Men's Basketball FIBA Olympic Games Qualification Tournament 2021

[prso1000 728]

8 hours ago, Vojthas said:

Slovenia is our real problem, because without winning against them, playing against Lithuania is not real

You will probably play against LTU in semifinals 

[OlympicsFan 860]

Very good draw for Germany. They should field the strongest team in their tournament (especially with Wagner, Bonga and Hartenstein all being one year older), but if they underperform like they did this year, then every other team can beat them. Serbia should be safe (although Italy also has a pretty good team), in tournament B it could be close between Lithuania and Slovenia (but only if Doncic will play). Tournament D is absolutely brutal, Greece and Canada (if they play with their best team) would have been favorites in all other tournaments except for tournament A and Turkey also has a decent team (at least on paper). In my opinion Canada clearly has the 2nd best guard rotation in the world (only behind the US), but their big man situation looks pretty dire, maybe Greece (Giannis) can hurt them there, but Giannis hasn't been spectacular at FIBA level and Milwaukee is very likely to go far in the postseason, so if Canada will play with at least 2 or 3 of their top guards (Alexander-Walker, Murray, RJ, Gilgeous-Alexander, Lyles, Wiggins) they should win their tournament. Only Murray should go far in the postseason, so all the other guys probably will have no excuse to not participate. I would say tournament C is by far the most unpredictable, at least 4 teams could win that tournament.

[intoronto 6,844]

 

[George_D 1,573]

14 hours ago, intoronto said:

 

Yes that's the result of the "out of the court" rivalry panathinaikos - olympiakos. Olympiakos is complaining that federation is favorable to panathinaikos regarding the referres in the matches between them. Last year Olympiakos withdraw team from 2 matches against panathinaikos and according to rules relegated to 2nd basketball division of Greece. 

Anyway, from the 3 players above only Printezis would be a loss

[ofan 239]

@George_D I hate that is must come to this, my friend  

[nenad 456]

So, New Zealand pulls out of Belgrade OQT citing financial reasons and basicaly admitting they don't have a chance to qualify. What happens now with this spot, remains unocupied or someone gets a chance to qualify? 

[Matej 348]

1 hour ago, nenad said:

So, New Zealand pulls out of Belgrade OQT citing financial reasons and basicaly admitting they don't have a chance to qualify. What happens now with this spot, remains unocupied or someone gets a chance to qualify? 

The spot has already been given to the Philippines as the next best Asian/ Oceanian team from the FIBA Rankings.

 

New Zealand also withdrew from the 3x3 qualifying tournament, but that spot has yet to be reallocated (FIBA is waiting for confirmation from the invited NOC)

[intoronto 6,844]

 

 

Here is hoping he plays 

[George_D 1,573]

Canada has the talent to stand up at last in world basketball.

[JoshMartini007 2,820]

Canada's biggest issue isn't talent, it's getting that talent to play together.