FIBA WORLD CUP 2019 | SPAIN are new WORLD CHAMPIONS

[peZt]

Australia really a darkhorse for next years Olympics (USA aside) when all the NBA guys come back. Simmons, Exum, Deng Adel, Broekhoff, Bolden, Maker, Josh Green

Yeah Deng Abdel is really going to have AD, Kawhi, Curry, Harden, Durant quaking in their boots.

Yeah, I was going to say if Team USA brings out the heavy hitters there's no team on the planet that has a chance in hell.

That's why I said "aside USA". But to me they might be the best of the rest at full strength

[TreymondGreen]

Wonder what the USA fellas thought of a footy game at the MCG.

https://streamable.com/xum94

Oh, BT..

[AussieCeltic]

Trap, hedge, go under the screen rather than fight over. Bogut and Baynes do just fine on a bigger nba court with tighter whistles from the refs.

I think their defensive coverage is smart. Dropping is the most common defensive coverage in the NBA, and it makes sense with their bigs at the rim. Every way to defend the PnR gives up something, dropping gives up the mid range. It's the worst shot in the game and that's why it's so popular. If you trap or hedge you're very prone to giving up a 3 or dunk at the rim. If you go under you're letting them take a pull up 3 instead of a pull up mid range shot.

Giving up those mid range shots to Kemba and Mitchell is the way to go. It's not like those two were super efficient anyways.

It amazes me how little people actually know about the give and take of defensive game and the corresponding offensive counters(another thing some were surprised by is why Mitchell and Kemba shot so many mid-rangers against that defense). People shocked that a team with Baynes and Bogut will play drop coverage against NBA competition is equally shocking to me. Quite honestly this IMO is the best way to go against an opponent that has clear athletic advantages over your team. This was not the problem for Australia in this game. Other miscommunications and leaving shooters open on the perimeter was much bigger problem. Just watch how the Jazz play defense, they are the ultimate example of a drop coverage team. Watching those international games makes me appreciate how much better coached the Jazz are(having played a ton with eachother and ironing out the wrinkles helps too) - you play drop coverage specifically so you wouldn't require help off of perimeter shooters and this is precisely what Australia was still giving up even while dropping the big.

Very few international coaches/teams have impressed me so far and I do watch a ton of those international competitions. Lemanis has been underwhelming for a while now IMO. Same goes for Collet. I have no freaking idea how a coach can keep his job 4-5 summers in a row while failing again and again and again in learning how to use his best weapon. How can you have a top 3 center in the world and 2 times DPOY and be so clueless about how to construct a viable defense around him. It's shocking.

Djordjevic on the other hand has been great IMO. Kokoskov too... but in general great coaching in international competition is rare, IMO.

Amazing what happens when Lemanis makes the small adjustment on pick and rolls. USA struggling to get open mid range jump shots like last game.

[The Rodzilla]

usa lucky that delly is in foul trouble

[Sgt Major]

[stoo]

If someone is interested.. Serbia just beat New Zealand. 3 guys from starting 5 (Bogdan, Beli and Lucic) were resting, same as center Raduljica. Bircevic and Simonovic considered Serbia's worst pieces, actually were solid. They are classic 3&D guys. We played just as required to win and try some actions. Milutinov and Bobi were good at C position, Micic and Jovic as guards as well, Guduric (Grizzlie this upcoming season) lacks confidence at the moment. Jokic was standard

Watch on YouTube

[Mickey8]

Milutinov should be in the NBA, he's much better player than Poeltl. I don't like Marjanovic being on the court he slows the game flow , I hope he wont see much time on the court same with Raduljica. Jokic and Milutinov should take almost all minutes at C position.

[stoo]

Milutinov should be in the NBA, he's much better player than Poeltl. I don't like Marjanovic being on the court he slows the game flow , I hope he wont see much time on the court same with Raduljica. Jokic and Milutinov should take almost all minutes at C position.

They will be on the court when Jokic plays PF

[syntax]

Australia’s pick and roll defence is laughable. The coach Lemanis, is the head coach for my team in Australia and he runs the exact same plays. He lets the big man sag in the key. USA had so many wide open jump shots off pick and rolls.
The same thing happened against Canada last week and he still hasn’t adjusted.
USA shouldn’t be happy about this win. Teams like Serbia won’t allow easy wide open shots like the ones they got tonight

Perhaps watch the game again? They doubled the ball handler way outside the 3pt line and left non shooter big men like Plumlee and Turner. Their pick and roll defense won them the game.

Edit: I guess you were talking about game one. Game two adjustments guarding the pick and roll were awesome.

[AussieCeltic]

Australia’s pick and roll defence is laughable. The coach Lemanis, is the head coach for my team in Australia and he runs the exact same plays. He lets the big man sag in the key. USA had so many wide open jump shots off pick and rolls.
The same thing happened against Canada last week and he still hasn’t adjusted.
USA shouldn’t be happy about this win. Teams like Serbia won’t allow easy wide open shots like the ones they got tonight

Perhaps watch the game again? They doubled the ball handler way outside the 3pt line and left non shooter big men like Plumlee and Turner. Their pick and roll defense won them the game.

Edit: I guess you were talking about game one. Game two adjustments guarding the pick and roll were awesome.

I was talking about game 1 and have given Lemanis props for his adjustments in game 2

[Grits n Gravy]

If someone is interested.. Serbia just beat New Zealand. 3 guys from starting 5 (Bogdan, Beli and Lucic) were resting, same as center Raduljica. Bircevic and Simonovic considered Serbia's worst pieces, actually were solid. They are classic 3&D guys. We played just as required to win and try some actions. Milutinov and Bobi were good at C position, Micic and Jovic as guards as well, Guduric (Grizzlie this upcoming season) lacks confidence at the moment. Jokic was standard

Watch on YouTube

We really need Steven Adams, especially against big teams like Serbia - It's a shame he's never suited up for us. Looking forward to the tournament, especially with a weaker USA team leaving open the tournament for a different winner.

[DWadeno3]

I wonder about the perception of Pop if he doesn't win the World Cup. Is it going to tarnish his legacy due to our previous dominance in international basketball or are people gonna be realistic about this team?

Frankly, to me, personnel wise this squad isn't much better than the other contenders in the field. Given that they just started playing together and hardly any of them have any chemistry together, I don't think we're heavy favorites to win but rather amongst a group of title favorites.

I still expect us to win it, as we're simply the strongest basketball nation in the world and should hold ourselves to that standard, but I wouldn't be utterly shocked about dropping out at some point in the knockout stages.

Thus, Pop's Team USA legacy to me is defined by how far he comes and, if we don't win the tournament, in which fashion we'd lose.

As far as Pop's perception in the general basketball world goes, I don't think he's doing himself any favors. He was considered to be pretty untouchable prior to this, thus anything other than a title win could only diminish his current status a bit.

[Promezclan]

Man, this is an ugly game. Seems hard for the US to lose, since Canada is just a poor man's version of them (and can barely get a shot off), but doesn't mean they look good.

[G R E Y]

Despite the turnovers and poor shooting, USA's hustle, rebounding, and transition are pulling them ahead in the first.

[Promezclan]

Live box score: https://www.usab.com/news-events/live-stats/2019/mnt/box-score-mnt-vs-can.aspx

[G R E Y]

Surprised but happy to see Derrick in.

[Kalela]

The only player I recognized on Canada's team is Kyle Wiltjer. US team shouldn't be struggling with them.

[G R E Y]

Brook is the only player who didn't see any court action in the first half. I wonder why?

USA bench has 15 points but that's because Brown has 13 of them, 2 to Harris. Nobody else on the bench unit has scored. That and the turnovers need improving.

[G R E Y]

Cool end of 2nd Q play, quick D to O transition to end the half:

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[G R E Y]

Tatum wayyyy too tentative in aggressively finishing. He does the fancy scoop and it almost always misses close to the basket. 1-7 so far.