via turkey2010.fiba.com Will Team USA repeat its championship from 2010? At least we know there will be no Blazer on the team again. Not even a former coach.
With Damian Lillard among the last cuts on the team put together by Coach K for the FIBA World Cup beginning this weekend in Spain, probably not as many Trail Blazers fans are very interested in watching this. Honestly, my interest has dropped as well. But it’s still the best basketball to be seen over the next two weeks, until the new NBA (pre-) season and training camp opens later this fall, with many current, former, and maybe future NBA players participating. And it will be the last world cup until 2019, with FIBA going on a schedule that avoids Olympic Summer Games and FIFA soccer world cups. By that time, a new generation of players will represent most of the involved teams. So here goes my 2014 FIBA World Cup preview.
Competition Format
via www.fiba.com
The 24 teams that had qualified for the world cup were divided into 4 groups of 6 teams each. Every team in a group plays all others in a preliminary group phase from August 30 to September 4 with 5 games in 6 days (ouch!), followed by another rest day. Then the top 4 teams advance to the single elimination game phase with a round of 16, quarter final, semi final, and final on Sunday September 14 (9 pm local).
Groups
Group A - Granada: Brazil, Egypt, France, Iran, Serbia, Spain
France:
Players you might know: Nicolas Batum of course! As well as Boris Diaw (PF, Spurs), Evan Fournier (SF, Nuggets), Rudy Gobert (C, Jazz), Ian Mahinmi (PF/C, Pacers)
Notably absent: Tony Parker (Spurs), Joakim Noah (Bulls), Mikael Pietrus
What have you done for me lately: Gold medal 2013 EuroBasket, 2nd place 2011 EuroBasket, Batumnutpunch.gif 2012 Olympics
Spain:
Players you might know: Almost all of them? Victor Claver (Blazers), Rudy Fernandez (Madrid), Sergio Rodriguez (Madrid), Pau Gasol (Lakers, err, Bulls), Marc Gasol (Grizzlies), Serge Ibaka (Thunder), Ricky Rubio (Wolves), Jose Calderon (Knicks), Juan-Carlos Navarro (formerly Grizzlies, now Barcelona), Sergio Llull (Madrid, Rockets own his draft rights), Felipe Reyes (Madrid). Yup, that roster is loaded.
Notably absent: Nikola Mirotic (Bulls)
Worth getting to know: Alex Abrines (SG, Barcelona), has a Rudy-style game and could be a high draft pick play for the Thunder one day who drafted him in 2013 (thanks for the correction Amlmart)
What have you done for me lately: 3rd place 2013 EuroBasket, 2nd place 2012 Olympics, 1st place 2011 and 2009 Eurobasket
Brazil:
Players you might know: Nene (PF/C, Wizards), Tiago Splitter (C, Spurs), Anderson Varejao (C/PF, Cavaliers), Leandrinho Barbosa (SG/PG, Suns), Marcelinho Huertas (PG, Barcelona)
What have you done for me lately: 2nd place 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, 1st place 2009 FIBA Americas Championship, 3rd place 2014 South American Championship
Serbia:
Players you might know: Nenad Krstic (C for Nets, OKC, Celtics, now in Turkey), Miroslav Raduljica (C, Bucks)
Players worth getting to know: Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG, 2014 first round draft pick by Suns), Nemanja Bjelica (SF/PF, 2010 second round pick Wizards), Milos Teodosic (PG, undrafted, a star in Europe who definitely should be an NBA player but seemingly does not want to).
What have you done for me lately: 2nd place, 2009 Eurobasket
Egypt:
Players you might know: Well, I don’t know any. Maybe you do. Assem Marei is a PF playing for Minnesota State University as a rising Senior in the NCAA, Omar Oraby is a C playing for the University of Southern California. Everybody else seems to play at home in Egypt, none for a big European club.
What have you done for me lately: Silver medal, 2013 FIBA Africa Championship ("AfroBasket")
Iran:
Players you might know: Hamed Haddadi (C for Grizzlies, Suns, last played in China and Iran), Arsalan Kazemi (SF, University of Oregon, drafted in 2013 second round by Wizards and traded to 76ers, last played in Iran)
What have you done for me lately: Gold medal at 2013, 2009 and 2007 FIBA Asia Championships
Game I’m most looking forward to: Spain vs. France, Wed Sep 3, 10 pm (local)
Group B - Sevilla: Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Senegal
Argentina:
Players you might know: Pablo Prigioni (PG, Knicks), Luis Scola (PF, Pacers), Andres Nocioni (SF, Bulls, Kings, 76ers, most recently in Spain), Walter Herrmann (PF/SF, Bobcats, Pistons, most recently in Argentina and Brazil)
Notably absent: Manu Ginobili (Spurs)
What have you done for me lately: 3rd place 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, 1st place 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, 2nd place 2014 South American Championship
Croatia:
Players you might know: Dario Saric (PF/SF, 2014 first round pick), Roko Ukic (PG, formerly Bucks and Raptors, last in Greece and Croatia), Ante Tomic (C, Barcelona)
Players worth getting to know: Mario Hezonja (SG, Barcelona), could be a lottery pick next year
What have you done for me lately: 4th place, EuroBasket 2013
Greece:
Players you might know: Kostas "KP3" Papanikolaou (SF, very short term Blazer, last in Barcelona, now Rockets), Nick Calathes (SG, Grizzlies), Giannis "The Greek Freak" "Po" Antetokounmpo (SF, Bucks), Giannis Bourousis (C, Madrid), Georgios Printezis (SF/PF, Olympiacos)
What have you done for me lately: Not that much. 11th place Eurobasket 2013, 6th place EuroBasket 2011, 11th place 2010 FIBA world championships, 3rd place EuroBasket 2009
Philippines:
Players you might know: Andray Blatche (PF, Nets, he just got his new citizenship). Everybody else plays in the Philippines for teams that probably nobody in the US ever heard about, but that have great monikers after the names of their sponsors like the "Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters" or the "Rain or Shine Elasto Painters".
What have you done for me lately: 2nd place 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, 4th place 2011 FIBA Asia Championship
Puerto Rico:
Players you might know: JJ Barea (PG, Timberwolves), Renaldo Balkman (PF, formerly Knicks and Nuggets, now in Puerto Rico), Carlos Arroyo (SG, now in Turkey)
What have you done for me lately: 2nd place 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, 4th place 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, 18th place 2010 FIBA World Championship
Senegal:
Players you might know: Gorgui Dieng (Timberwolves), Hamady Ndiaye (formerly Wizards and Kings, last in NBA d-league for Delaware)
Notably absent: Saer Sene, cut due to injury issues. He was their leading rebounder in the qualification round.
What have you done for me lately: 3rd place, 2013 FIBA Africa Championship
Game I’m most looking forward to: Argentina vs. Greece, Thu Sep 4, 10 pm (local)
Group C - Bilbao: Dominican Republic, Finland, New Zealand, Turkey, Ukraine, USA
Dominican Republic:
Players you might know: Francisco Garcia (SF/SG, Rockets)
What have you done for me lately: Bronze medal, 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, Gold medal 2012 Centrobasket Championship
Finland:
Players you might know: Petteri Koponen (unsigned Blazers draft pick, now Mavs hold his rights, plays in Russia), Erik Murphy (PF, Bulls)
What have you done for me lately: 9th place 2013 EuroBasket, 9th place 2011 EuroBasket. Finland’s first world cup appearance.
New Zealand:
Players you might know: Kirk Penney, SG, perennial top scorer for NZL who averaged more points at the last world championships than Kevin Durant, had tryouts with the Spurs and a few other NBA teams but never made it over.
Notably absent: Steven Adams (C, OKC)
What have you done for me lately: 2nd place 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship, 2nd place 2011 FIBA Oceania Championship, 12th place 2010 FIBA world championship
Turkey:
Players you might know: Ömer Asik (C, Rockets, now Pelicans)
Players worth getting to know: Furkan Aldemir (C, Galatasaray, 2012 2nd round pick by Clippers), Cedi Osman (SG, Anadolu Efes, could be a 2nd round pick next year), maybe Emir Preldzic (2009 2nd round pick by Suns, now Mavs hold rights. May or may not ever come over).
Notably absent: Hedo "Ball" Turkoglu (SF/PF, Clippers), Ersan Ilyasova (SF/PF, Bucks)
Ukraine:
Players you might know: Eugene "Pooh" Jeter (PG, last playing in China), Sergii Gladyr (SG, 2009 2nd round pick Hawks, last playing in France), Viacheslav Kravtzov (C, Suns)
Players worth getting to know: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (SG, highly rated Freshman at Kansas, 2014 Hoop Summit participant)
Coach you might know: Mike Fratello
What have you done for me lately: 6th place 2013 EuroBasket, first world cup appearance
USA:
Players you might know: I hope all of them. Well, maybe some don’t know that Plumlee kid yet.
Notably absent: Damian Lillard (he’s still in the official media guide, hehe), LaMarcus Aldridge, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, …
Yup, this is the B-Team :-)
What have you done for me lately: Gold medal at 2012 Olympic Games, 2010 FIBA world championships, 2008 Olympic Games
Game I’m most looking forward to: All Team USA games, maybe mostly USA vs. Turkey, Sun Aug 31, 9:30 PM (local)
Group D - Gran Canaria: Angola, Australia, Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, Slovenia
Angola:
Players you might know: None of them since they all play in Angola. Though a few have made short appearances abroad e.g. in the second Spanish league. Whenever I watched them play in international events the team seemed to mainly consist of undersized SFs and PFs. They have only 2 players who are 6’10". Team "star" Olimpio Cipriano (SF) got an invitation for the Detroit Pistons summer league team in 2007.
Notably absent: Their top scorer at the 2013 FIBA Africa Championship C. Morais
What have you done for me lately: Gold medal 2013 FIBA Africa Championship ("AfroBasket"), silver medal 2011 FIBA Africa Championship, 15th place 2010 FIBA world championship
Australia:
Players you might know: Dante Exum (PG/SG 2014 5th pick, Jazz), Matthew Dellavedova (PG/SG, Cavaliers), Aron Baynes (C, Spurs/Free Agent, Blazers playoff killer), David Andersen (C, formerly with Barcelona, Rockets, Raptors and Hornets, now in France), Joe Ingles (SG/SF, Barcelona, now Tel Aviv), Nathan Jawai (PF/C formerly with Raptors and Wolves, now in Turkey)
Notably absent: Patty Mills (PG, Spurs), Andrew Bogut (C, Warriors), Kyrie Irving (PG, Cavaliers, now Team USA)
What have you done for me lately: Gold medal 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship, 7th place 2012 Olympic Games, 10th place 2010 FIBA World Championships
Korea:
Players you might know: Likely none, they all play in South Korea
Notably absent: Former Blazers star Ha Seung-Jin, was cut from the roster after struggling with his physical fitness following injuries and compulsory military service.
What have you done for me lately: 3rd place 2013 and 2011 FIBA Asia Championships
Lithuania:
Players you might know: Donatas Motiejunas (PF, Rockets), Jonas Valanciunas (C, Raptors)
Players worth getting to know: Jonas Maciulis (SF, Madrid, Spain), Kristof Lavrinovic (PF, Valencia, Spain), Darjus Lavrinovic (C, Italy), Martynas Pocius (SG, Galatasaray, Turkey)
Notably absent: Perennial Lithuanian star Sarunas Jasikevicius finally retired this summer. Arvidas Sabonis’ son is not ready for the senior men’s team yet.
What have you done for me lately: 2013 EuroBasket silver medal, 2012 Olympics quarter final, 2010 FIBA world championships bronze medal
Mexico:
Players you might know: Gustavo Ayon (C, Hawks), Jorge Gutierrez (PG, Nets), most others play at home in Mexico
What have you done for me lately: Gold medal, 2013 FIBA Americas Championship
Slovenia:
Players you might know: Goran Dragic (PG/SG, Suns), his brother Zoran Dragic (SG, summer league for Rockets in 2012, then in Malaga), Uros Slokar (PF/C, formerly with Raptors, now in Spain)
Notably absent: PG Jaka Lakovic who played the most games for Slovenia over the last decade, Beno Udrih (now Grizzlies), Sasha "The Machine" Vujacic (Lakers, Nets, Clippers, now Italy), Bostjan Nachbar (formerly Rockets, Hornets, Nets, now Barcelona), Primoz Brezec (formerly with Pacers, Bobcats, Pistons, Raptors, 76ers, Bucks, now in Russia)
What have you done for me lately: 5th place 2013 EuroBasket, 7th place 2011 EuroBasket, 8th place 2010 FIBA world championship
Game I’m most looking forward to: Lithuania vs. Slovenia, Thu Sep 4, 8:30 pm (local). Australia’s games should be interesting too.
Notably absent teams:
Germany, Russia, Italy, Great Britain and a few others had poor performances at the last Eurobasket championships and thus did not qualify. They can next be seen in at the 2015 Eurobasket when they will try to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. China and Canada also didn’t make it this time.
Subjective Norsk Power Ranking (NPR) using no stats at all:
1) Spain
2) USA
3) Lithuania
4) Any number of dark horse teams that could still easily eliminate the top 3 in a one-and-done finals format, from France to Serbia to Australia to Brazil to Argentina to…
The Host: Spain, Land of Amlmarts
Host cities:
Barcelona - final phase of the tournament:
Capital of Catalunya, host of the 92 Olympics, second largest city in Spain at a population of 1.6 million. Arena seats 15,700.
Bilbao - Group C (incl. USA):
Capital of the province Biscay (Basque Country), arena seats 16,200.
Granada - Group A (incl. France, Spain):
A nice city in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Arena seats 9000.
Gran Canaria - Group D:
Canary Islands, off the Spanish mainland and closer to the north-western coast of Africa. Home region of Sergio Rodriguez. Arena seats 9,700.
Madrid - final phase of the tournament:
Capital and largest city of Spain with a population of 3.3 million. Arena seats 13,700.
Sevilla - Group B:
Capital city of Andalucia, more than 2000 years old. Arena seats 7200.
How to watch it:
Tip-off times vary from 12:30 pm via 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm all the way to 10:00 pm local time (3 fixed time slots in each group). You can subtract 6 hours from that for East Coast time, and 9 hours for Pacific Coast time. So most games should be throughout the morning and early afternoon in the US. Downloadable PDF with a full schedule here. Site with daily schedule here.
All games will be streamed on http://www.livebasketball.tv/ a subscription-based streaming service that costs €8.99 for the month of the world cup (might vary by currency or not be available in some countries), then you have to cancel if you don’t want to keep it going.
In the US: ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPN Deportes. The Score in Canada.
In Europe: Check your local listings, e.g. Sport1 in Germany, HRT in Croatia, RTS in Serbia, Canal+ Sport in France, Viasat Sport Baltic in parts of Scandinavia and the Baltic states, Cuatro and Telecinco in Spain
In Asia: E.g. Fuji TV in Japan, SBS/ESPN in South Korea, CCTV in China, Basketball TV and Solar in the Philippines
In Africa: Supersport in some countries
In Australia: ABC
In South America: E.g. TyC Sports and Direct TV, ESPN Brasil, Fox Sports in some countries
Here is hoping for an interesting tournament, even without a current Blazers player on Team USA. Root for the Blazer-less Americans, the Batums, the Clavers, or whoever you like! I'm sure the Blazer's Edge staff will make game day threads for the most interesting games, and keep you posted on which team plays when in the final rounds depending on how the group phase goes.