Matchups set for round of 16 in Fiba Worlds
by meru on Sep 2, 2010 2:40 PM PDT
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Now the matchups are set for the round of 16:
USA vs. Angola
The famous Barkley quote comes to mind. Snoozefest.
Serbia vs. Croatia
ten-fifteen years ago this would've meant bloodshed. Probably still pretty fraught. Serbia should win. Best players on each are probably the PGs, Ukic vs. Teodosic, but Serbia has better depth.
Turkey vs. France
This time Turkey will get revenge after losing this matchup in Euro '09. Probably easily. Turkey has been as dominant as any team, and their defense amazing. France is sputtering. Best player for either team is probably Ilyasova, and I say that as a Batum fan. Annoyingly, Hedo continues to step up when it counts, after shooting atrociously when it doesn't.
Spain vs. Greece
This should have been a semi-final game - it was the final 4 years ago. It's anyone's and should be amazing. Neither side has looked great, but Greece has been rumored to have been tanking. Gasol vs. Baby Shaq should be dubbed from the Japanese. Greece's big veteran guards will give Spain all kinds of trouble. Or should. Unlike last time they met, Greece plays uptempo now.
Slovenia vs. Australia
Patty vs. Dragic. Advantage Dragic. Slovenia might be the best team from old-Yugoslavia.
Russia vs. New Zealand
David Blatt, the Russian coach, has been a hot name in coaching circles for a while, but I really like the New Zealand coach, who has produced a team that's amazingly fun to watch, and which dispatched a France team that was actually trying to win today. This will be closer than it should be and NZ might even spring an upset. Our old friend Sergei Monya has been playing good defense for Russia, but Viktor has been injured for most of the tournament. Abercrombie from NZ is a real high-flyer, while Penney was leading the tournament in scoring last time I checked. (Scola might have passed him now.)
Lithuania vs. China
Ridiculously small population plays ridiculously huge. Advantage to the minnows, who have been great with young no-name players. Lithuania has easily the best fans in the tournament, and have shown that they can come up big in the fourth, coming from 17 down to beat Spain.
Brazil vs. Argentina:
ANOTHER game that should've been a semi-final. Brazil's coach was the Argentina coach when they beat team USA TWICE. Scola has been the player of the tournament [yes, I am aware of Kevin Durant] and I love Prigioni, but Brazil should win this, because of greater depth and athleticism, and finally great coaching. Huertas is another fave PG of mine, particularly after his performance against the US. Remember, Brazil were without Varejao when they lost to the US, but he's back now.
The US really lucked out that it will not have to face two out of Spain, Greece, Brazil and Argentina, two of whom have beaten better USA teams, and the other two of whom have just recently lost by a bucket to them.
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Any chance that France tanked
the New Zealand game to avoid the U.S. in the quarter-finals?
no they didn't
I can’t tell you for sure that they really wanted to win (then they would have faced Greece) but at the end of the game they were definitely trying to lose by less than 11 points so that they could avoid Turkey at home
they’re not playing their game right now
if Turkey can play like they did against Greece when I watched them the other day, I agree that they’ll win easily
Lots of interesting games and match ups.
If Patty outplays Dragic, and Australia upsets Slovenia, I predict some “we’ve gotta keep Patty” posts. I don’t recall Patty signing with a European team yet, but he had an offer from Virtus Bologna I believe.
Turkey vs. France, Hedo vs Batum. The “re”-match of the match that never happened in Portland.
Spain vs. Greece, if Greece wins is Rudy’s basketball career on-hold until next summer? Does he show up at the PF next week? Fat chance of that happening.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 2, 2010 4:46 PM PDT reply actions
My gut feeling is that Rudy shows up
He won’t like it but he stands to lose far too much if he doesn’t show in terms of money and the ability to play anywhere. I believe he wants to be traded (duh!) and if he could go play in Europe he’d probably do it in a heartbeat but I don’t buy that he just won’t show up.
Looking forward to some of these matchups though … just glad most of them are over Labor Day weekend!
This is good though, with Turkey able to knock France out.
It puts Batum in his place as a role player, not the type of guy who can carry a team, and gets him off the court so he can avoid injury, after giving him some good practice on offense.
It is a win win assist from Lithuania.
In Bayless I trust.
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You don't think there's anything to be gained
by Batum having some more games? Especially in regards to playing in pressure situations, etc.?
I'd rather have him accept his role on our team.
Anyway, in what pressure situation should Nic have the responsibility of playmaking?
Brandon/Rudy/Miller/Bayless are all more cut out for that, with Brandon & Rudy both thriving in those situations.
In Bayless I trust.
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Batum doesn't appear ready to make that jump.
Maybe in the future, but for now FIBA has shown us that he plays best as an accessory, because when he takes over he will (help) shoot you out of the game.
We’ve seen what he’s got, let him get some experience, now send him back in good condition.
In Bayless I trust.
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While I agree less wear and tear is fine...
I disagree with your comments to the comments to this post wherein you want Nico to accept his non starring role…
I want him to push his role every possession, showing Nate he belongs as a #3 option many times downcourt.
My suggestion to Nico is to swear at Nate in French at the top of his lungs for half an hour at some practice soon…
Nico can deny every word later, and clearly, its a proven strategy…
You are right.
I do want him to show he is worth it. But I’d like him to do it on the court, rather than how Miller or Fernandez do it.
In Bayless I trust.
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It puts Batum in his place as a role player, not the type of guy who can carry a team
It’s a fine line, but I’m not concerned about Nic making Rudy-like demands for an expanded role. I do expect him to expand his role natually by handling the ball more and gaining confidence in a Blazer uniform
The starting lineup needs a glue player, and that’s Batum for sure. But the bench could use more scoring, and that could be Frenchy, as well. There’s no reason to say “this is all we want #88 to be” He is driven to be great, but he also understands how to play a role in a team concept
Like I said the other day, that’s an extremely rare combo in a young player, and def worth hanging onto
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Official FIBA bracket...
Once again, the US is obscenely lucky: after Angola they get the winner of Russia/NZ – not exactly scary. But then they get their first real test with Argentina, Brazil or Lithuania (barring an unbelievable upset and China sneaking through).
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