CollegeKingRex
CTG Regular
The five-games-in-six-days meat grinder of group play at the 2014 FIBA World Cup is now finished, and 16 of the 24 participating nations have advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament. The brackets didn't get set without some hi-jinks, however.
With Spain and the United States playing to form and being at least 15 points better than anyone else in all the group stage games, the other countries that controlled their fates were doing the best they could to avoid playing either of those two countries until the semifinals. Spain's closest group stage game was a 16-point win today against Serbia, while the United States beat Turkey by 21 points and everyone else in group play by 24 or more. Spain and the USA are situated on opposite sides of the bracket, so there was jockeying in all groups, to an extent, to at least dodge a round-of-16 game against the two powers.
It's been a fairly wide open tournament behind the top two teams, as was expected when going into the tournament. Those who have been trying to handicap the tournament and adjust power ratings according to performances should take note of the Bet33.com closing lines in all five group stage games. There are nine or 10 countries that are within roughly eight points of each other are separating third place through 11th or 12th. And unlike the 2014 FIFA World Cup (yes, soccer, not hoops), the final group stage basketball games are not played at the same time so as to prevent collusion or tinkering with the knockout stage bracket.
Group B is where the theatrics ended today, as Argentina and Greece played in the final game of the afternoon. By losing today, the Argentines finished third in Group B and earned the right to play the second place team in Group A, their South American neighbors Brazil, in the round of 16. Greece's 79-71 win over Argentina allowed them to finish as the third unblemished (5-0) team to top their group. The Greeks will face Serbia on Sunday, with the winner there to meet the Brazil/Argentina winner in one quarterfinal.
There were far more noticeable shenanigans shaking out in Group D as well. Australia just wanted to rest some of its best players. But by playing just four of their top players (Aron Baynes, Joe Ingles, David Andersen and Matthew Dellavedova) a total of EIGHT minutes, it was clear that the Aussies were doing everything they could possibly do to avoid a quarterfinal matchup in the quarterfinals. This did not go unnoticed by star Slovenian guard Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns, who tweeted afterward (@Goran_Dragic account) 'Basketball is a beautiful sport, there is no room for fixing the game like today Australia vs Angola!! @FIBA should do something about that'.
Instead, it was Dragic and his Slovenians who possibly did something about it. With Australia's loss, Lithuania had a chance to finish first in the group with a win over Dragic's Slovenia a full six hours after the Aussies lost. Slovenia was undefeated in group play despite having the worst overall defensive efficiency in the whole tournament. Slovenia's offense was second-best behind the USA in the group stage through Wednesday, scoring at least 89 points in their first four wins, yet scored just two fourth quarter points on Thursday. TWO points in a 10-minute fourth quarter, losing a 7-point lead after three periods and the game, 67-64. But with that loss, the Slovenians now face the daunting prospect of facing the USA in the quarterfinals, should they get by the Dominican Republic. The Dominicans, it should be noted, floundered their way through the last two games (both losses) with mostly reserves in an effort to avoid the USA for as long as possible after the group stage as well. Sometimes, even the best laid plans of mice and men go awry.
Angola finished tied for fourth in Group D with Mexico, but lost the head-to-head matchup with the Mexicans on Tuesday. The Group C tiebreaker was much more complex. The Dominicans, New Zealand and Ukraine all finished tied for third at 2-3, so a three-way tiebreaker settled it. The three teams each went 1-1 against each other, so total point differential came into play. The DR was +3, New Zealand was -1 and Ukraine was -2. One point separated the Kiwis and Ukraine from advancing as the fourth seed out of the group.
One other note before you check out the brackets: Argentina/Brazil is a first-round knockout matchup for the third straight big tournament (2010 FIBA World Championships, 2012 Olympics).
Here is the schedule for the weekend's Round of 16 games. Lose, and you're out.
Sept. 6 in Madrid:
Spain vs. Senegal, 4 pm EDT
Croatia vs. France, Noon EDT
Sept. 7 in Madrid:
Greece vs. Serbia, Noon EDT
Brazil vs. Argentina, 4 pm EDT
Sept 6 in Barcelona:
United States vs. Mexico, 10 am EDT
Slovenia vs. Dominican Republic, 2 pm EDT
Sept 7 in Barcelona:
Lithuania vs. New Zealand, 10 am EDT
Turkey vs. Australia, 2 pm EDT
With Spain and the United States playing to form and being at least 15 points better than anyone else in all the group stage games, the other countries that controlled their fates were doing the best they could to avoid playing either of those two countries until the semifinals. Spain's closest group stage game was a 16-point win today against Serbia, while the United States beat Turkey by 21 points and everyone else in group play by 24 or more. Spain and the USA are situated on opposite sides of the bracket, so there was jockeying in all groups, to an extent, to at least dodge a round-of-16 game against the two powers.
It's been a fairly wide open tournament behind the top two teams, as was expected when going into the tournament. Those who have been trying to handicap the tournament and adjust power ratings according to performances should take note of the Bet33.com closing lines in all five group stage games. There are nine or 10 countries that are within roughly eight points of each other are separating third place through 11th or 12th. And unlike the 2014 FIFA World Cup (yes, soccer, not hoops), the final group stage basketball games are not played at the same time so as to prevent collusion or tinkering with the knockout stage bracket.
Group B is where the theatrics ended today, as Argentina and Greece played in the final game of the afternoon. By losing today, the Argentines finished third in Group B and earned the right to play the second place team in Group A, their South American neighbors Brazil, in the round of 16. Greece's 79-71 win over Argentina allowed them to finish as the third unblemished (5-0) team to top their group. The Greeks will face Serbia on Sunday, with the winner there to meet the Brazil/Argentina winner in one quarterfinal.
There were far more noticeable shenanigans shaking out in Group D as well. Australia just wanted to rest some of its best players. But by playing just four of their top players (Aron Baynes, Joe Ingles, David Andersen and Matthew Dellavedova) a total of EIGHT minutes, it was clear that the Aussies were doing everything they could possibly do to avoid a quarterfinal matchup in the quarterfinals. This did not go unnoticed by star Slovenian guard Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns, who tweeted afterward (@Goran_Dragic account) 'Basketball is a beautiful sport, there is no room for fixing the game like today Australia vs Angola!! @FIBA should do something about that'.
Instead, it was Dragic and his Slovenians who possibly did something about it. With Australia's loss, Lithuania had a chance to finish first in the group with a win over Dragic's Slovenia a full six hours after the Aussies lost. Slovenia was undefeated in group play despite having the worst overall defensive efficiency in the whole tournament. Slovenia's offense was second-best behind the USA in the group stage through Wednesday, scoring at least 89 points in their first four wins, yet scored just two fourth quarter points on Thursday. TWO points in a 10-minute fourth quarter, losing a 7-point lead after three periods and the game, 67-64. But with that loss, the Slovenians now face the daunting prospect of facing the USA in the quarterfinals, should they get by the Dominican Republic. The Dominicans, it should be noted, floundered their way through the last two games (both losses) with mostly reserves in an effort to avoid the USA for as long as possible after the group stage as well. Sometimes, even the best laid plans of mice and men go awry.
Angola finished tied for fourth in Group D with Mexico, but lost the head-to-head matchup with the Mexicans on Tuesday. The Group C tiebreaker was much more complex. The Dominicans, New Zealand and Ukraine all finished tied for third at 2-3, so a three-way tiebreaker settled it. The three teams each went 1-1 against each other, so total point differential came into play. The DR was +3, New Zealand was -1 and Ukraine was -2. One point separated the Kiwis and Ukraine from advancing as the fourth seed out of the group.
One other note before you check out the brackets: Argentina/Brazil is a first-round knockout matchup for the third straight big tournament (2010 FIBA World Championships, 2012 Olympics).
Here is the schedule for the weekend's Round of 16 games. Lose, and you're out.
Sept. 6 in Madrid:
Spain vs. Senegal, 4 pm EDT
Croatia vs. France, Noon EDT
Sept. 7 in Madrid:
Greece vs. Serbia, Noon EDT
Brazil vs. Argentina, 4 pm EDT
Sept 6 in Barcelona:
United States vs. Mexico, 10 am EDT
Slovenia vs. Dominican Republic, 2 pm EDT
Sept 7 in Barcelona:
Lithuania vs. New Zealand, 10 am EDT
Turkey vs. Australia, 2 pm EDT
