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Hey guys, there are quite a few sportsbetting threads out here, but none really seem to be focused on Basketball. So with that said, here's our attempt to gauge basketball's popularity at BitcoinTalk. Please feel free to chip in, share your picks etc. We wanna try make this a thing ;) So here's me getting the ball rolling...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e4/FIBA_logo.svg/1280px-FIBA_logo.svg.png

If you've been lamenting the lack of international competition, now that Brazil and Glasgow have said goodbye to their hosting duties, fear not; Madrid is host to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. A home win at this tournament could really see a well needed boost for national pride after a humiliating trip to Brazil for the Spaniards.

As with any international basketball, Team USA are understandably short priced favourites. Yet the Red, White and Blue are not as successful as you might assume, having only won the cup twice from the five occasions professional players have been permitted to play.

As per usual, the American media is bemoaning the many withdrawals their team must overcome, suggesting they shouldn’t possibly be considered favourites without the likes of Kevin Durant, Paul George and Blake Griffin (to name but a few).

Being able to select those players would of course increase their chances but their squad remains remarkably strong despite their absence. The return of Derrick Rose is a tantalising prospect who, having only played 10 games in the past 2 years through injury, will hopefully be able to show some of the prodigious skill that once earned him so many plaudits.

It’s not surprising to see Spain next in the betting, having won the tournament in 2006 and lost twice in the last two Olympic finals to the US. They can boast a very strong frontcourt when fielding both the Gasol brothers, Pau and Marc, as well as Serge Ibaka, who will be keen to regain their title in front of a home crowd and ready to capitalise on any American weaknesses to do so.

Of the rest both Greece and Lithuania can be considered interesting outsiders. The Greeks were losing finalists in 2006 and have a secret weapon in Milwaukee Bucks wing Giannis Antetokounmpo, a promising youngster with unknown potential.

Lithuania can also boast NBA talent and big tournament form. Jonas Valanciunas of Toronto Raptors fame and Donatas Motiejunas of the Houston Rockets will be key players, while the side’s second place in the 2013 Eurobasket is encouraging.

It’s a shame USA’s best aren’t willing to contribute to this exciting platform for Basketball to advertise itself on a global level, yet it’s sure to be a much tighter competition as a result.

I will be betting basketball A lot more when they get into the round of 16 also when the nba starts there will be A lot of basketball in my thread :) I like the Idea tho.

usa will win fiba basketball wordlcup 2014 :)

FIBA just isn't that popular here in the US. We only really try for the Olympics. The US team has no real superstars besides a recovering D Rose. Not a good indicator of our dominance.

That being said it is still a fun event to bet on

steph curry james harden there are some stars on there for sure. But for the most part I agree no KD or LBJ

That is true, but what about all the non-American members of BitcoinTalk -

Surely they also form a considerable chunk of the users here, and would be interested in the International Basketball World Cup?

US will thump everyone on their table though. D Cousins is there, Rudy Gay, JH13 etc

Go, Lithuania! We will be in top three  :D

Spain has all their big guns too: Gasol brothers, Nene Hilario, Rudy Fernandez and Leandro Barbosa

The latest results!
http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014 (scroll to the bottom for group standings)

Predictions seeming quite on point:
Spain, Greece and USA on top of their respective boards, but Lithuania not quite so much ;)

What do you guys think?

A tight final between Spain and USA, with Spain taking the gold is my pick.

A very thoughtful idea,betting basketball will be quite fascinating but i will start trying my chances at the round of sixteen.

i pick usa the winner FIBA basketball 2014

Round of 16 starts today!  :D

Games lined up for the day are:

Dominican Republic vs Slovenia

USA vs Mexico

Croatia vs France

Spain vs Senegal

Let's have those predictions :)

What a shocker! Spain has been knocked out by France  :o

This could really change the outcome of things...

Its in the hands of America , cant deny this

Lithuania should win tonight game, they are more rested (France played hard match yesterday against Serbia and lost 85-90)

Serbia will do impossible and win. We done that many times in history and we can do it again :) .

Dream Team is ready for tomorrow finale game, what about Americans? :)

Who will win Lithuania or France? I want to make a bet on this match.

Can't believe France has taken third over Lithuania...

Anybody think Serbia stands a chance? Does seem to be the tournament of surprises

We just choked. This was ours worst game ever. We never did miss that much 3 points shots .
While USA rly played theirs top game.

USA was better but we didn't play ours top game otherwise we would stand a chance.

Go, Lithuania!   :D