire career. BTW, it's actually Teo Papaloukas, not "Theo Papaloukas".

Uhh, it's THEO Papaloukas, nice try smartass. http://www.papaloukas.net/

Go watch a Real Madrid game or a Spanish NT game and tell me how Reyes is the center.


Yeah, Reyes is the center and Marc Gasol is the PF...

Yeah, 7'2" Ante Tomic and 6'11", 270 Darjus Lavrinovic played PF. LMAO.

[RASALPOOL27]

Thats the best the world can offer ? I would gladly take the US big men over any the big men you mentioned . Besides Noah, Gasol , the guys you mentions are just mediocre big men ..

Schortsanitis is a borderline rotation player in the NBA yet he scored 14 against the 2006 USA team. I can only imagine what some of these other bigs who are better than him will do against this 2010 USA team.

Care to explain how Brazil/ Spain will defend him since he such a deadly perimeter game . Brazil is in trouble if guys like Nene are guarded him on defense

Cool....Durant has an advantage on the offensive end. What about the defensive end where he'll be guarding players with a 30+ lb weight difference in the low post? Yeah, he'll be in trouble.

Unless the USA is exceptionally perfect on the offensive end (i.e. perimeter shooting), they are going to struggle to beat teams due to their lack of defense in the frontcourt.

Care to explain what happen to Schorsanitis in 2008 Olympics ? The US got the revenge against Greece and they blew them out . Russell Westbrook , Rondo , Igoudala , Chandler are all good defenders . So what the hell are you talking about lack of defense . Coach K is still a really good defensive good coach. A lot of teams really have a lot of problems with the USA pressure . Look at the 2008 the talent and defensive pressure were to much for teams . Another thing they did not get alot scoring from Dwight Howard . Since they did not need it . Since the World did not have answer for Bryant Wade James . Same thing will happen in this year with Durant , Rose and Granger as the stars

[aceking79]

Felipe Reyes is a center. He has not played at the power forward position for more than a game here or there in his whole career.

You've clearly never seen Reyes play.

I believe you have never seen him play. Either that or you are confused about which player is being discussed. Because he has always been a center through his entire career. BTW, it's actually Teo Papaloukas, not "Theo Papaloukas".

Akeen ,sorry but you are wrong. Felipe ALWAYS was, is and will be a power forward, that´s not even debatable.....BUUUUT He played often the Center in Real Madrid. In the NT He plays the 4, Period.
The Spain starter line up will be:
Calderon
Navarro
Rudy
Garbajosa or Reyes (we don´t know yet, this is our weakest side. Both aren´t in their best... let´s see soon..)
Gasol
PD: And obviously...He´s THEO

[HootersPatrol]

Just out of curiosity, why doesn't kobe, wade, lebron, etc... participate in the FIBA world championships?

[holdmymartian]

Just out of curiosity, why doesn't kobe, wade, lebron, etc... participate in the FIBA world championships?

Kobe-injuries. Wade-custody issues, free agency. LeBron-free agency,movie(?)

[Nico Kolya]

Just out of curiosity, why doesn't kobe, wade, lebron, etc... participate in the FIBA world championships?

kobe just had surgery on his knee and his finger is still broken. wade and lebron i guess didnt want to commit because of free agency or some lame excuse. idk about the rest. i guess they all just wanted a break. all of team usa's players have played every possible chance they could up until this year. Kobe NEEDED the break. Im not so sure about the rest. i think they all just play for the sake of playing together, rather than being competetive. if a few arent playing, the rest wont either.

But to be honest, while it may be a little disappointing that LeBron and Kobe wont be pulling globetrotteresque moves on anybody and bitch-slapping every team that gets in their way en route to nabbing the title, i think thats a good thing. We had a good run with that core group of guys.

The way to look at this as an american fan is-
a) were somewhat of the underdogs here (as much as we'll ever be in this tournament) so that makes it at least interesting and competetive.
b) this could help determine who fills out the roster for the 2012 olympics, which should be stacked with talent.
c) if we lose, we have to play in the fiba americas championship, where we'll probably witness LeBron and Durant rape the competition so bad the virgin islands will have to change their name. so if we lose, thats the consolation prize.

as an american i find it impossible to root against my own country, but at the same time, theres a small part of me that wants us to finish the tournament with an imperfect record, just so that we'll wont get complacent heading into the future.

(complicated answer to a simple question, i know... just an excuse to rant)

[UGA Hayes]

Honestly, I don't mind guys calling it quits after a 4 year run. I do think the guys who play this summer should be the ones to play in the Olympics, especially if they win the worlds. It wouldn't be right if two years from now Wade and LeBenedict waltz their way onto the team.

[Nebula1]

I'd like to see Rose, Gay, Durant, Odom, Chandler as a unit.

Not nearly enough ball handling imo. Ball movement is very important against a zone, and Gay/Durant are not very good passers. I think we are more likely to see Gay at the 4 than at the 2 if he and Durant play together.

They would be very difficult to score on and pretty much unstoppable in transition.



Will coverage of the games be on ESPN?

[holdmymartian]

Will coverage of the games be on ESPN?

I believe the exhibitions will be on ESPN affiliates. I would assume the Worlds will be also.