• Home
  • FIBA
  • EuroLeague
  • NBA/NCAA
  • National Leagues
  • Podcast
  • Features
  • More
  • Contact

Grimag

  • FIBA
  • EuroLeague
  • NBA/NCAA
  • National Leagues
  • Podcast
  • Features
  • More

Sam vs. the Future: Basketball predictions for 2012

January 7, 2012

It’s always a good time for some predictions, eh? Sam Chadwick, Ball in Europe’s man in the UK, today dusts off the Official BallinEurope Crystal Ball in looking forward to another year of top-quality basketball in the world’s top competitions. Who does Sammy like in the NBA, Euroleague, college ball and the Olympics? Read on to find out (and see plenty of highlight clips).

This year sees the London Olympic games, a shortened NBA season, another year of Euroleague basketball and the NCAA Final Four – what more could we possibly ask for? Happy new year…

• NCAA Final Four winner: University of North Carolina
Why
: I know they have lost, and I can see they have some tough opposition in Kentucky, Ohio, Baylor, Indiana, and a lot of other strong NCAA sides across the States. My reason for picking UNC is experience: This team was stronger than expected in March last year when they surprised a lot of people; this year the Tar Heels were no surprise, ranked no. 1 in the preseason. This line-up has determination written all over it, every single player on this team does not want to lose.

• NCAA Final Four runner-up: University of Kentucky
Why
: Sitting at 14-1, the Wildcats are one of the NCAA’s strongest and most well-coached sides. Guys like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doro Lamb and Marquis Teague are all massively talented players who should lead this side to yet another final four appearance – add potential top five NBA draft pick Anthony Davis atop all this and this team screams NCAA Finals and possibly even NCAA champions.

• NCAA third-place finishers: Baylor
Why
: Still yet to lose a game, Baylor with Quincy Acy, Quincy Miller and top-five draft pick Perry Jones III could go all the way to the Final Four in Atlanta. Their use of athleticism, speed and conditioning make this team formidable, and we all know what Jones can do when the game is on the line. It was hard to pick the Bears over the likes of Ohio State but I couldn’t leave them out.

• NCAA fourth-place finishers: Indiana
Why
: This team has beaten some pretty tough opposition such as Ohio State and Kentucky. Cody Zeller has been phenomenal, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding, while teammates Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls have helped the Hoosiers to a solid record so far. It’s safe to say that this team has turned it around after a few years of scandal and mediocrity.

• NCAA Most Outstanding Player: Harrison Barnes
Why
: If Barnes manages to carry his team to the Final Four and another championship, if he lives up to his potential, if he avoids injury, his determination alone will not let his team lose … Let’s see if his body will do the same.

• Euroleague Champion: CSKA Moscow
Why
: Have you seen this team? And you still need to know why? Andrei Kirilenko is playing with pride, passion and energy, doing everything for this team willing to do everything for him. Kirilenko is a leader, a veteran and possibly the best player in Europe (cue angry fans of La Bomba in the comments section). Serbian guard Milos Teodosic has played superbly, while big men Sasha Kaun and Nenad Krstic form a formidable front court which could score against anybody. In addition Alexey Shved is one of Europe’s top young point guards, who spent this summer on international duty with the Russian national team. An overall excellent roster.

• Euroleague runner-up: FC Barcelona
Why
: Juan Carlos Navarro is the Euroleague’s all-time leading scorer and continues to increase his gap at the top of the list; he’s alongside a point guard who has been capable of filling the gap left by Ricky Rubio in Marcelinho Huertas, who is averaging 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while hitting 42% of his three-point attempts.

• Euroleague third-place finishers: Montepaschi Siena
Why
: We all know that Bo McCalebb can do some magical things, things like guide Macedonia deep into Eurobasket: This year he’ll carry his side to the Euroleague Final Four thanks to his injury not being as severe as first thought. A battle for third place between Siena and Panathinaikos should be an interesting watch.

• Euroleague fourth-place finishers: Panathinaikos
Why
: Last year’s reigning Euroleague champs look to reach the final fours yet again; I don’t see them being as strong as CSKA or Barcelona, but a third- or fourth-place finish is always a positive. Nick Calathes is a born winner and will look to add more silverware for this team.

• Euroleague MVP: Andrei Kirilenko
Why
: Andrei Kirilenko is dominating European basketball once more. His return to the EL was a 17-point, 15-rebound, five-assist beatdown of Žalgiris Kaunas; since then, he has gone on to average 13.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per Euroleague game while hitting 57% from the field and 60% on threes. Even his free throws are going in at an 81% rate. While these numbers are impressive, if he can lead his side to a victory in the Euroleague finals, I’m sure he will be a more than deserving MVP.

• NBA champions: Miami Heat
Why
: The strongest team in the NBA, as much as I hate to say it: Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, James Jones, Shane Battier … This team is literally insane, undefeated until narrowly losing to the Atlanta Hawks, in a game they probably shouldn’t have. This team is just too talented to lose it for the second straight year.

• NBA runner-up: Oklahoma City Thunder
Why
: The West got a new bandwagon this off-season in the Los Angeles Clippers, but there is no denying the strongest squad in the Western Conference is still the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder may be young but, for their age, their experience is second to none, including a conference finals appearance last season. Kevin Durant is back better than ever; add that to an ever improving James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and the Heat may struggle come finals time.

• NBA finals MVP: Lebron James
Why
: He wants to silence the haters, all those people that said he lost it in the finals last year against the Dallas Mavericks. He wants revenge, he doesn’t care who he plays he’s going to go after it, whether its carrying his team’s scoring load, grabbing rebounds or dishing assists. Lebron can do it all.

• NBA regular-season MVP: Ask again later
Why
: I honestly can’t decide … my top three (in no particular order) run below.

Why Derrick Rose: Rose continues to lead the Bulls to one of the best records in the Eastern Conference; he has been a scoring force but has not forced his shot as much as last season. Thus far, his assist numbers are solid, and he outplayed Chris Paul in L.A. in a big way, scoring with ease while also dishing when needed. Rose’s teammates are stepping up, whether it be Luol Deng hitting game winners or new addition Rip Hamilton. If Rose can keep it up while leading the Bulls to another first- or second-place finish in the East, the votes may go his way for the second straight year.

Why Lebron James: Have you seen his numbers? Once you have, you’ll understand why I don’t need to justify Lebron as a consideration.

Why Kevin Durant: This season, K.D. will probably lead the league in scoring again, will hopefully improve both his rebounding and assist numbers, and will drive his team to the no. 1 seed in the Western Conference faster than anyone (including myself) expected. Durant has been in the running for MVP the past few years, but 2011-12 could be the season in which his team does some *serious* damage.

• NBA Rookie of the Year: Ricky Rubio or Kyrie Irving

Why Rubio: He is the best guard on one of the West Coast’s rising young teams, a team that has beaten the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks while taking their 4 losses by an average of 3 points per game, including a 4 point loss to the Thunder, a 2 point loss to the Heat and a 4 point loss to the Grizzlies. Rubio has been phenomenal, yes he isn’t scoring like Blake Griffin did last year, but his assists come with such beauty and pinpoint accuracy it’s hard not to drop your jaw … his behind-the-back passes, his alley-oops to fellow rookie Derrick Williams, it’s all just too perfect. Other rookies may score more but Rubio does it all with style. As of this writing, Ricky is averaging 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game while his team stands at 2-4.

Why Irving: Honestly, not many rookies have impressed me so far in this very young NBA season; the incoming draft class has a lot fewer stars than that of John Wall and Blake Griffin last year. Kyrie is one of the few who have just done what’s needed of him. Playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have a pretty bad lineup but have yet to go on some kind of ridiculously long losing streak *but* wins against bottom-dwellers such as the Charlotte Bobcats and New Jersey Nets. So far this season, Kyrie is averaging 14.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while his team stands at 3-3.

• 2012 Olympics, gold-medal winner: United States of America
Why
: Team USA won the last Olympic games with the ‘Redeem Team’ back at Beijing 2008, while a young but solid USA side won the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey behind the likes of Kevin Durant, Chauncey Billups, Lamar Odom, Derrick Rose, Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook. This summer the team will be even more talented with the likes of Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, and Blake Griffin all improving since the last Games. Together with a few key names, the London Olympic basketball finals may be one of the best to ever take place in an international tournament, so make sure you tune in and watch.

• 2012 Olympics, silver-medal winner: Spain
Why
: I wish I could say “Great Britain, home-court, everyone involved, Luol Deng, Joel Freeland, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, maybe Ben Gordon, Devon Van Oostrum, Ryan Richards…” the talent is there, but the experience is not. Teams like Spain and Russia should be able to get by us and into the quarterfinals and finals. My choice for runner-up is Spain: their dominant performance at Eurobasket 2011 with Serge Ibaka aboard; plus potentially Nikola Mirotic to make this team even better than it currently is; the existing front line of Marc and Pau Gasol is already a formidable force; the improvement of Rubio; and veteran talent Juan Carlos Navarro and Rudy Fernandez … thinking about it, these players might even surprise for gold…

• Player to Watch: Ricky Rubio
Why
: A season of playing in the NBA against the world’s best opposition while being able to continue to work on his jump shot will work wonders for the Spanish point guard. His confidence had dropped after being removed from the national team’s starting lineup, but with the added confidence the NBA season brings him, look for Rubio to be one of the best players to watch in London.

That just about sums up my predictions for 2012. I’m hoping it will be a great year for all of you and don’t forget to continue reading BallinEurope; this year is going to be even more exciting than last!

Sam Chadwick is the co-head coach of the Solent Kestrels U14 basketball team, along with dividing the remainder of his time among an assistant quantity surveyor job, university studies and sportswriting. Chadwick is now a contributor at BBLfans.com, and you can follow him on Twitter at @chadwick9.

Jan 7, 2012ballineurope
Powered by Sidelines
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
This post was published on January 7, 2012
Love, justice, and now Drazen Petrovic, are blindOh, Ricky Rubio, you’ve done it again: Double-double, highlight-clip passing against Wiz
Comments: 33
  1. Gabe
    13 years ago

    Blake Griffin isn’t on Team USA.

    ReplyCancel
  2. Phileus
    13 years ago

    Blake Griffin should be on Team USA, though I think Kevin Love would be a much better starter for the international game.

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      Team USA sets it’s three year roster at the World Championships so Griffin will probably be on the team in 2014. Love is on the current team and won a gold medal in the 2010 World Championship and should be on this years Olympic team but should he start over Howard? Either way the team is going to be sick!

      ReplyCancel
  3. John
    13 years ago

    No way Love starts over Howard, Spain looks like they are gonna have a good team, if those two Gasols play as well as they can, they can make it tough for Team USA, though i still think USA wins.

    ReplyCancel
    • Adam
      13 years ago

      this tournament is going to be a joke. no one can even challenge USA. Spains got a few decent nba players but stand no chance against pretty much all the best players in the world on the same team.

      ReplyCancel
  4. Mike
    13 years ago

    If I was USA I would be much more worried about a team like Greece than Spain. Spain plays the style of basketball that fits right into the USA style. Spain is a soft up and down open court team that plays no defense.

    They fit perfectly to the USA match up wise. A full Greece on the other hand is a nightmare match up for USA because they play extremely physical and with great defense whenever they are in an elimination game.

    Greece’s coach said he will bring almost all of their top players (maybe like 8-10 of them this time) if they are healthy so that should be a hugely dangerous team for USA due to the bad match up.

    If the USA is worried about Spain and makes their roster to match Spain, they are making a big mistake if they have to face Greece in the knockout round. It will be 2006 repeat.

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      Spain is soft with the Gasol brothers and Ibaka? They are the one team that can compete with USA in the paint. Greece’s glory days are past. They finished 11th in the WC and 6th in Eurobasket. Last time Greece met USA in a friendly in 2010 they lost by 28 and it seemed the Greek players gave up. USA I’m sure would love to met Greece in the knockout round to get revenge for 2006.

      ReplyCancel
  5. AL
    13 years ago

    For greece to play against the US in the final, they first have to go trough spain. And the road ends right there for the good ol greece. No talent to compete.

    ReplyCancel
  6. John
    13 years ago

    How is the Italian national team? I’ve been impressed by players such as Gallinari and Andrea Bargani, any chance for them to make a run?

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      The Italian team didn’t even make the qualifying tournament so they have no chance in making the Olympics. They are going to drop in the FIBA rankings after this summer. After Gallinaria, Bargani and Belinelli the talent level drops drastically.

      ReplyCancel
  7. Phileus
    13 years ago

    As far as I can tell, Italy isn’t a real contender. With Bargnani, Gallinari, and Bellinelli last year in the Eurobasket, they only finished 17th.

    I agree with Gabe, Spain are the obvious top European contenders. I don’t think France, 2nd place finish last year notwithstanding, can have sustainable success.

    I’m not as familiar with teams like Russia or Lithuania, but I vaguely remember last year some people were surprised by Russia’s success and Lithuania’s “failure.” Any fans here have forecasts for those team’s chances to qualify?

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      Greece, Lithuania and Russia are going to be the favorites to qualify. I feel Russia has the biggest chance of being upset, by perhaps Angola or Puerto Rico, especially now because the qualifiying tournament is not in Europe.

      ReplyCancel
  8. Zoran
    13 years ago

    Greece is by far biggest threat to USA if they bring their A team and from what was said in FIBA site, they are looking with bringing some combo of 12 of their 15-20 best players or so. With guys like Spanoulis, Diamantidis, Schortsanitis, Perperoglou, and Printezis possibly all in return.

    Mavrokefalidis, Vasilopoulos and Papaloukas won’t play though it seems and they have had many players retire from national team also. But if Greece brings such a team then is easily the biggest threat to USA.

    Not only is better than any other team beside USA but also as Mike said is very physical and big and strong team that play with elite level defense.

    It is like teams like Brazil, Lithuania, Russia that USA has had some trouble with because of how is the matching up between the two teams except how Greece is like a super version of those teams.

    Spanoulis/Calathes
    Zisis/Vasileiadis
    Diamantidis/Printezis/Perperoglou
    Fotsis/Koufos/Kaimakoglou
    Schortsanitis/Bourousis

    With how current coach of Greece (Zouros) plays game this is big threat team to USA style. This team is many time better team than Greece team from 2006 that beat USA. It will be hard for USA to score 80 points in elimination round against such big, physical great defense team like that. Very hard.

    ReplyCancel
  9. Zoran
    13 years ago

    “The Italian team didn’t even make the qualifying tournament so they have no chance in making the Olympics. They are going to drop in the FIBA rankings after this summer. After Gallinaria, Bargani and Belinelli the talent level drops drastically.”

    Belinelli is not even in top 20 Italian players.

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      Funny that Belinelli is not even the top 20 Italian players yet he led the national team in assists and was their 3rd highest scorer in Eurobasket.

      Also if I was a Greek fan I would be more concerned about even making the quarter-finals, then challenging the USA. That’s basically the same squad that finished 11th in the WC.

      ReplyCancel
  10. Erik
    13 years ago

    For the NBA only fan morons…………

    Even though it never has happened, that the current season champs of the NBA and the Euroleague played each other, just for the sake of debate and discussion………….

    1. 1978-79 season:

    Summary:

    Maccabi Tel Aviv (Maccabi did not win Euroleague in either 1977-78 or 1978-79)

    beat the Washington Bullets (1977-78 NBA champions and 1978-79 NBA Finals runners-up).

    Score: 98-97

    Details: On Maccabi’s home floor, playing under 50/50 NBA/FIBA rules and with NBA refs.

    2. 1997-98 season

    Summary:

    Chicago Bulls (1996-97 NBA champions and 1997-98 NBA champions)

    beat Olympiacos (1996-97 Euroleague champions) (but Olympiacos had a different roster than the previous season) .

    Score: 104-78

    Details: Game was played with 50/50 NBA/FIBA rules and with NBA refs. Played in Europe, at a neutral site.

    3. 2007-08 season*

    Summary:

    San Antonio Spurs (2006-07 NBA champions)

    beat Panathinaikos (2006-07 Euroleague champions) .

    Score: 113-91

    Details: Game was played with NBA rules, with NBA refs, on the Spurs home court.

    4. 2010-11 season

    Summary:

    Barcelona Basket (2009-10 Euroleague champions)

    beat Los Angeles Lakers (2009-10 NBA champions).

    Score: 92-88

    Details: Game was played with 60/40 NBA/FIBA rules and with 2/1 NBA/FIBA refs. Played in Barcelona’s home city, at a neutral court, but not with the club’s typical fan base in attendance.

    So, the NBA’s record against the Euroleague in those examples, is 2-2 (.500).

    *This one of those 2 NBA victories really should not even count, considering it was a game played with NBA rules, NBA refs, and at an NBA team’s home arena.

    The other games all at least had some sort of mechanism employed to make the games more fair to both sides. Even then, the NBA only managed a 2-2 record, and just 1-2 in the games that attempted to make the rules more fair to both sides.

    Oh yeah, that is some serious “domination” by the NBA right there. I am an NBA fan, but as far as I am concerned, that right there pretty much PROVES that the NBA is incredibly overrated and that the difference in level of competition between the two league is exaggerated to a level of total absurdity.

    That’s what makes comments here from guys like Gabe so trollish and so offensive to all the European basketball fans here.

    P. S. Belinelli sucks. Possibly the worst FIBA player I have seen in my entire life. The mere fact that Gabe would defend and argue against it being said he is a bad player is clear evidence of this guy having never seen a FIBA, Euroelague, or even an NBA game in his entire life.

    Saying this guy is a good player for the Italian national team, it’s just too much to let it slide. I just have to laugh at how unbelievably huge of a troll this Gabe guy is. Calling one of the biggest disgraces to the Italian national team as some kind of great player for them. It’s just……………seriously, Gabe is a freaking dumb ass.

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      If you’re going to use those preseason games between Euroleague and NBA as a measure of the league than you have to take them all in to account all the games not just between the champs. Just starting from 2004 the NBA is 36-6 against Euroleague teams, not even close.
      And lets add more about Euroleague champs playing NBA teams.

      In 2003 defending Euroleague champions FC Barcelona lost to the Grizzlies in Barcelona.
      In 2005 defending Euroleague champions Maccabi Tel Aviv came to American and beat the Raptors but lost to the magic.
      In 2006 defending Euroleague champions CSKA Moscow beat the Clippers but lost to the Sixers in Europe.
      In 2007 before losing to the Spurs Panathinaikos also lost to the Rockets 107-70
      In 2008 defending Euroleague champions CSKA Moscow lost to the Magic and the Raptors in America.
      So since 2003 Euroleague Champions are 7-3 against NBA competition.

      ReplyCancel
      • Gabe
        13 years ago

        I mean 3-7

        ReplyCancel
  11. Erik
    13 years ago

    Also if I was a Greek fan I would be more concerned about even making the quarter-finals, then challenging the USA. That’s basically the same squad that finished 11th in the WC.

    Yeah well if you were even a basketball fan and knew anything about basketball, if you had even seen a single game of that tournament you would shut up.

    Greece was destroyed by a brawl, suspensions, internal strife, the media, punishments, player dissensions, the coach and players fighting, rumors of tanking games, etc.

    If you really believe that same team would finish 11th under any normal circumstance then you cannot have an IQ over 80. Of course you are just a troll that comes here to troll and pretty much everything you say is a straight out lie.

    That Greek roster that was listed would demolish any team in Olympics not named USA or Spain and you are completely delusional if you think otherwise. lol at worried about making quarterfinals. That team would be a HUGE bust if it did not win a medal at the Olympics. You are a real piece of work Gabe.

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      You could make all the excuses you want the fact is they finished 11th in the competition. I respect the Greek team team though and know they are one of the best teams in the world but I would place them as 4th. You mention USA and Spain but Argentina is also better than Greece, beating them in the quarter finals of the 2008 Olympics and doing better in every global tournament except 2006 when Argentina lost to Pau Gasol and Spain in the semi-finals by one point before Spain without Gasol destroyed Greece by 23.

      Argentina, Spain and of course USA have all won gold in global tournaments unlike Greece.

      ReplyCancel
  12. Phileus
    13 years ago

    Erik, to be fair, you should know that those exhibition games are all pretty much meaningless 😛 They’re just as “important” as regular preseason games. I don’t know about the Euroleague teams, but the NBA teams in the preseason routinely rest starters for much of the game, overplay bench players, and generally don’t treat it as more than a practice.

    If you’re going to say they’re important, though, this is probably a fairer representation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_versus_Euroleague_games. Even then, those games are not significant indicators of anything. I’m sure we’d all like to see “serious” games played between the leagues, but unfortunately that’s not going to happen any time soon. But how could would a best-of-7 playoffs between, say, the top four NBA teams and top four Euroleague teams be?

    The next best thing is the Olympics, though of course Team USA ≠ NBA teams and European national teams ≠ Euroleague teams. I’m already looking forward to that way more than March Madness or the NBA Playoffs!

    ReplyCancel
  13. John
    13 years ago

    Eric, I am in no way disparaging the talent in the Euroleague, but the games between Euroleage squads and NBA squads are completley meaningless and treated as pre-season developmental and scouting games for young and untested players. For example, I am a Miami Heat fan, and during our pre-season a number of players received significant playing time who now have been cut from the team.

    This is not to say that games wouldn’t be competitive regardless, since I suspect Euro teams tend to put forth well less than 100% against the NBA as well.

    Personally, I would love to see some sort of meaningful tournament or form of competition between Euro and NBA teams, though I think we’ll have to make do with the olympics for now.

    Zoran, you say it will be hard to score 80 points, but with offensive talents like LeBron, Durant and Rose – to name a few – i find it hard to believe they don’t surpass that.Can you explain how they would be defended?I guess it depends on what style of basketball is played during the olympics, which I dont know, is it Euro or NBA?

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      From 1987-1999 they had the McDonald’s Championship which was international men’s basketball cup competition played between the champions of the continental club competitions and an NBA invitee. The NBA Team won all nine times. They are starting the FIBA World Club Championship and will invite the NBA champion the problem with that is it is FIBA so it will be the Euroleague challenge champions which the third tier league in Europe, not the Euroleague champions.

      ReplyCancel
  14. Phileus
    13 years ago

    John, as far as I remember, the Olympic rules are a hybrid of NBA and FIBA rules, but I think it’s getting closer to NBA rules (e.g. longer three-point line).

    I’m also interested in seeing the personal defensive match-ups, but then again, I think zones are far more likely. With a zone defense, advantage is given to a well-coached, well-coordinated team over a disparate collection of more talented individual players.

    I don’t think there’s a strong argument that the 2004 and 2006 loser Team USAs were individually more talented than their competitors, but their poor preparation and teamwork doomed them in the end.

    What would a matchup between Spain and Greece look like? I’m not familiar with Team Greece at all, actually.

    ReplyCancel
  15. Phileus
    13 years ago

    Also Gabe, I think you might be overestimating Team Argentina. All their stars are on the wrong side of 30, and their last FIBA Americas victory came along with a loss to Brazil. They may make some noise in the Olympics, but it’s the last time for a while that they will be a (fringe) contender. Unlike a lot of the European teams mentioned, there’s no young talent waiting in the wings.

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      A loss to Brazil means Argentina are not contenders? Brazil is a good team, in fact Brazil was the only team not to lose to USA by double digits in the World Championship. Greece lost to Macedonia in Eurobasket and Macedonia is a lot worse than Brazil! Also Argentina did better than all of the other Olympic teams in the past World Championship, except USA and Lithuania, and that was without Ginobli or Nocioni.

      ReplyCancel
      • Phileus
        13 years ago

        Gabe,

        I think the fans here are saying that Greece’s team last year wasn’t representative of what they really are capable of, and I’m willing to take their word for that at least. My memories of Greece have always been as an obnoxiously tough, badass team that the US has struggled against, but I may just have scars remaining from the early 2000s.

        And yeah, losing to Brazil does mean to mean that they aren’t contenders. Brazil aren’t contenders. Nor are Puerto Rico, whom Argentina struggled mightily to put away (with a homecourt advantage!). Argentina was a great team, but they’re like the Spurs: an older, smart team of veterans whose smarts are just not enough to make up for their disadvantages. If Argentina medals this Olympics, I will eat an American flag 😛

        Spain are, to me, the team to watch. It’s a little convenient for us to forget how epic that 2008 gold medal game was, and the outcome was actually in doubt until the very end. In a seven-game series, I’ll be pretty patriotic and say no team should beat the US, but that’s not it works.

        ReplyCancel
        • Gabe
          13 years ago

          I think Greek fans were referring to two years ago when the finished 11th in the World Championship, not last year when they placed 6th in Eurobasket. The facts are that in the most recent Olympics, World Championships and Eurobasket they have not even made the semi-finals.

          I agree that Spain is of course the #1 threat to the USA but after that Argentina is stronger and more consistent than anyone else. Although they are older, the “golden generation” has medaled in every competition they have been in so I would be careful against betting against them

          ReplyCancel
  16. John
    13 years ago

    I’m not sold on a zone being able to slow the USA to 80, unless the 3-point line is significantly closer to the hoop, because there will always be dead eye shooters waiting for a driver to collapse the zone inward just a little and get the kick-out to hit the open 3.

    This – at least – is how zone is picked apart in the NBA. I guess the key question is if the olympics uses a 3 second defensive zone penalty, since the zone is much less effective when this is enacted.

    ReplyCancel
  17. Phileus
    13 years ago

    John, ball rotation and three-point shooting have been the major weaknesses of the pre-2008 teams. Hence the inclusion of players like Michael Redd, in the hopes of extending or defeating the zone.

    Even now, a team driven by players like James/Wade/Rose who penetrate and draw fouls will get frustrated by a physical defensive team, because in the Olympics (as Tim Duncan found out way back when) you don’t get the same calls you get in the NBA. I think that Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant are the most useful players for Team USA in international play.

    I would, in fact, say that Durant’s inclusion on the team is much more important than James/Wade/Rose or just about anybody else.

    ReplyCancel
  18. Ivanovic
    13 years ago

    If Gabe thinks Argentina can beat a full Greek squad then he is on some strong drugs. Greece full team would easily win Argentina without any trouble. I think also they win France, Lithuania, Russia, Brazil, and teams like this with no problem at all.

    Only teams they would have any problem with is Spanish and US ones. Gabe is obvious to know absolute nothing about international basket if he thinks Greek team is below any others but from Spain and US.

    And they have bad match up with Spaniards but in individual quality they are as good or better team than Spain. Only difference in teams is Gasol but if Koufos can guard him then Greece can win even them. Because players like Diamantidis, Spanoulis, Zisis can be put to guard Spanish guards and Spanoulis can score with Navarro and actual in this time there is no scorer in world that is better in FIBA than Spanoulis except maybe for Durant.

    But Spanoulis is better scorer in attack than Durant is. Greek team is very strong team and US would be fools to ignore them. Argentines are good still but they are very old and cannot beat top European teams like Spaniards and Greeks.

    I would put Argentine team as no better than France, Brazil, Russia, Lithuania and teams like this. They are very old team and almost every player they have is well past his prime era of his career.

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      I see this is a European site so there are more Greek fans than Argentina fans but Argentina has done better than Greece in every competition this millenium except in 2006 when Argentina lost to a Spanish team with Pau Gasol in the semi-finals by one point before that Spanish team without Pau Gasol beat Greece by over 20 in the finals. I’m sure Greek fans were saying the same thing about Argentina is 2008 before they beat Greece in the quarter-finals. Yes they are four years older but I think they have one last run in them, we shall see, Michael Jordan was still winning championships in his mid-thirties so that is not over the hill in basketball.

      ReplyCancel
  19. Andrea Cavalli
    13 years ago

    NCAA- I admit I don’t follow it all that much, other than the Final Four and when there are future NBA prospects to watch. So I don’t have much knowledge about it. I say North Carolina just for the sake of it but I don’t really know.

    NBA- My Finals prediction was a 50/50 one: Thunder vs. Bulls or Thunder vs. Heat. Either way, it should be great. But part of me really wants to see LeBron finally winning it all. I was not a big fan of LeBron but he has become a sympathetic figure to me lately given all the amount of hatred he gets. Some of it may be fair but, objectively, most of it has become ridiculous. He can’t do anything without getting people to hate on him. The guy can’t win at all. So yeah, I’ve become a fan of him. Plus, his numbers are SCARY. Say what you will but this is a phenomenal player, NBA title or not. If you don’t think so is because you either don’t know anything about basketball or you’re just in denial..

    If we get Thunder vs. Bulls, I say Thunder in 7. If we get Heat vs. Thunder, I say Heat in 6.

    MVP- Someone between LeBron and Durant

    Rookie of the year- Ricky Rubio. The kid can play. Period.

    Euroleague- CSKA, because of Kirilenko. Had he decided not to stay, I would’ve probably said Barcelona. Barcelona 2nd, Maccabi 3rd, Siena 4th (once again, Siena losing in the semis, though, as an Italian, I hope to see them winning it all).

    Italian League (this is a bonus one since I’m Italian). Siena winning it all again, but this time it will not be as easy. Milano will keep it relatively close in the championship series and Siena will win in 6 and take its 6th title in a row, 7th in 9 years.

    Surprise team: Reyer Venezia, the closest team to where I live. So happy to see them being back on the national stage. They’re also proving Venice is a basketball town.

    Olympics- This could be the best basketball tournament in Olympics history EVER..so much talent, mainly from the NBA.

    Team USA wins the gold medal. If you look at the roster and let nostalgia get out of the way for one second, you would notice the 2012 team could really be the best since 1992. Obviously, the Dream Team is untouchable (though you also have to say that back in 1992 competition wasn’t as strong as it was today but that’s another argument), but the 1994 and 1996 teams, as strong as they were, had some flaws. The 1996 team even struggled against Yugoslavia in the gold medal game for the entire 1st half. Don’t get me wrong, they were GREAT teams but not the top. In 1998 there was the lockout and the Americans sent college and U.S. players from international leagues since they couldn’t use NBA players. In 2000 they had several flaws, nearly lost against Lithuania in the semis and the team was really criticized as if they lost (a bit unfairly, honestly, but still). In 2002 it was a disaster, in 2004 they ended up 3rd and in 2006 they lost against Greece. In 2008 they clearly had the best team in awhile and won the gold medal, struggling only against Spain in the gold medal game (a team, it should be noted, filled with NBA players itself or with players who had NBA experience). In 2010 they easily won the Worlds without many of their top players (Durant and Rose just started to come out). So yeah, the 2012 team could really be the best in a long time, possibly since 1992. Can’t wait to see them. It should be a nice way to celebrate the Dream Team’s 20th anniversary.

    Silver: Spain, who else? Best team in the world outside the U.S. Period.

    Bronze: France.

    There you go.

    ReplyCancel
Pingbacks: 1
  1. BallinEurope’s Basketball Predictions For 2012
    13 years ago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

ballineurope
13 years ago 34 Comments EuroLeague, FIBA, More, NBA/NCAAAlexey Shved, Andrei Kirilenko, Baylor University, Ben Gordon, Blake Griffin, Bo McCalebb, Charlotte Bobcats, Chauncey Billups, Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Christian Watford, CKSA Moscow, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cody Zeller, Derrick Rose, Derrick Williams, Devon Van Oostrum, Doro Lamb, Dwyane Wade, EuroLeague, Euroleague 2011-12, Euroleague Final Four 2012, FC Barcelona, Harrison Barnes, Indiana University, James Harden, James Jones, Joel Freeland, John Wall, Jordan Hulls, Juan Carlos Navarro, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Lamar Odom, Lebron James, Luol Deng, Marc Gasol, Marcelinho Huertas, Marquis Teague, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Montepaschi Siena, NBA, NBA 2011-12, NCAA, NCAA Final Four, Nenad Krstic, New Jersey Nets, Nick Calathes, Nikola Mirotic, Ohio State University, Oklahoma City Thunder, Panathinaikos, Pau Gasol, Perry Jones III, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Quincy Acy, Quincy Miller, Ricky Rubio, Rip Hamilton, Rudy Fernandez, Russell Westbrook, Ryan Richars, Sasha Kaun, Serge Ibaka, Shane Battier, Solent Kestrels, Team Britain, Team Russia, Team Spaini, Team USA, University of Kentucky, University of North Carolina
Recent Posts
Salt Lake Summer League 2025: Team Breakdowns, Betting Angles & Final Forecasts
3 days ago
From Nolan Traore to Noa Essengue, we break down the top European prospects in the NBA Draft
Top European NBA prospects for the 2025 Draft
5 days ago
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a Lock for Finals MVP?
20 days ago
Categories
Recent Posts
Salt Lake Summer League 2025: Team Breakdowns, Betting Angles & Final Forecasts
Top European NBA prospects for the 2025 Draft
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a Lock for Finals MVP?
Tags
EuroLeagueNBAYouTubeReal MadridCSKA MoscowFC BarcelonaFIBAOlympiacosPanathinaikosZalgiris KaunasACBSpainMaccabi Tel AvivRicky RubioTeam SpainLos Angeles LakersMontepaschi SienaPartizan BelgradeLithuaniaIrelandGermanyPau GasolItalyTeam LithuaniaTurkeyTeam FranceCaja Laboral BaskoniaLietuvos RytasFenerbahce ÜlkerGreeceJuan Carlos NavarroSerbiaSan Antonio SpursTony ParkerMinnesota TimberwolvesFranceEuroleagueDirk Nowitzkibasketball highlightsTeam RussiaALBA BerlinEuroCupDallas MavericksTeam USAEuroBasket 2011
Share
0
Facebook
ABOUT
BallinEurope.com was founded in September 2007 by Christophe Ney (who now runs the excellent scouting-themed website European Prospects) and Tobias Seitz, both then bloggers for FIBA.com with over 10 years’ worth of experience in the professional basketball world each. The mission then was to “provide a very unique perspective of Basketball in and about Europe.”
Most Commented
Why Andrei Kirilenko and CSKA Moscow must win the Euroleague
13 years ago
180 Comments
Euroleague Transfers Table 2008/2009
17 years ago
168 Comments
A week in highlights: Spanish block party, mighty Milos, Utah rap and some dude dunking in L.A.
14 years ago
139 Comments
Archives
Get In Touch

Email: emmetryan@gmail.com

Name: Emmet Ryan

2014 © BallinEurope. Join JCI Dublin