After a couple days off enjoying the Toronto summertime weather, I am ready to dive back into the FIBA World Basketball Championships with the final group preview. So onto Group D, enjoy!
Canada
FIBA Rank - 19th
While Canada will enter as something of underdogs compared to a lot of other nations in the tournament, there is a quiet confidence about the team and that would have been increased further had Rautins been successful in getting NBA duo Matt Bonner and Jamaal Magloire to Turkey. Even though both options ended up being exhausted and unsuccessful, Canada are a gutsy team that continues to throw young players into the fray and sticks to its guns when it comes to a basketball programme that has demanded patience and belief. To achieve their vision, Rautins has utilised class acts and experienced players like Jermaine Anderson and more recently defensive kingpin Joel Anthony of the Miami Heat. However, at the end of the day this team lacks talent and experience and will struggle to compete in the championships.
Key Player - Joel Anthony
France
FIBA Rank - 15th
Key Player - Boris Diaw
With Tony Parker, Joakim Noah, Mike Piétrus and Ronny Turiaf, France would have had a good chance to play for a medal. However, by mid-July, all four players dropped out of the team and therefore France is left with a very young and inexperienced team. Focusing on those who will be present, there was some good news. Dallas’ combo guard, Rodrigue Beaubois, proved this season that he has every chance of becoming the “new TP”. But Beaubois broke his foot early during NBA Summer League and is now out for the whole summer. Coach Collet called up Andrew Albicy, the 20-year-old MVP of the U20 European Championship this summer, to replace Rodrigue. France’s strength is in the paint where they have three NBA players to use - Ajinça, Mahinmi or Petro. The only problem is that those three have not played significant basketball in the past couple of years years and Vincent Collet would certainly love to be able to use inside players who actually have played meaningful minutes. France has talent and athleticism but are just lacking the experience of playing in a tournament this big.
Lebanon
FIBA Rank - 24th
Key Player - Fadi El Khatib
Lebanon stunned the world when they beat Venezuela and France at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. Now, with Tab Baldwin at the helm, they could be even more competitive and cause a few more upsets. With team leader Fadi El Khatib looking like he will overcome his injury problems, there is likely to be less pressure on players such as Rony Fahed, Matt Freije and Jackson Vroman. Both Vroman and Freije are American-born players who have been granted Lebanese citizenship. Lebanon will need to win their games against Canada and New Zealand in order to advance.
Lithuania
FIBA Rank - 6th
Key Player - Linas Kleiza
Lithuania will be looking to bounce back after a poor showing at EuroBasket 2009 where they won only one game in the whole tournament and barely made it out of the group stages. Linas Kleiza will have to take matters into his own hands this time after failing to do so last time around and letting down the whole country of Lithuania. A season with Olympiacos Piraeus in Greece might have helped the former Denver Nugget adapt to European basketball. Kleiza played a crucial role in the march of Olympiacos to the Euroleague final, where the club lost to Spanish powerhouse Barcelona. As well as outshining players such as Josh Childress, Milos Teodosic or Theo Papaloukas, Kleiza also received the Alphonso Ford Trophy, awarded to the top scorer in Europe’s elite competition’s and he was the first Lithuanian ever to receive the accolade. Lithuania will go as far as Kleiza takes them and the match against Spain will determine first place in the Group.
New Zealand
FIBA Rank -13th
Key Player - Kirk Penney
After a phenomenal rise to basketball prominence in the previous decade, highlighted by a fourth place at the 2002 FIBA World Championship, New Zealand is relying on some veterans to help its young team again threaten the world’s best. New Zealand is led by Kirk Penney and all of their offense will go through him. The key for the Kiwis is defensive execution and the ability to win their games against Lebanon and Canada. If they can win both of those games, New Zealand will advance to the knockout stage.
Spain
FIBA Rank - 3rd
Key Player - Marc Gasol
Young sensation Ricky Rubio will share the playmaking role with the promising Sergio Llull coming off the bench as a combo guard. In the two-guard position, Juan Carlos Navarro will likely start while Rudy Fernández will add scoring at small forward. Veterans Alex Mumbrú and Víctor Claver and a bunch of newcomers like Rafa Martínez, Carlos Suárez and Fernando San Emeterio will add depth and versatility to the perimeter. In the front-court Marc Gasol will start at the “5” spot. He is the younger brother of Pau and already an impact player in the NBA playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. A skilled, powerful and very solid center, he will be joined by veterans Felipe Reyes and Jorge Garbajosa. With all of these tools, Spain aims for another successful tournament as they are the defending champion at the World Championships.
Projected Order Of Finish
1st - Spain
2nd - France
3rd - Lithuania
4th - Canada
5th - New Zealand
6th - Lebanon
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