F Group
Definitely one of the strongest groups in the championship. It is very difficult to predict which teams will qualify for the next round, but the Greek team is definitely the favourite to win the group. With each game, the team dragged forward by the NBA MVP has shown better and better form. The Brazilian team has also assembled a competitive line-up and has set high goals for this World Cup. One of Europe's best centre forwards, N. Vucevic, will be playing for the Montenegrin team and together with B. Dubljevic will form a hard-to-stop front line tandem. New Zealand is probably the weakest team in the group, but they also have their own weapons, one of which is a fast attack and interplay between the core of the team. New Zealand promotes high-tempo basketball, and when the shots are up, they can surprise in some games.
Will the Greeks under Giannis live up to expectations?
The Greek team, led by the NBA's league MVP, is also setting very high goals for the championship. The team has assembled one of the best squads of the last few years and it would not surprise anyone to see a good performance from this team. The Greeks have a very well-balanced squad, with a core that has been playing together for a long time, and around it young and very talented players such as G. Antetokounmpo, I. Papapetrou, G. Papagiannis and others.
"I'd trade my NBA MVP title for a World Cup title" - Giannis Antetokounmpo. What better way to hear one of the most resounding quotes of this summer, which makes even those who don't like Antetokounmpo admire the player's attitude towards basketball and his country.
The Greek national team this year, unlike in previous years, should promote faster basketball, based on Antetokounmpo's use of fast-paced attacks and 1-on-1 play. There is a mood of anxiety in the Greek camp about the health of Sloukas, as he is not yet fully ready to play and it is still questionable whether he will be able to recover before the start of the championship. The main winners for Greece in this tournament should be:
G. Antetokounmpo - The 27.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists forward continues to amaze with each season. The player, who is improving at a breakneck pace, seems to have unlimited potential and continues to improve various elements of his game every year. Giannis' only perceived weakness is his unstable and unsure shooting from distance, but the Greek has mentioned that improving this aspect of his game is one of his priorities going into the next NBA season.
Nick Calathes - 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds The guard, who has collected 12.4 points and 8.7 rebounds in this Euroleague season, is considered one of the best point guards in Europe. Calathes, who averages close to 10 assists, has been a key contributor for Athens Panathinaikos in every game. Calathes has a very high basketball IQ, so even though he doesn't have a steady and sure shot, he easily finds ways to contribute to the team in other aspects of the game.
Georgios Printezis - 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds The Greek veteran, who averaged 10.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game this season, is still one of the team's core players. Mobile, with good court vision and the ability to play 1v1 and shoot from long range, there is a reason why he is one of the best-known players in Europe. His good game will be very much needed in this championship.
A friendly match: The Greek national team has already played 7 friendlies. They defeated Iran 82-69 and 88-58, Hungary 83-59, Italy 83-63, Turkey 84-70, but their first loss in the controls was against Serbia, 80-85. In the last game of the prelims, Greece lost to Jordan and won 92-65.
Forecast: Looking at the Greek team's line-up, there is no doubt that the team is one of the favourites to not only win this group, but also one of the strongest teams in the championship overall. The great combination of veterans and youngsters playing well is working well in the controls, despite a single setback against one of the favourites, Serbia. The Greeks should go far and are very likely to finish the group stage in first place and undefeated.
How will the veteran Brazilian team fare?
The Brazilian national team has assembled a really solid line-up for this championship, including familiar faces such as Varejao, Barbosa, Huertas and Benite. B. Caboclo, who is one of the youngest players in the team but has already had a chance to get his feet wet in the NBA, has also made a great addition to the team's line-up for the friendlies. A lot will depend on how the veterans handle the workload, but overall the line-up looks really good and the play in the friendlies proves it once again. These players should be the key leaders of the team in this championship:
A. Varejao - The well-known, former Cavaliers point guard is currently playing in the Brazilian league and is certainly not as good as he was earlier in his career, but he is still one of the team's cornerstones on both ends of the court. Experience, good defence and the ability to finish off attacks and provoke fouls are Varejao's calling card, and hopefully the big man has not forgotten how to use it yet.
L. Barbosa - The 36-year-old veteran's career is also approaching its twilight, but his physical condition still allows him to play at a relatively high level. Barbosa is no longer at NBA level, but he could fully play for strong European teams. Nevertheless, the veteran chose to play in the Brazilian league, and now he has a great opportunity to prove himself to the world once again. Great penetration, accurate shots and good reading of the game are the moments of the game for which Barbosa is most appreciated.
M. Huertas - The 35-year-old defender has been an important part of Baskonia this season. Averaging 8 points and 5 assists, he helped the team qualify for the playoffs and showed solid form throughout the season. Huertas, who has great court vision and a good shot, will once again be a key leader for the team in international competitions, along with the other veterans.
A friendly match: The Brazilian national team has already played 5 friendlies and lost only once. A 100-53 win over Uruguay, an 89-82 win over Argentina, then a 72-84 loss to France, and 80-69 and 90-84 wins over Montenegro and China.
Forecast: It's hard to say how a team with so many veterans will look during the championship, but given the level of veterans, there is a good chance that this team will at least make it out of the group stage. It won't be easy against either team in the group, as both New Zealand and Montenegro will have their own weapons against this Brazilian team, but overall Brazil looks like the 2nd strongest team in the group, and should progress to the next round.
Will Montenegro be able to surprise?
There was not much talk about the Montenegrin national team at the start of the friendly marathon, and there is not much talk about it now, as the start of the championship approaches. However, this team cannot be written off. The Montenegrins have assembled probably the best possible line-up, including their NBA star N. Vucevic and other talents well known in Europe. The best-known names in the team are undoubtedly N. Vucevic, B. Dubljevic, M. Todorovic, M. Bjelica and D. Needham. These five are likely to score the majority of points and efficiency points. As you can see, Montenegro has a lot of tall players, which can result in a lack of speed and court vision. It will be interesting to see how the Montenegrin national team will be able to navigate this line-up in the championship.
N. Vucevic - The Montenegrin, who has been putting up impressive stats for the Orlando Magic this season (21 points, 12 rebounds), will undoubtedly be a key player for the Montenegrin national team. The team has a lot of big men, and Vucevic's ability to play 1v1, extend the floor and hit difficult shots is unlimited.
B. Dubljevic - Probably the second most important player in the national team, whose tandem with N. Vucevic will be the key to the success of the national team. The Montenegrin is well-known in Europe and is appreciated for his good fight under the basket and his ability to extend the court.
D. Needham - a team that has so much power under the basket definitely needs good contributions from the guards. The team's offensive organisation will be in Needham's hands, and a lot will depend on this defender as well. Needham has played most of his career in good European clubs and is very good at organising the offense and taking the initiative when needed.
A friendly match: The Montenegrin national team has played only four friendlies in the current preparatory cycle. Only one was won, but the opponents were also very strong: 72-80 against France, 77-85 against Argentina, 69-80 against Brazil, and in the last match, Poland won 70-65.
Forecast: The Montenegrin team is ranked 3rd in the group by the bookmakers, behind Greece and Brazil. The Greeks are likely to have the edge, but the Montenegrins can certainly fight with Brazil and the future of the team in the tournament will most likely depend on that match. The Montenegrin team should play a lot of positional basketball based on long attacks and playing through the uprights. It is worth taking a gamble that the Montenegrins will qualify for the next round, with odds of 2.3 offered by most bookmakers.
What are the chances of the New Zealand team in the group?
New Zealand will be sorely lacking the strength under the basket that S. Adams would have provided. Unfortunately, the Oklahoma City Thunder forward has declined to play in this World Championship, leaving the team with a gaping hole in the penalty box. The New Zealand team, as seen during the friendly series, will promote fast and individual basketball. The main advantage of the team is that most of the squad has been playing together in international competitions for a number of years and has a high level of experience and chemistry among themselves.
It is very difficult to single out one or the other player from this team, but it is likely that the Webster brothers will once again lead the team. Both Tai and Corey Webster are highly skilled players who are able to create great opportunities for shots and attack from awkward situations. On a good day and when the shots are falling in the basket, they can be very difficult to stop. Anyway, with 10 players playing in the local New Zealand league and even 5 of them in the New Zealand Breakers, it is likely that the team will rely more on team play and the brothers won't have to try to create something on their own every time they attack.
A friendly match: New Zealand's play gradually improved as the friendly marathon came to an end. Although the New Zealand team has only 2 wins in 7 friendlies, the team can be praised for its progress against really strong teams from Serbia, Italy and France. New Zealand shared the victory with Japan 89-99 and 104-87, lost 88-122 and 100-103 to Canada, lost 81-95 to France, lost 78-88 to Serbia and beat Italy 88-82.
Forecast: This time we have to agree with the bookmakers' predictions - New Zealand will probably finish last in their group and will not qualify for the next round. The team clearly lacks the talent and experience at the highest level that most teams, especially in Europe, have. Although Zealanders can surprise in some games by not letting their opponents escape and throwing difficult shots, they are unlikely to win and will finish in 4th place.
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