FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019

[efialtis]

I am with you man - by now I am quite confident the USA are NOT going to win the WC this time! =)

I looked at the line odds on bookies to see if Team USA's odds increase when they lost that game against Australia but still it is 1.45 for them to win the title. People still believe on them to win though they are vulnerable and with that loss they may have waken a giant.

If you watch them play you will notice they are NOT a giant... Well, we will see, they still are the favorites but betting on them just makes no sense.

Maybe for you it doesn't make sense but for most people, USA is still the team to beat even though NBA superstars withdraw from playing in the FIBA competition.

We will see... again: they are favs of course BUT... and there is a big BUT... there are teams even stronger than them this time... thats my 2 cents.

[Distinctin]

To all the Gilas fans out there, what do you think about the upcoming first game between Philippines and Italy.

This are the line offered in my sportsbook..

Philippines to win 13 , Italy to win 1.03.
Philippines +17.5 , Italy -17.5..

What do you think about the Philippines ML? This is so tempting for me....

I have to agree with @Distinctin here, we better take the +17.5 handicap as their roster has big names like Marco Belinelli and Danilo Gallinari. Too risky to bet for ML but would bet a small amount just for fun in case an upset happens and the Gilas squad will treat this game like a final since this would bring them to the second round if they win.

A small bet would do, that x13 odds can still be increase if he will use a price boost in spotsbet. (checking now, I will get 14.20 with price boost)
here's the betting line, https://sportsbet.io/sports/event/basketball/international/fiba-world-cup/philippines-italy-5d5a95cbf2a829e6af592614

Bet on it now because the line changes, Philippines is also good but they have to be very lucky to beat a better team like Italy.
This is going to be a big upset in FIBA if Philippines win.

[bryant.coleman]

It would be France vs Greece in the quaterfinals and Greece will won that game , so they will complete the semi-finalist together with Spain, US and Serbia for this year's FIBA World Cup. Greece will be there in the semis, they are just so pumped up and i think @efialtis will agree with me .

My prediction for semi-finals is as follows:

SF1: Spain vs USA
SF2: Greece vs United States

The fourth quarter final in all probability is going to be between Greece and Australia and actually I can't discount the chances of an upset. Greece is recently having issues with injuries and lack of team bonding. If Australia manages to upset Greece, then the second semi-final will be between Australia and the United States. And US went down to Australia a few days back.

[morvillz7z]

Does anyone have any information about Côte d'Ivoire and how many friendlies they played so far? I found just two v. Italy back in July and a couple of weeks ago v. Spain. Most teams had three times as many games to get ready and prepare for the tournament. I am asking because I went ahead and placed an early bet in favor of China - 1st Half China (-5.5) @ 1.78 /boosted.



China number 1  

edit; Nevermind, they played a few more games (all losses) to Algeria, Kenya, Mali, and the Philippines.

[efialtis]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

[Ranly123]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

It's just a friendly game dude and nothing special whether a win or a lose. I expect nothing more on German team than lose on the process.

[efialtis]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

It's just a friendly game dude and nothing special whether a win or a lose. I expect nothing more on German team than lose on the process.

And why is that? Have you had a look at their roster?

[spadormie]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

It's just a friendly game dude and nothing special whether a win or a lose. I expect nothing more on German team than lose on the process.

A friendly game is also considered as a scrimmage in which they don't intend to lose to showoff their game. There is something special on that since it's part of their preparation for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. It's isn't nice to see some countries battling other countries national team while your own country is just battling some other team that is not a national basketball team. Just a normal team in a league.

[Golftech]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

It's just a friendly game dude and nothing special whether a win or a lose. I expect nothing more on German team than lose on the process.

A friendly game is also considered as a scrimmage in which they don't intend to lose to showoff their game. There is something special on that since it's part of their preparation for the upcoming FIBA World Cup. It's isn't nice to see some countries battling other countries national team while your own country is just battling some other team that is not a national basketball team. Just a normal team in a league.

Coaches have their own perspectives when playing friendly competitions against other teams, whether they win or lose they got something to add with their plans and preparations, most of the time the losing team will study the system where they are lacking and try to fill it up with new sets of game play that will be fit for such situations, everything have a reasons not just to compete but also to learned different ideas to keep improving the team.

[Naida_BR]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

Personally, I believe that Australia has a better team than Germany.
It was just that Australian coach was trying new strategies in the game and they lost.
I don't think that Germany would do a lot in the world cup tournament, nothing special or quality in this team.

[guoyu78]

It is quite normal that nowadays European players get to play in USA a lot early and that means they develop better there and get paid there. Don't be confused just because those players are from Europe doesn't mean they are who they are thanks to Europe as well, USA and NBA made them who they are and developed their skills.

Most basically Jokic hasn't been in the NBA for 10+ years, he is sort of new (how long has he been around 4-5 years max?) but considering how he used to be when he first came here and how he is right now you can see the improvement.

The deal is back in 90's and anything before that, players from Europe only got a great name in Europe and became very good and then they went to NBA because they were good, nowadays NBA scouts young players from Europe and drafts them as well just so they could develop and these Europeans do not come to NBA at age 28+, they get drafted at 19 and that means by the time they are 29 they went through 2 contracts at 4 season length and if they are any decent they start to make a ton of money.

[efialtis]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

Personally, I believe that Australia has a better team than Germany.
It was just that Australian coach was trying new strategies in the game and they lost.
I don't think that Germany would do a lot in the world cup tournament, nothing special or quality in this team.

Thats totally wrong - just in my opinion of course - but Germans dominated them and were stronger on all positions. Have you watched the match? I am sure you didnt...

[Naida_BR]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

Personally, I believe that Australia has a better team than Germany.
It was just that Australian coach was trying new strategies in the game and they lost.
I don't think that Germany would do a lot in the world cup tournament, nothing special or quality in this team.

Thats totally wrong - just in my opinion of course - but Germans dominated them and were stronger on all positions. Have you watched the match? I am sure you didnt...

Indeed, your opinion and I totally respect it.
I am just pointing the fact that Germany might dominate the friendly match.
Australia has a lot of stars in the roster and I consider them a better team.

[spadormie]

To all the Gilas fans out there, what do you think about the upcoming first game between Philippines and Italy.

This are the line offered in my sportsbook..

Philippines to win 13 , Italy to win 1.03.
Philippines +17.5 , Italy -17.5..

What do you think about the Philippines ML? This is so tempting for me....

The only thing that can make you win this bet is luck. PURE LUCK. Since many of our key players were injured and some key players rejected playing for their own country, this could be a devastating world cup for us. Don't get me wrong but Yeng Guiao's lineup is THE BEST we can get. Probably they can win the game if players from Italy will have a bad game.

[Harlot]

To all the Gilas fans out there, what do you think about the upcoming first game between Philippines and Italy.

This are the line offered in my sportsbook..

Philippines to win 13 , Italy to win 1.03.
Philippines +17.5 , Italy -17.5..

What do you think about the Philippines ML? This is so tempting for me....

The only thing that can make you win this bet is luck. PURE LUCK. Since many of our key players were injured and some key players rejected playing for their own country, this could be a devastating world cup for us. Don't get me wrong but Yeng Guiao's lineup is THE BEST we can get. Probably they can win the game if players from Italy will have a bad game.

Even though Italy isn't a top 10 team in FIBA they still are a better team compared to what the Philippines have since aside from them having two NBA players in the roster the rest of their squad consists of players playing in the Euroleague which compared to the Filipino players we have all play in a much lower standard competition in the PBA even Blatche's CBA league cannot match the standard of what the Euroleague can bring. If the Philippines really wants to even have a chance to win the game they need to change on how they play and pick up their mistakes when they have fought Australia which completely destroyed them.

[Indymoney]

In another friendly today, Germany won with 10pts difference vs Australia - the Germans have some good quality this year.

Personally, I believe that Australia has a better team than Germany.
It was just that Australian coach was trying new strategies in the game and they lost.
I don't think that Germany would do a lot in the world cup tournament, nothing special or quality in this team.

Thats totally wrong - just in my opinion of course - but Germans dominated them and were stronger on all positions. Have you watched the match? I am sure you didnt...

Most of time friendly games never near to real games because mostly coaches try to experiments so this game is nothing to talk about quality of teams this was just for practices real could be in next few days where we can talk about quality of every team.

[Theb]

To all the Gilas fans out there, what do you think about the upcoming first game between Philippines and Italy.

This are the line offered in my sportsbook..

Philippines to win 13 , Italy to win 1.03.
Philippines +17.5 , Italy -17.5..

What do you think about the Philippines ML? This is so tempting for me....

That +17.5 for the Philippines might be tempting but you should remember that it's not the first time that the Philippines and Italy will be facing each other in the court. The last time the face head to head was in 2016 and the scoreline was outrageous to see for any Filipino fan. The game ended up 106 to 70 points which is about a 36 point margin in favor of Italy. Even though it was only a tune-up game without any record you will see that both teams took the game seriously, it was not all-star game for them but they were like playing in a serious playoff series. Even if the Philippines have given their best in that game they still fell out big. You should take note that both teams have similar line ups now and way back 2016 so there isn't really any notable players missing in that game to be a game changer for the Philippines. If only Jordan Clarkson and Remy Martins was allowed in this world cup I would say that they have a chance to win against Italy and maybe even sweep the whole group.

[Natalim]

If only Jordan Clarkson and Remy Martins was allowed in this world cup I would say that they have a chance to win against Italy and maybe even sweep the whole group.

It's impossible to get Jordan Clarkson and Remy Martins playing with the Philippines since that's against the rules of the FIBA.
According to the news, https://sports.inquirer.net/362629/too-late-at-this-point-yeng-guiao-says-no-jordan-clarkson-for-fiba-world-cup

Clarkson can only suit up for the country in Fiba tournaments as a naturalized player since despite being Filipino-American.

Fiba restricts just one naturalized player per team and center Andray Blatche already holds that slot in the Gilas lineup.

[bisdak40]

Even though Italy isn't a top 10 team in FIBA they still are a better team compared to what the Philippines have since aside from them having two NBA players in the roster the rest of their squad consists of players playing in the Euroleague which compared to the Filipino players we have all play in a much lower standard competition in the PBA even Blatche's CBA league cannot match the standard of what the Euroleague can bring. If the Philippines really wants to even have a chance to win the game they need to change on how they play and pick up their mistakes when they have fought Australia which completely destroyed them.

It's a no-brainer to say that indeed Italy is way off better than the Philippines. On papers, they are unbeatable by the Philippines given by the quality of players that they had on their squad but this is only a one game affair and anything can happen. Upset is real, though the chance is very very slim but it can happen. Even the president of the Philippines speculated that Gilas won't win against Italy  but the Gilas take that statement as a motivation to prove doubters that they are wrong. 

[bryant.coleman]

If only Jordan Clarkson and Remy Martins was allowed in this world cup I would say that they have a chance to win against Italy and maybe even sweep the whole group.

It's impossible to get Jordan Clarkson and Remy Martins playing with the Philippines since that's against the rules of the FIBA.
According to the news, https://sports.inquirer.net/362629/too-late-at-this-point-yeng-guiao-says-no-jordan-clarkson-for-fiba-world-cup

Clarkson can only suit up for the country in Fiba tournaments as a naturalized player since despite being Filipino-American.

Fiba restricts just one naturalized player per team and center Andray Blatche already holds that slot in the Gilas lineup.

Wow!! I wasn't aware of any such restriction. Need to congratulate the FIBA for coming up with such a rule. Else many of the less talented teams would pack their squad with players from the United States and those teams who can't afford these players won't be able to qualify. I have seen this in cricket where many of the teams (such as Qatar, UAE, Singapore.etc) don't have a single citizen playing for them.

From what I have seen the case from other sports, the flood of expat and naturalized players do more harm than good. In the end the local players would lose their interest since they are unable to secure national slots, and it will have an impact on the growth of the game. Also, in a world cup you should be going with your own players rather than the imported ones.