FIBA 2014 Spain

[fumbler]

Group A

Spain

Serbia

Brazil

France

Egypt

Iran

Group B

Greece

Argentina

Croatia

Phillipines

Puerto Rica

Senegal

Group C

DOM

USA

Ukraine

Turkey

New Zealand

Finland

Group D

Lithuania

Angola

Slovenia

Australia

Korea

Mexico

Just finished watching the Australia v Korea game, did enjoy it but noticed the difference in standards between the two sides.

Some big names in the Aussie side with Dante Exum, Aaron Baynes and Nate Jawai who has also played in the USA.

• Australian Side.

  #4 Chris GOULDING, Guard, Cai Zargozza, ACB, ESP

  #5 Ryan BROEKHOFF, Guard, Besiktas, TBL, TUR

  #6 Adam GIBSON, Guard, Adelaide 36ers, NBL, AUS

  #7 Joe INGLES, Guard, Maccabi Tel Aviv, WL, ISR

  #8 Brad NEWLEY, Guard, Herbalife Gran Canaria, ACB, ESP

  #9 Matthew DELLAVEDOVA, Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, USA

  #10 Cameron BAIRSTOW, Forward, Chicago Bulls, NBA USA

  #11 Dante Exum, Guard, Utah Jazz, NBA, USA

  #12 Aaron BAYNES, Forward, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, USA

  #13 David ANDERSEN, Forward, Strasbourg, Pro, AFRA

  #14 Brock MOTUM, Forward, Granarolo Bologna Lega, AITA

  #15 Nate JAWAI, Centre, Galatasaray Liv Hospital, TBL, TUR

[DaRadniz29]

I'm only watching this tournament because there's not much else in the way of sports on that I care about. However, I'm getting annoyed with Kevin and Fran calling this game. They are overly dramatic, homing it up and rambling so much that when Turkey scores, they're so amazed that USA is down by 3 or 4 points for a couple minutes it's like the apocalypse is on the horizon.

may have to watch the rest of the game on mute.

[smzimbabwe]

I'm not a basketball fan, but it bothers me that teams were allowed to purchase wild card spots...

[Nyk33]

I'm only watching this tournament because there's not much else in the way of sports on that I care about. However, I'm getting annoyed with Kevin and Fran calling this game. They are overly dramatic, homing it up and rambling so much that when Turkey scores, they're so amazed that USA is down by 3 or 4 points for a couple minutes it's like the apocalypse is on the horizon.

may have to watch the rest of the game on mute.

Fran Fraschilla is basically the hype man for other international teams and usually tries to talk them up so that the viewer sticks around.

With that being said this USA team is going to have a hard time against Spain if they play them in the final. They pretty much have an NBA caliber roster.

http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014/Spain#|tab=roster

[fumbler]

So the USA team didn't send a full NBA squad?

[Nyk33]

So the USA team didn't send a full NBA squad?

I never said the US didn't.

I just said that Spain did.

[fumbler]

So the USA team didn't send a full NBA squad?

I never said the US didn't.

I just said that Spain did.

Got your wires crossed mate, i was asking if they DID send a full NBA list.

Lithuania is going to be hard to beat again this comp.

[Nyk33]

So the USA team didn't send a full NBA squad?

I never said the US didn't.

I just said that Spain did.

Got your wires crossed mate, i was asking if they DID send a full NBA list.

Lithuania is going to be hard to beat again this comp.

I thought you were accusing me of saying that the US didn't send a full NBA roster. The US did send a full NBA team but it clearly isn't the best team that they could have put forward.

http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014/USA#|tab=roster

Lithuania is always pretty good when it comes to these competitions but a lot of Lithuanian fans (at least the ones on a forum I lurk on) aren't that hot on this Lithuanian team.

[Still MIGHTY]

I'm only watching this tournament because there's not much else in the way of sports on that I care about. However, I'm getting annoyed with Kevin and Fran calling this game. They are overly dramatic, homing it up and rambling so much that when Turkey scores, they're so amazed that USA is down by 3 or 4 points for a couple minutes it's like the apocalypse is on the horizon.

may have to watch the rest of the game on mute.

Fran Fraschilla is basically the hype man for other international teams and usually tries to talk them up so that the viewer sticks around.

Also, I think they're announcing the game in a sound studio in back in Bristol. I'm pretty sure they're not in Spain. Bob Holtzman is there for pre/postgame interviews (not on the court), but I think that's it.

[Nyk33]

I'm only watching this tournament because there's not much else in the way of sports on that I care about. However, I'm getting annoyed with Kevin and Fran calling this game. They are overly dramatic, homing it up and rambling so much that when Turkey scores, they're so amazed that USA is down by 3 or 4 points for a couple minutes it's like the apocalypse is on the horizon.

may have to watch the rest of the game on mute.

Fran Fraschilla is basically the hype man for other international teams and usually tries to talk them up so that the viewer sticks around.

Also, I think they're announcing the game in a sound studio in back in Bristol. I'm pretty sure they're not in Spain. Bob Holtzman is there for pre/postgame interviews (not on the court), but I think that's it.

That is correct. Since a lot of the extremely popular players aren't playing for the Americans the folks at ESPN are, understandably, not putting much effort into covering this tournament.

On an unrelated note the Spaniards are extremely good and I would not be surprised if they beat the US on home soil.