FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019

[efialtis]

 I can't believe we lost to Czechia , we literally were on the verge of winning against USA and would have if we didn't missed 4 free throws in a row, and now we are eleminated.

I didnt expect that either, actually I had my bet on Turkey -7.5... Its a crazy WC so far... Jesus, I am getting scared now, we cant loose to New Zealand though, we just cant!

[Rozita]

I Didn't expect Czech Republic even to be able have a close game against Turkey. After watching the great performance of Turkey against United States, I expected an easy win for Turkey. I predicted Victory of Turkey +7.5. Turkey's players now are more upset with the losing the match against United States. They might have underestimated Czech Republic after they were appreciated for their good performance against United States.
Czech Republic, the 24th team in FIBA ranking is now among the best 16 teams of the world. They will face with Brazil and Greece/New Zealand. These matches will be really difficult and I don't think they can qualify for quarter-finals.

[morvillz7z]

Its a crazy WC so far...

Add to the list of disappointments and surprises China getting owned yesterday by Venezuela, most people had Nigeria moving onto the second round - that didn't happen either. Turkey out, Germany is out as well, Puerto Rico snuck beating both Iran and Tunisia in very close games. Way too many unpredictable things happened thus far including my bankroll getting rekt. 

Lithuania and Australia up in a few minutes, LTU is my dark horse, i can see them reach the semis if they manage to win the next group (L).

[suzanne5223]

This world cup till now has been full of surprises. There were some really close matches (especially the United States vs Turkey match), and quite a few upsets (such as the win by Brazil against Greece). Those who made bets in favor of the smaller teams got good returns. Anyway, here is my prediction for today's matches:

1. Canada vs Senegal: Canada
2. Brazil vs Montenegro: Brazil
3. Turkey vs CzR: Turkey
4. Germany vs Jordan: Germany
5. Lithuania vs Australia: Lithuania
6. Greece vs New Zealand: New Zealand
7. USA vs Japan: USA
8. Dominican Rep vs France: France

IMO, for today, the chance of upset is from the NZ vs Greece match. If that happens, then Greece will be out of the world cup.

I think most of you guys underrated the Brazilian team in the tournament which is why their winning against Greece catch you off guard. But the Greece will win their todays game. My own predictions for today's game are as below.

1. Canada vs Senegal: Canada
2. Brazil vs Montenegro: Brazil
3. Turkey vs CzR: Turkey
4. Germany vs Jordan: Germany
5. Lithuania vs Australia: Australia
6. Greece vs New Zealand: Greece
7. USA vs Japan: USA
8. Dominican Rep vs France: France

[Captain Corporate]

 suzanne5223

 Your "predictions" are wrong. Game between turkey and chezchs are over, Turkey already lost. So you are not only wrong but also wrong while the results are already in.

[sunsilk]

I think most of you guys underrated the Brazilian team in the tournament which is why their winning against Greece catch you off guard.

Honestly, I've missed the other games for the other brackets of this tourney. Is it really that Brazil team was underrated by most before the tournament started?

To be honest, I'm very impress with their standings.

But the Greece will win their todays game. My own predictions for today's game are as below.

6. Greece vs New Zealand: Greece

Congrats, Greece just won. Are you a fan of Giannis as well?

[narcopop]

 I can't believe we lost to Czechia , we literally were on the verge of winning against USA and would have if we didn't missed 4 free throws in a row, and now we are eleminated.

Turkey put so much energy in the game against the USA, that's why it ended in so bad manner against the Czech Republic. Sometimes it's better to not scare the favorite and to focus on weaker rivals instead. And Turks apparently did a lot of bad things to all participants of the World Cup. Just by simply making Americans angry. Today against Japan we saw how they play when they're angry :]

[morvillz7z]

Second Round

Group I                          Group J                            Group K                    Group L

1. Argentina   6pts          1. Serbia         6pts         1. USA            6pts        1. France                  6pts
2. Poland       6pts          2. Spain           6pts         2. Brazil          6pts        2. Australia               6pts
3. Venezuela  5pts          3. Italy            5pts         3. Greece         5pts       3. Lithuania               5pts
4. Russia       5pts          4. Puerto Rico   5pts         4. Czech Rep.   5pts       4. Dominican Rep.     5pts

Source

Which teams do you think will make the 1/4 finals?
Since points carry over from Round 1 teams with 6pts have a slight edge over those with 5pts. I can see Russia, Lithuania, and Greece of the teams with 5pts having a good chance of advancing.

[rosezionjohn]

So here is the group for the first round:

GROUP A Cote d'Ivoire Poland Venezuela China

GROUP B Russia Argentina Korea Nigeria

GROUP C Spain Iran Puerto Rico Tunisia

GROUP D Angola Philippines Italy Serbia

GROUP E Turkey Czech Republic USA Japan

GROUP F Greece New Zealand Brazil Montenegro

GROUP G Dominican Republic France Germany Jordan

GROUP H Canada Senegal Lithuania Australia

Source: http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/groups

Some crazy matches in the first round. Leave the disappointments and heartaches behind because it's time to move on to the second round.

Here are the groups:

GROUP I Argentina Poland Venezuela Russia

GROUP J Serbia Spain Italy Puerto Rico

GROUP K USA Czech Republic Brazil Greece

GROUP L Australia France Dominican Republic Lithuania

Who do you think will advance to the next round?

My picks:
Argentina
Russia
Serbia
Spain
USA
Greece
Australia
Lithuania

Edit: morvillz7z was faster with the tables 

[guoyu78]

Nobody expected Turkey to lose but at the same time nobody really took fatigue into consideration. I mean Turkey played against USA one of the most run and gun teams out there and they had to play with them for over 45 minutes, that is a lot of time  to play against these teams, just to give an example Ersan Ilyasova who is a veteran in NBA right now and a great player had a wonderful game against USA and finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Dude ended the Chezch game with 0/9 shooting from the floor with only 6 points coming from free throws that's it.

Furkan and Cedi had 40 points combined of the 76 points Turkey had but they failed to bring in any other player into the game, I think it was mostly Furkan and Cedi scoring that much causing the team to lose actually, if the team could play a well all around team play instead of relying on talented players ISOing than they could have won but nobody gave effort on neither offense nor defense because they were super tired.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Who do you think will advance to the next round?

My picks:
Argentina
Russia
Serbia
Spain
USA
Greece
Australia
Lithuania

My picks:

From group I: Russia, Argentina
From Group J: Serbia, Spain
From Group K: USA, Brazil
From Group L: France, Lithuania

In Group K, it is going to be tough fight between Brazil and Greece for the second spot, but I think Brazil will pull through. In Group L, three teams have almost equal chances of qualifying: Lithuania, France and Australia but IMO Australia will finish 3rd.

[rosezionjohn]

My picks:

From group I: Russia, Argentina
From Group J: Serbia, Spain
From Group K: USA, Brazil
From Group L: France, Lithuania

In Group K, it is going to be tough fight between Brazil and Greece for the second spot, but I think Brazil will pull through. In Group L, three teams have almost equal chances of qualifying: Lithuania, France and Australia but IMO Australia will finish 3rd.

Not bad. It's the second round now, it's supposed to be tougher for each team. I also have a little doubt about Greece moving to the QF but I'm giving the Greek Freak the benefit that he'll perform better. Really close choice between France and Australia

[Daniel91]

Serbia really impressed me at this World Cup.
They play great and seem to have no weak spot in the team.
They won all 10 preparation matches and all the matches in this tournament and all with a big difference.
I think this is the best basketball team from the former Yugoslavia in the last 30 years and the time of Petrovic, Kukoc, Divac etc. who played with the original dream team in the finals of the 1992 Olympics.
Can they beat America?
I feel they really have very good chance for gold and great players like Jokic, Bogdanovic, Bjelica etc.
Also, unlike Americans, they have been together for a long time and they are experienced.
What do you think?

[Naida_BR]

I Didn't expect Czech Republic even to be able have a close game against Turkey. After watching the great performance of Turkey against United States, I expected an easy win for Turkey. I predicted Victory of Turkey +7.5. Turkey's players now are more upset with the losing the match against United States. They might have underestimated Czech Republic after they were appreciated for their good performance against United States.
Czech Republic, the 24th team in FIBA ranking is now among the best 16 teams of the world. They will face with Brazil and Greece/New Zealand. These matches will be really difficult and I don't think they can qualify for quarter-finals.

Unexpected win from Czech Republic today!
And I don't wanna cry about Turkey. It was normal to lose against the USA but not against Czech Republic.
What is makes interesting now, is that Greece's qualification matches become easier. Comparing that Czech Republic is an easier opponent than Turkey.

[rosezionjohn]

Can they beat America?
I feel they really have very good chance for gold and great players like Jokic, Bogdanovic, Bjelica etc.
Also, unlike Americans, they have been together for a long time and they are experienced.
What do you think?

Serbia is capable of beating the current USA roster and they are very confident, especially the coach, that they can do it.

Chances are, they'll meet in the SF or in the Finals. 

[morvillz7z]

I feel they really have very good chance for gold and great players like Jokic, Bogdanovic, Bjelica etc.
Also, unlike Americans, they have been together for a long time and they are experienced.
What do you think?

Absolutely they can, team chemistry and cohesion comes a long way in team sports. As you said that USAB roster was put together just a month ago. Serbs have the highest +/- 120 out of all teams in the second round, they are playing selfless basketball which is very appealing to the public and also very effective.

USA odds to win the championship are up again... to 1.85

If both Serbia and USA tops their respective group then wins their QF match, they will be meeting in the SF according to the brackets.

Are you sure about that? I think they will meet in the finals, not the semis. Hmm let me check again...

edit; oh, i see, all good @rosezionjohn 

[rosezionjohn]

If both Serbia and USA tops their respective group then wins their QF match, they will be meeting in the SF according to the brackets.

Are you sure about that? I think they will meet in the finals, not the semis. Hmm let me check again...

Nah, I was wrong. My eyes are a bit tired when I was looking at the bracket. It's either SF or Finals depending on how they finish the group (and win their QF match). I edited my comment before your post.

[Vishnu.Reang]

OK.. Anyone here still think that the United States remains as the favorites to win the tournament? I have short listed three nations: Serbia, Spain and the United States. I don't think that anyone else has a great deal of chance (including Greece and Australia). And I would say that out of these three, Serbia is having the maximum chances.

[rhomelmabini]

OK.. Anyone here still think that the United States remains as the favorites to win the tournament? I have short listed three nations: Serbia, Spain and the United States. I don't think that anyone else has a great deal of chance (including Greece and Australia). And I would say that out of these three, Serbia is having the maximum chances.

I think so too. If you just have shortlisted it my stand is for all on the group that have no loss that's what I am sided for but still USA remains at the top on my list. There's nothing to underestimate those who have just lost 1 on every group they might take some snatch win besides it back to zero during quarterfinals.

Greece for sure is still lethal never to underestimate them as they might still have chance to win the quarterfinals over group F.

[Rozita]

The last unexpected match of the group stage for me was Lithuania - Australia. I didn't expect 11th team of FIFA world ranking can manage to win the match over 6th team. The performance of Lithuania against Senegal and Canada was better than Australia. Lithuania had won the past matches easier than Australia. This fact and also the higher rank of Lithuania caused me to bet on Lithuania.
Even after the victory of Australia against Lithuania, the point difference of Lithuania is still higher. It shows that Australia's performance had been really improved.
This loss also affect the Lithuania's chance of advancing to quarter finals. Now advancing to quarterfinals is really difficult for Lithuania. For advancing, they have to win France. I don't think they are able to that.