2019 FIBA World Cup Thread

[JasonEvans]

Tough road for the US-about at difficult as possible.

Yup, our side of the draw has us, Serbia, France, and Argentina. The two worst teams left in the pool, the Czechs and Poland, are both on the other side with Spain and the Aussies.

[Billy Dat]

Hopefully we'll get Tatum back for the quarters and beyond, I think we'll need his size in our small ball line-ups. If he comes back strong, the injury may have had the benefit of jump starting Jaylen Brown who has looked good these past 3 games.

France is definitely tough with lots of current and former (De Colo) NBA talent. Let's go!

[dukelifer]

Tough road for the US-about at difficult as possible. Will be interesting. The team seems to be playing a bit better as they go though.

The team will need to win with D. They should be able to keep pressure on with a deep lineup.

[Truth&Justise]

France is very dangerous. Rudy Gobert is possibly the best defensive big in the world, and they have size and scoring talent on the wings in Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, and Nando de Colo. They also have plenty of size backing up Gobert.

The big question is at point guard. Tony Parker is retired, and the regular French playmaker, Thomas Heurtel, who was so brilliant when France upset Spain at the 2014 World Cup, is out following knee surgery.

That leaves young Frank Ntilikina, who just finished his second season with the Knicks. So far things have gone well with Ntilikina splitting time at point guard with the undersized Andrew Albicy, and with De Colo playing more on the ball in big lineups with Fournier and Batum at guard. But I'll be curious to see how Ntilikina reacts to the pressure of a big game. He doesn't necessarily have to score big for France to win, but his defense on Kemba Walker and Donovan Mitchell will be important, and he absolutely cannot turn the ball over against a USA team that is looking to run at every opportunity.

Should be a tough one--no easy games left.

[BD80]

Final score USA 89 - Brazil 73.

Leandro Barbosa was spectacular at times and Anderson Varejao also looked really good, but it was not nearly enough. ...

Didn't those guys play for Brazil in the 90s?

[flyingdutchdevil]

Didn't those guys play for Brazil in the 90s?

In fairness, they are related to London Parrantes so it feels like they've been played for a few years longer than they actually have been.

[Billy Dat]

Upset alert, Argentina up 11 on Serbia with 3 to go!

[JasonEvans]

Upset alert, Argentina up 11 on Serbia with 3 to go!

Final score, Argentina 97, big bad scary Serbia 87.

-Jason "well, all my worries about facing Serbia in the semis was for naught" Evans

[-jk]

Final score, Argentina 97, big bad scary Serbia 87.

-Jason "well, all my worries about facing Serbia in the semis was for naught" Evans

Careful - the weaux gods are always watching!

-jk

[JasonEvans]

Careful - the weaux gods are always watching!

Yup, France won't be easy.

I actually think team USA losing with some good (but not great) pros would ramp up excitement for the 2020 Olympics very nicely. I hope Canada is also motivated after their terrible turnout and poor performance in the World Cup. If their NBA players show up, they are formidable as well.

[ice-9]

Isn't Serbia just more support for the notion that a collection of NBA talent who don't play well together doesn't guarantee a win?

We all place way too much weight on names we know and recognize, and underweight the importance of effective team play.

[Troublemaker]

Careful - the weaux gods are always watching!

-jk

It's a single-elimination tournament, afterall. Would be somewhat ironic if the much-anticipated USA-Serbia matchup does take place but is played for the right to be in the 5th place game.

[Troublemaker]

Isn't Serbia just more support for the notion that a collection of NBA talent who don't play well together doesn't guarantee a win?

We all place way too much weight on names we know and recognize, and underweight the importance of effective team play.

Serbia *has* played well in recent international competitions, though (Silver in 2014 World Cup, Silver in 2016 Olympics, and Silver in 2017 EuroBasket), using largely the same players. They know each other and have played together for years.

I'd say Serbia losing is more about a single-elimination tourney and also possibly about Serbia missing their leader Milos Teodosic due to injury. And let's give credit to Argentina, too.

[robed deity]

Serbia *has* played well in recent international competitions, though (Silver in 2014 World Cup, Silver in 2016 Olympics, and Silver in 2017 EuroBasket), using largely the same players. They know each other and have played together for years.

I'd say Serbia losing is more about a single-elimination tourney and also possibly about Serbia missing their leader Milos Teodosic due to injury. And let's give credit to Argentina, too.

NEVER underestimate Argentina in any sport. They always play with a ton of pride. (Ginobili, Scola, Schwartzman and Delpo in tennis etc)

[cato]

NEVER underestimate Argentina in any sport. They always play with a ton of pride. (Ginobili, Scola, Schwartzman and Delpo in tennis etc)

Is it okay if I underestimate them in the Copa America?

[robed deity]

Is it okay if I underestimate them in the Copa America?

Ha, I thought about making an "except for soccer" joke.

[JasonEvans]

USA and France playing right now on... ESPN2!!!!!

3 min left in Q1, USA leads 13-12.

[BD80]

USA and France playing right now on... ESPN2!!!!!

3 min left in Q1, USA leads 13-12.

Thank you!

[dukelifer]

USA and France playing right now on... ESPN2!!!!!

3 min left in Q1, USA leads 13-12.

Fournier is killing the USA. They have to stop him or this will be an L

[Billy Dat]

Fournier is killing the USA. They have to stop him or this will be an L

Yeah, that second quarter was a defensive disaster. There were barely any possessions where we got a stop, they scored almost 30 points. That aint gonna get it done. That Mitchel bucket at the buzzer was big.

They got to the line a ton. Gotta clean it up.