FIBA WORLD CUP 2019 | SPAIN are new WORLD CHAMPIONS

[HeartBreakKid]

People are really over thinking Giannis playing in FIBA won't be dominating. The guy is a stud under any rule set...basketball is basketball. He will have the same strengths and weaknesses that he had in the NBA.

[asdfgh]

Giannis won't have any issues against most teams. The only team he might have issues against is Serbia because they are so big and clog the paint, but he will be able to handle everyone else.

[jinxed]

Are all 3 Antetokounmpo brothers on the Greek squad?

[UcanUwill]

Are all 3 Antetokounmpo brothers on the Greek squad?

Kostas was cut

[zimpy27]

Jock Landale

Lakers are in the market for a C, I think they should take a look at him.

[LuDux1]

Jock Landale

Lakers are in the market for a C, I think they should take a look at him.

[bisme37]

Hey does anyone know where the games will air on TV in the USA?

NBATV is showing all the friendlies, but I can see two weeks out on my cable listings and the only listings for Team USA's real World Cup games are two half-hour slots (?) in the middle of the night on ESPN Deportes (en Espanol) on 9/1 and 9/3. Surely the USA games will be airing in English in the US, right?

[zimpy27]

Jock Landale

Lakers are in the market for a C, I think they should take a look at him.

Jock already stated he wants to play in the NBA this season as long as he gets a full contract, doesn't want a two-way.

Think he plans to use the World Cup to launch himself there.

[LuDux1]

Lakers are in the market for a C, I think they should take a look at him.

Jock already stated he wants to play in the NBA this season as long as he gets a full contract, doesn't want a two-way.

Think he plans to use the World Cup to launch himself there.

He has contract with Zalgiris, not sure he can bought out at this time of the year

[rale93lfc]

Serbia is the obvious choice, with an superstar clearly better than any player of current USA WC2019 roster, 4 other NBA players, deep bench, a long tradition of international success (Serbia is a silver medalist at previous 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics games) and with players much more familiar to FIBA rules than Americans, and BTW, Serbia won so far all 7 preparation games, including road games vs strong Greece and Lithuania squads.

That said, I must inform you that unfortunately, not everything is so perfect for Serbia. Jokic was never used as point-center you know in NBA, much more like an old school center and even PF at time. Two players which everyone expected to see in Serbia roster in China, forward Kalinic and combo-guard Nedovic (Kalinic as a starter!) is cut from the team due to some strange coach/player issue and three other players including starting PG Teodosic are injured now (other two are forward Vladimir Lucic, and guard Dragan Milosavljevic).

Once the knockout phase starts (since quarterfinals) everything is possible because it is one single game. Just remember what happens in this season's NBA playoff which started with shocking upsets where Orlando beat Toronto and Brooklyn beat Philadelphia, and you will realize the difference between knockout games and playoff series where better teams are in a better position to prove that they are really better. But the most realistic scenario of 2019 World Cup is arguably USA-Serbia final, with the USA still being clear favorites thanks to backcourt lineup, depth, and the best coach. But nobody should be shocked if Serbia wins.

(DARK HORSE TEAM: France)

Lucic will go to China, it's minor injury. There would no be place for Nedovic after seasons Jovic and Micic had. Kalinic kicked himself out of squad with his off court things. Teodosic maybe will join after group stage. If Serbia finish first in group, they have open road to 1/2 finals.

Really sad for Milosavljevic... Don't know about that stetment that Pop is better coach then Djordjevic using FIBA rules. Pretty good depth on PG, SG and C position. Short on SF, but modern game SGs can play SF easily. Can't wait for WC to start.

[rale93lfc]

Two players which everyone expected to see in Serbia roster in China, forward Kalinic and combo-guard Nedovic (Kalinic as a starter!) is cut from the team due to some strange coach/player issue

When I was watching Greece vs Serbia our sportcasters kept saying that Serbia's coach should be using Milutinov more and that there could be some issue between the two. Are coach/player relationships an issue for your team or are our sportcasters just biased because Milutinov was playing for a Greek team? Our sportcasters being biased, by the way, would be the least surprising thing in the world but, you know, I have to ask.

Milutinov played all 5 min of OT and Boban was on bench, no trouble there. As far as I see there is great chemistry in Serbian squad. Maybe I'm not objective cause im serbian.


It's interesting to see that Giannis is pretty limit on FIBA rule. Still a beast, but not close like in NBA. For now. Teams put bodys in paint and let him shoot long 2s and sometimes even 3s.

Sorry for double post.

[Mirotic12]

Yeah, the Kalinic/Nedovic cuts by Serbia seem really dumb and bizarre. Both proven high level contributors. Think the US will demolish their attempts at perimeter defense.

Nedovic hasn't proven anything in his career, other than that he's always a chucker, inconsistent, plays no defense, and has a low basketball IQ. He's never proven to be any high level contributor.

[Paddy Brosso]

IMO both Serbia and Spain are the two biggest threats for USA.
Serbia have Jokic, Marjanovic, Bogdanovic, Bjelica, among others. Unfortunately Teodosic is injured and won't go, that is a great loss for them.
And don't underestimate Spain, they have Marc Gasol, Ricky Rubio, the Hernangomez brothers, Llull... Plenty of experience and a good coach.
But USA have arguably the best coach ever, and a roster with very good and solid NBA players. IMO that is enough to win the gold medal.

[Sgt Major]

Jock Landale

Lakers are in the market for a C, I think they should take a look at him.

No way. Lakers need a finished product right now, because of the age of the key players, except AD. I watched Landale a lot last season, he played for Partizan (Belgrade, Serbia) and I don't even see him as a starting Euroleague center in a contender team like Real or CSKA, let alone an NBA player that could start or at least be in 9-man rotation for the Lakers.

[Mirotic12]

Yeah, the Center rotation is indeed stacked. The Joker, Boban, Milutinov and Raduljica are all excellent Centers.

They are excellent on offense. None of them plays any defense though.

[Mickey8]

Jokic is solid defender, he can play effective team defense, Milutinov is the best pure defensive big on that team, Giannis didnt drive to paint that often when Milutinov was on the court, so its untrue that they cant play defense.

[zimpy27]

Jock Landale

Lakers are in the market for a C, I think they should take a look at him.

No way. Lakers need a finished product right now, because of the average age of the key players, except AD. I watched Landale a lot last season, he played for Partizan (Belgrade, Serbia) and I don't even see him as a starting Euroleague center in a contender team like Real or CSKA, let alone an NBA player that could start or at least be in 9-man rotation for the Lakers.

He'd be a backup big to absorb RS minutes with energy, no need to be in a 9-man rotation.

[Mirotic12]

So far Giannis has looked great, I get belief that he is not as good in FIBA ball, but he will be good, its more a myth that bad shooters are useless in international basketball.

He hasn't looked great at all. He's looked OK, basically he's been what he was in the Raptors series. He scores 95% on dunks and layups, creates some turnovers, grabs a lot of rebounds......

On the negative, he can't hit open shots, can't beat people off the dribble in half court, can't really score in half court without refs calling fouls, and is traveling all the time (taking 3 steps) on dunks in open court. Those were all games at home with Greek refs..I don't think they let him take 3 steps in the real tournament - if they do, other teams are definitely going to complain and expect USA to make a huge issue of it.

Also, he's a turnover waiting to happen almost every time he gets the ball and tries to dribble with it.

How he was in the Raptors series, plus turning the ball over way more, with home refs in all games does not = "great". He would need to pick his play up substantially in the actual tournament, if Greece wants a medal.

[Sgt Major]

Lakers are in the market for a C, I think they should take a look at him.

No way. Lakers need a finished product right now, because of the average age of the key players, except AD. I watched Landale a lot last season, he played for Partizan (Belgrade, Serbia) and I don't even see him as a starting Euroleague center in a contender team like Real or CSKA, let alone an NBA player that could start or at least be in 9-man rotation for the Lakers.

He'd be a backup big to absorb RS minutes with energy, no need to be in a 9-man rotation.

I still think he wouldn't be the right guy. I was very surprised to see him going to Zalgiris after all that, so Lakers adding him would be an even bigger shock for me. Wish him all the best, though, he's a lovely guy.

[Mickey8]

Giannis still cant shoot threes and teams will try to make him three point shooter, clog the lines and let him beat you with his perimeter game instead.