FIBA WORLD CUP 2019 | SPAIN are new WORLD CHAMPIONS

[Mirotic12]

Jokic is solid defender, he can play effective team defense, Milutinov is the best pure defensive big on that team, so its untrue that they cant play defense.

Milutinov can do nothing on defense other than guard in the low post. He's horrible on switches and pick and roll. I watch EuroLeague, and Milutinov gets abused in every game on the perimeter - he's one of the worst centers on defense away from the basket in the whole league - easily. There is a reason he only plays so many minutes, even if he has good efficiency in scoring and grabs a lot of rebounds. It's because he's a black hole on defense.

[Mickey8]

You have watched nothing, Milutinov can switch on gurads , he's fairly agail and athletic, he can cover a lot of ground, prime example of his solid defense was the game against Greece , Giannis couldnt do much in the paint when he was on the floor. Milutinov is better defender than anyone on your spanish squad

[zimpy27]

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.

Well he did improve over the last season, he had a very strong showing in Summer League and he's been playing well for the Boomers. He will be able to test himself against international competition over the next couple months so during that time it wil be clearer whether he has NBA talent.

[Mirotic12]

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.

Wait...what? REALLY?

[pootbrah]

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.

Looked like a rotation NBA player to me from the games I saw of his against Canada in all seriousness. Only thing I'm basing it off. More athletic than I remember him as (early St Marys and AIS) and he's came a hell of a long way from a junior to now. Good on him.

[Chuck Diesel]

Mirotic12 is a long time troll. Pay him no mind.

[Chuck Diesel]

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. T.

Can you expand on this? All I saw was Kalinic being honest and thoughtful. Did something else happen or was that enough to get him black balled?

[Mirotic12]

You have watched nothing, Milutinov can switch on gurads , he's fairly agail and athletic, he can cover a lot of ground, prime example of his solid defense was the game against Greece , Giannis couldnt do much in the paint when he was on the floor. Milutinov is better defender than anyone on your spanish squad

I've watched every single EuroLeague game that Milutinov has played over the last 4 years. He's good at defending bigs around the basket, and he can block shots around the paint area, and he controls the defensive backboard pretty well also.

But he's absolutely horrible on the perimeter, on switches, on pick and roll. EuroLeague guards just abuse him over and over and over. If he's the best defensive center Serbia has, then that shows how awful they all are on defense.

As for his athleticism - yes, he's agile and athletic, but for his size. Just for his size (he's around 7-0 to 7-1). Whenever he gets caught defending in space in EuroLeague, he gets destroyed.

Looked like a rotation NBA player to me from the games I saw of his against Canada in all seriousness. Only thing I'm basing it off. More athletic than I remember him as (early St Marys and AIS) and he's came a hell of a long way from a junior to now. Good on him.

I watched him last year with Partizan in the EuroCup (one of the two secondary European leagues below EuroLeague level), he's a good player but he's too soft on defense. If an opponent makes a strong move at him, he usually doesn't put up any resistance at all defensively, and just lets guys go to the basket on him way too easily.

A big that can score, is soft, doesn't like to play physical defense - he's exactly what the NBA looks for.

[pootbrah]

You have watched nothing, Milutinov can switch on gurads , he's fairly agail and athletic, he can cover a lot of ground, prime example of his solid defense was the game against Greece , Giannis couldnt do much in the paint when he was on the floor. Milutinov is better defender than anyone on your spanish squad

I've watched every single EuroLeague game that Milutinov has played over the last 4 years. He's good at defending bigs around the basket, and he can block shots around the paint area, and he controls the defensive backboard pretty well also.

But he's absolutely horrible on the perimeter, on switches, on pick and roll. EuroLeague guards just abuse him over and over and over. If he's the best defensive center Serbia has, then that shows how awful they all are on defense.

As for his athleticism - yes, he's agile and athletic, but for his size. Just for his size (he's around 7-0 to 7-1). Whenever he gets caught defending in space in EuroLeague, he gets destroyed.

Looked like a rotation NBA player to me from the games I saw of his against Canada in all seriousness. Only thing I'm basing it off. More athletic than I remember him as (early St Marys and AIS) and he's came a hell of a long way from a junior to now. Good on him.

I watched him last year with Partizan in the EuroCup (one of the two secondary European leagues below EuroLeague level), he's a good player but he's too soft on defense. If an opponent makes a strong move at him, he usually doesn't put up any resistance at all defensively, and just lets guys go to the basket on him way too easily.

A big that can score, is soft, doesn't like to play physical defense - he's exactly what the NBA looks for.

Lmao you're not wrong

[Bensonmum]

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

I think this happens in every international tournament with NBA players (especially American players, who are usually less used to FIBA rules). I'd say in every game the USA team plays there are always at least two or three situations where the other team complains vehemently (and usually, with good reason) about traveling. The difference in the number of steps you are allowed to take in certain situations is probably the most difficult rule change to which American players have to adapt, due to muscle memory. I don't know if that's the reason the refs don't call many of these violations, but it happens and I think everyone more or less has accepted it by now.

[rale93lfc]

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.

Wait...what? REALLY?

Just saying that Pop never coached on this kind of tournument. There is quite difference on NBA and FIBA rules, and also there is big difference of coaching national team and club team. Not saying Djordjevic is better, just, he is not experienced on this kind of games. Djordjevic won 3 streight silver medals. (World Cup 2014, Olympic 2016, EuroBasket 2017).

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. T.

Can you expand on this? All I saw was Kalinic being honest and thoughtful. Did something else happen or was that enough to get him black balled?

First he interfered in a politics. Than, porno video of him came out in media... I think Djordjevic though it would hurt team atmosphere and cut him for this two things. Also, Djordjevic said that his international career is not over, just to get his sh*t together and he will call him again for a national team.

[Chuck Diesel]

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.

Wait...what? REALLY?

Just saying that Pop never coached on this kind of tournument. There is quite difference on NBA and FIBA rules, and also there is big difference of coaching national team and club team. Not saying Djordjevic is better, just, he is not experienced on this kind of games. Djordjevic won 3 streight silver medals. (World Cup 2014, Olympic 2016, EuroBasket 2017).

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. T.

Can you expand on this? All I saw was Kalinic being honest and thoughtful. Did something else happen or was that enough to get him black balled?

First he interfered in a politics. Than, porno video of him came out in media... I think Djordjevic though it would hurt team atmosphere and cut him for this two things. Also, Djordjevic said that his international career is not over, just to get his sh*t together and he will call him again for a national team.

How exactly did he “interfere in a politics” ? Also, are we talking basketball politics or governmental?

[rale93lfc]

How exactly did he “interfere in a politics” ? Also, are we talking basketball politics or governmental?

Governmental. Talking about Kosovo, how Serbians should forget about it, and stuff. Lot of people in Serbia was pissed off by that interview. After that, video of him masturbating showed on web, (it was video chat with his girlfriend) and after he was cut from a list.

Not taking sides, but no need absolutely to talk about that kind of sensitive things in public for him.

He kicked himself out of national team, not Djordjevic.

[THE J0KER]

How exactly did he “interfere in a politics” ? Also, are we talking basketball politics or governmental?

Governmental. Talking about Kosovo, how Serbians should forget about it, and stuff. Lot of people in Serbia was pissed off by that interview. After that, video of him masturbating showed on web, (it was video chat with his girlfriend) and after he was cut from a list.

Not taking sides, but no need absolutely to talk about that kind of sensitive things in public for him.

He kicked himself out of national team, not Djordjevic.

No, let's be clear, it is Djordjevic who kicked him from the national team. And unfortunately, Aleksandar Djordjevic is not the only Serbian sports legend with bizarre "over-patriotic" decisions lately. A few years ago our former soccer legend as head coach of Serbian national soccer team stripped from the team a guy which don't want to sing our national anthem before games!? So, it becoming some kind of the trend here, which is wrong. Just wrong.

[rale93lfc]

How exactly did he “interfere in a politics” ? Also, are we talking basketball politics or governmental?

Governmental. Talking about Kosovo, how Serbians should forget about it, and stuff. Lot of people in Serbia was pissed off by that interview. After that, video of him masturbating showed on web, (it was video chat with his girlfriend) and after he was cut from a list.

Not taking sides, but no need absolutely to talk about that kind of sensitive things in public for him.

He kicked himself out of national team, not Djordjevic.

No, let's be clear, it is Djordjevic who kicked him from the national team. And unfortunately, Aleksandar Djordjevic is not the only Serbian sports legend with bizarre "over-patriotic" decisions lately. A few years ago our former soccer legend as head coach of Serbian national soccer team stripped from the team a guy which don't want to sing our national anthem before games!? So, it becoming some kind of the trend here, which is wrong. Just wrong.

If that ,,over-patriotic,, decisions bring us results and medals, I'm supporting Djordjevic on that way of work.

Football is different story in Serbia as you know. Corrupted to the core.

[Nuntius]

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.

I'm not doubting you at all. The two particular sportcasters that were covering the game are known to be both biased (and since Milutinov played for Olympiacos which is the favorite team of one of those two sportcasters, bias is definitely possible there) and pretty bad at their jobs in general. I don't put too much stock into what they say.

[Nuntius]

That Center rotation is stacked, what do they really expect? Also, before Teodosic got injured, their PG rotation included Milos, Micic and combo guard Guduric, so I really understand why Nedovic wasnt even included to preliminary squad. Kalinic however is a weird omission.

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

Serbia is going to play big ball five, with Bjelica at the SF, Jokic PF and Milutinov C. Micic and Bogdanovic as guards with 6feet5". Milutinov is classical center, but a good one. He is going to cover after Jokic in defence and play inside in offense, with all other 4 guys being able to shoot from everywhere and create for themselves and others. And because Jokic is also a playmaker, you can put Lucic as 6f8 instead of Micic. It will be extremely difficult to outrebound that team

I can very easily see this lineup beating USA in short game

Interesting. The lineup that worked best against us consisted of three guards and two bigs. Micić, Jović, Bogdanović, Bjelica and Milutinov. That was the lineup that led Serbia's comeback in this particular game. Of course, the presence of someone like Jokić gives Serbia a ton of options. Đorđević will have the ability to be as creative as he wants since I'm not sure that there's going to be any player in the Serbian team that can be called a bad player.

[UcanUwill]

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.

Easier said than done. He gets into double digits just from transition dunks.

[GusT15]

Latest FIBA World Cup Power Rankings

http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/news/fiba-basketball-world-cup-power-rankings-volume-2?fbclid=IwAR0zDAquPPw-mluCFX0g-G0vE1NXvgMnpofkxXLHVL_pCJD5WqWpOu6GjuY

1) Serbia
2) USA
3) Spain
4) France
5) Greece
6) Lithuania
7) Argentina
8) Russia
9) Australia
10)Brazil

Journalist's reasoning:

When a team
a) defeats Greece in Greece;
b) defeats Greece in Greece, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, reigning NBA MVP, playing for the other team;
c) defeats Greece in Greece, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, reigning NBA MVP, playing for the other team in front of 18,000 fans of his;
d) defeats Greece in Greece, with Giannis Antetekounmpo, reigning NBA MVP, playing for the other team in front of 18,000 fans of his, while Nikola Jokic and Milos Teodosic are sidelined for your team,
so when a) to d) all happen, when you show sublime strength to do all of this, then you get number one here.
There you go, Serbia.
Let us know what the view from the top looks like.

My reaction:

[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.

Easier said than done. He gets into double digits just from transition dunks.

His weakness will show up again in elimination phase, opponents will leave him open on purpose just watch and see, he struggled a lot in FIBA competitions.