FIBA World Cup 2014

[kkokkolis]

FIFA 2014 is over, long live FIBA 2014!

Now, that's something our US friends enjoy, together with handegg and that peculiar cricket knock off. We might loose the Brits though. Roughly the same nations are the strongest, with some differences (USA, Puerto Rico, Israel are strong players). Further for me this tournament is more interesting since Greece is among the strong players the last 25 years, although now we are in a transition phase with most players that won the Euro 2005 and played in the final of 2006 World Cup not playing any more.
Basketball games are much more spectacular IMHO and there's thrill up to the last second usually. So,  which of you are going to view the games?
Croatia plays in the same group with Greece Enki.
I favor my country ofcourse but I always liked Yugoslavia, Italy and Argentina also.

[kkokkolis]

Is it too early or basketball is less popular here.

[enki_ck]

I'd say too early. It's about 3 weeks away. I haven't been following basketball for years now. Our local league got destroyed by poor leadership, finances and debts and one of, if not the greatest Croatian basketball club (Cibona) is very near, maybe a few weeks of closing its gates for ever.

Actually I didn't even know the World cup was starting before this thread. I see there is a prep tournament now.

[kkokkolis]

I follow basketball on the contrary, since the team I support is Panathinaikos and it doesn't stop harvesting trophies. But I like the game nevertheless for the reasons I said. No 0-0 and 1-0 here. No holding your knee for 5 minutes. No passing the ball to the goalkeeper. No exclusion of the former communist countries. CCCP and Yugoslavia didn't have referees against them and could win the cup if they were good enough, and indeed the were.
Pity about Cibona Zagreb. And Croatian basketball, who gave Petrovic, Kukoc and Radza in the world. They beat Greece three times in a row for a bronze medal, 1992 Olympics, 1993 Eurobasket and 1994 World Cup, and that after Mozart had died. Unforgettable team.

[styx]

the odd thing is that games still get sold out but mostly for the regional league. i know last year there was a mess with the Cibona tickets

another thing is coverage. not a lot of basketball, waterpolo or handball on the major TV stations here

[Breezy12]

Is it too early or basketball is less popular here.

basketball junkies unite!

I'll definitely be watching the games. there has been plenty of drama surrounding the selection of the US team this year... injuries, players deciding not to play for various reasons, what gets said to the media vs. what actually happens as far as roster selections go... it's been interesting to watch, and they still have 4 more cuts to make to get down to the final 12 players.

I think the US should be the favorites to win this year, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if Spain wins it all. I'll also be rooting for the French and Canadian teams to do well.

[enki_ck]

And it started

First game over, we barely won.

Don't see Croatia standing a chance against Argentina tomorrow.

[Breezy12]

we barely won too.

[enki_ck]

we barely won too.

Yeah, barely.

No surprises yesterday, except Brazil beating France (at least for me )

And Croatia - Argentina begins

[enki_ck]

[detron]

Basketball is my favorite sport.  To me it is the most fun to watch, and I loved playing it in high school.

[kkokkolis]

No way to win, huh?
Well, this phase is just to warm up. It seems Senegal and Phillipines will be the last in the group and the knock outs will be among the strongest teams.

[kkokkolis]

It seems you should only play with strong opponents Enki.
Senegal might pass and Puerto Rico has challenging games ahead.
Now, I always fear Puerto Rico, although we have 8 wins in 9 games against them.

[kkokkolis]

So long, so good.
And now the two of our teams Enki. I'm sure you'll give it all and it will be a strong match.
And I see Serbia might come next.
In Mundobasket I prefer to see the Greek team playing against American opponents since I've seen a lot of games against Mediterranean teams in Eurobaskets. US protectorates, Puerto  Rico and Phillipines were good but, Argentina, Brazil and (ofcourse) US of A thrill me.
BTW, most basketball countries of the old world are around Mediterranean. Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and even Ukraine and Russia are at Mediterranean waters (black sea). Great football nations of Portugal, England, Scotland, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Skandinavia and Polland have little interest or success. Exceptions are Lithuania and in the past Chechoslovakia, Latvia etc (so another centre is the former CCCP countries and allies, but not all of them). Germany had good days (the Novitski phenomenon mainly) but there is no comparison with its glorious football culture. I wonder why. Traditionally the northen people are considered of taller nature and basketball as an indoor sport has an advantage for the cold countries over football. I wonder why it is so.

[enki_ck]

It seems you should only play with strong opponents Enki.
Senegal might pass and Puerto Rico has challenging games ahead.
Now, I always fear Puerto Rico, although we have 8 wins in 9 games against them.

I didn't get to see the game today, started at 12,30. I only saw the final score after the game was over and did an rolleyes. Wasn't surprised at all. All of our national teams, in any sport, be it basketball, football, handball, water polo, ... suffer from the same problem. We're strong and powerful against the strong teams (heck, we haven't lost to freaking multiple world champions Italy (football) in decades, 3 wins and 3 draws in official matches and have an even score against Germany - 2W, 2L, 1D), but frequently, way too frequently, loose to much weaker ones. Underestimating opponents is our trademark one could say.

So long, so good.
And now the two of our teams Enki. I'm sure you'll give it all and it will be a strong match.

 

That will be an interesting one for sure. I'd say both teams are at about the same level. We won the last match by 2 but that was a friendly and doesn't mean a thing. Most of the recent matches were close though.

...Traditionally the northen people are considered of taller nature and basketball as an indoor sport has an advantage for the cold countries over football. I wonder why it is so.

But as a rule kids start playing in the streets, school playgrounds, outside mainly. And warm climate, longer summers, ... gets kids more time to get better. And in the last years, basketball, primarily European, has also moved away from fights under the basket and players seem to prefer the 6,25m line. Very few teams even play with a traditional post and even the very tall players are often good shooters. I think I saw maybe one or two dunks this championship, but lots three pointers so 2+ meter height isn't that important anymore I think.

[styx]

I think it's our ego. If we could play only great teams there would be no stopping us

[Breezy12]

...Traditionally the northen people are considered of taller nature and basketball as an indoor sport has an advantage for the cold countries over football. I wonder why it is so.

But as a rule kids start playing in the streets, school playgrounds, outside mainly. And warm climate, longer summers, ... gets kids more time to get better. And in the last years, basketball, primarily European, has also moved away from fights under the basket and players seem to prefer the 6,25m line. Very few teams even play with a traditional post and even the very tall players are often good shooters. I think I saw maybe one or two dunks this championship, but lots three pointers so 2+ meter height isn't that important anymore I think.

sadly, that seems to be the case over here too. kids these days just want to shoot threes all day long; very few of them have any clue how to play in the low post. the midrange game has all but disappeared as well.

I sometimes play pickup ball at the park near my house, and there are usually some teenagers there who join in the game, thinking they're pretty hot stuff... until one of us "old guys" posts them up and they have no clue how to defend it.

[styx]

well Croatia can go forward if they don't mess up the game vs Greece

[enki_ck]

well Croatia can go forward if they don't mess up the game vs Greece

One more game.

[kkokkolis]

Does this mean that we have a weak team?

[enki_ck]

[kkokkolis]

It doesn't really matter, you'll pass. What matters is avoiding Spain in the knock outs and US in the final. All the other teams in the 16 will be roughly equal.
In 2006 we won US in the semifinals and Spain torn us into pieces in the final.

[styx]

I haven't seen a single game yet, but I hope the refs aren't playing a huge part in the scores because that would ruin the knock out stage

[enki_ck]

It seems we both had a good day today, kkokkolis.

[kkokkolis]

5/5 was nice. Now it is Serbia in our way, I preferred Brasil.
I find it amazing that three countries of the former Yugoslavia are among the top 16 in the world. That proves that basketball is not dead up there. Good luck with France.
Trully basketball is an awesome sport. You might be 20 points ahead and the other team is still able to make a come back. But then, you are able to come back too!

[captain spaulding]

I hate to be negative (maybe), but I hate basketball. 

It's a bunch of overgrown babies who cry over getting slapped on the wrist. Play a real sport. 

Let the onslaught of hate towards the clown begin. 

[enki_ck]

Yes, like one of those manly sports you play with LOTS of padding.

[captain spaulding]

Yes, like one of those manly sports you play with LOTS of padding.

That's football. 

[kkokkolis]

I don't remember who called it handegg but I like it a lot. Adopted for life.

[styx]

you'd be surprised but the hits are harder in American football vs rugby, although they are somewhat fewer per person. in the end math you take about the same amount in either of those 2 sports during an average game