Group F
Undoubtedly one of the strongest groups in the championship. It is very difficult to predict which teams will advance to the next stage, but the Greek team undoubtedly remains the favorite to win the group. With each game, the team led by the NBA MVP showed better and better form. The Brazilian team has also assembled a competitive lineup and has high goals for this World Championship. The Montenegrin team will feature one of the best centers in Europe, N. Vucevic, who, together with B. Dubljevic, will form a hard-to-stop front line tandem. Probably the weakest team in the group is New Zealand, but they also have their own weapons, one of which is fast offense and team chemistry. New Zealand promotes high-tempo basketball, and if their shots fall, they could surprise in one game or another.
Will the Giannis-led Greeks meet expectations?
The Greek team, led by the NBA's most valuable player, also has very high goals for this championship. The team has assembled one of the best squads in recent years, and good results from this team would surprise no one. The Greeks have a very well-balanced team, whose core has been playing together for a long time, surrounded by young and very talented players such as G. Antetokounmpo, I. Papapetrou, G. Papagiannis, and others.
“I would trade the NBA MVP title for the World Cup champion title” – Giannis Antetokounmpo. Probably one of the most striking quotes of this summer, which even makes those who don't like Antetokounmpo admire the player's attitude towards basketball and his country.
This year, unlike in previous years, the Greek team should promote faster basketball, based on utilizing G. Antetokounmpo in fast breaks and one-on-one play. There are concerns in the Greek camp about K. Sloukas' health, as the guard is not yet fully ready to play, and it remains a question whether he will recover in time for the start of the tournament. The main architects of Greece's victories in this tournament should be:
G. Antetokounmpo – The forward, who averaged 27.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, continues to amaze with each season. The player, who is improving at a beastly pace, seems to have unlimited potential and improves various elements of his game every year. The only notable weakness of Giannis is his unstable and unreliable long-range shot, but the Greek himself mentioned that improving this aspect of his game is one of his priorities heading into the next NBA season.
Nick Calathes – The guard, who averaged 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in this EuroLeague season, is considered one of the best guards in Europe. With an average of nearly 10 assists per game, Calathes was the main engine of Athens Panathinaikos in every match. Calathes has a very high basketball IQ, so even though he does not have a stable and reliable shot, he easily finds ways to be useful to the team in other aspects of the game.
Georgios Printezis – The Greek national team veteran, who averaged 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game this season, is still one of the key figures of the team. Mobile, with good court vision, able to play one-on-one and shoot from distance, the big man is one of the best-known European basketball players for a reason. His good play will be very much needed in this championship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-CBWze3HTk
Friendly matches: The Greek team has already played 7 friendly matches. Iran was defeated 82-69 and 88-58, Hungary was beaten 83-59, Italy was crushed 83-63, Turkey was defeated 84-70, but the first loss in the control matches was suffered against Serbia, losing 80-85. In the last control match, Greece had fun with the Jordanian team and won the match 92-65.
Prediction: Looking at the Greek team's lineup, there is no doubt that the team is one of the favorites not only to win this group but also one of the strongest teams in the championship overall. The excellent combination of veterans and well-playing youth works perfectly in the control matches despite the only loss against one of the championship favorites, the Serbian basketball players. The Greeks should go far, and it is very likely that they will finish the group stage in first place and without losses.
How will the veteran-based Brazilian team fare?
The Brazilian team has assembled a really solid lineup for this championship, including well-known faces such as A. Varejao, L. Barbosa, M. Huertas, and V. Benite. B. Caboclo, who, although one of the youngest players on the team, has already warmed up in the NBA, has also integrated well into the team in friendly matches. Much will depend on how the veterans handle the load, but overall the lineup looks really good, and the play in friendly matches only proves this once again. These players should be the main leaders of the team in this championship:
A. Varejao – Well-known to everyone, the former “Cavaliers” big man currently plays in the Brazilian league and is certainly not as good as he was in his earlier career years, but he is still one of the key players on the team on both ends of the court. Experience, good defense, and the ability to finish attacks and draw fouls are A. Varejao's calling cards, which, hopefully, the big man has not forgotten how to use.
L. Barbosa – The 36-year-old veteran's career sunset is also inexorably approaching, but his physical form still allows him to play at a fairly high level. Barbosa no longer reaches the NBA level, but he could fully play in strong European teams. Nevertheless, the veteran chose to play in the Brazilian league and now has a great opportunity to show himself to the world once again. Excellent penetration, accurate shots, and good game reading are the aspects of the game for which Barbosa is most valued.
M. Huertas – The 35-year-old guard was an important part of the “Baskonia” club this season. Averaging 8 points and 5 assists, the player helped the team reach the playoffs and demonstrated solid form throughout the season. With excellent court vision and a good shot, Huertas, along with other team veterans, will once again be the main leaders of the team in international competitions.
Friendly matches: The Brazilian team has already played 5 friendly matches, losing only once. Uruguay was defeated 100-53, Argentina was beaten 89-82, then they lost to France 72-84, and Montenegro and China were defeated 80-69 and 90-84, respectively.
Prediction: It is difficult to say how the team with so many veterans will look during the championship, but considering the level of veterans assembled, there is a high probability that this team will at least manage to get out of the group stage. It will not be easy against any group team, as both New Zealand and Montenegro will have their own weapons against this Brazilian team, but overall Brazil looks like the second strongest team in the group, which should advance to the next stage.
Will Montenegro be able to surprise?
There was not much talk about the Montenegrin team at the start of the friendly match marathon, and there is still not much talk now, as the championship approaches. However, this team should not be written off. The Montenegrins have assembled perhaps the best possible lineup, including their NBA star N. Vucevic and other well-known European talents. The best-known names on the team are undoubtedly N. Vucevic, B. Dubljevic, M. Todorovic, M. Bjelica, and D. Needham. It is likely that this quintet will score the majority of points and efficiency ratings. As can be seen, the Montenegrin lineup has a lot of big men, which may result in a lack of speed and court vision. It will be interesting to see how the Montenegrin team will manage this lineup in the championship.
N. Vučević – The Montenegrin, who posted impressive stats this season with the Orlando Magic team (21 points, 12 rebounds
kam.) will undoubtedly be the most important player in this Montenegro team. The team has many tall players, and Vučević's ability to play one-on-one, stretch the court, and make difficult shots is limitless.
B. Dubljević – probably the second most important player in the team, whose tandem with N. Vučević will determine the team's success. The Montenegrin is well-known in Europe and valued for his good rebounding and ability to stretch the court.
D. Needham – for a team that has so much strength under the basket, a good contribution from the guards is undoubtedly needed. The organization of the team's offense will be entrusted to D. Needham, and much will also depend on this guard. Needham has played most of his career in good European clubs, so he is excellent at organizing the offense and taking the initiative when needed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxVY2xG6Pyo
Friendly matches: The Montenegro team played only four friendly matches in this preparation cycle. They won only one, but the chosen opponents were really strong: they lost 72-80 to France, 77-85 to Argentina, 69-80 to Brazil, and in the last match, they defeated Poland 70-65.
Prediction: According to bookmakers, the Montenegro team is the 3rd team in the group, behind Greece and Brazil. It is likely that the Greeks will be superior, but the Montenegrins can certainly compete with Brazil, and the outcome of that match will probably determine the team's future in the tournament. The Montenegro team should play a lot of positional basketball based on long attacks and playing through the tall players. It is worth taking a risk that the Montenegrins will advance to the next stage, with a 2.3 coefficient offered by most betting companies.
What are the chances of the New Zealand team in the group?
The New Zealand team will greatly miss the strength under the basket that S. Adams would have guaranteed. Unfortunately, the tall player from the Oklahoma City Thunder team refused to participate in this World Championship, leaving the team with significant gaps in the paint. As could be seen during the friendly match cycle, the New Zealand team will promote fast and individually based basketball. The main advantage of the team is that most of this team has been playing together in international competitions for years, are well-coordinated with each other, and have a fairly high level of experience.
It is very difficult to single out one or another player from this team, but it is likely that the Webster brothers will once again carry the team on their shoulders. Both Tai and Corey Webster are high-level individual skill players, capable of creating shooting opportunities and attacking from difficult situations. On a good day, with their shots falling, it can be very difficult to stop them. However, knowing that 10 players on the team play in the local New Zealand league and 5 of them in the New Zealand Breakers team, it is likely that the team will rely more on team play and the brothers will not have to try to create something on every attack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmrIFC27_kU
Friendly matches: As the marathon of friendly matches came to an end, the New Zealand team's game gradually improved. Although the New Zealand team won only 2 out of 7 friendly matches, the team can be praised for their progress and fight against really strong teams from Serbia, Italy, and France. The New Zealanders split victories with Japan, winning 89-99 and losing 104-87, lost 88-122 and 100-103 to Canada, lost 81-95 to France, 78-88 to Serbia, and defeated Italy 88-82.
Prediction: This time, it is necessary to agree with the bookmakers' predictions – the New Zealand team is likely to finish last in their group and will not advance to the next stage. The team clearly lacks the talent and experience at the highest level that most teams, especially European ones, have. Although the New Zealanders can surprise in one game or another by not letting opponents pull away and making difficult shots, it is likely that they will not win any games and will finish in 4th place.
