International Basketball

With the draft now passed, let’s turn our attention to the amazing slate of international basketball schedule for this summer.  Starting with the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. There are three different tournaments with each team advancing to the Olympics in Rio. There are several teams capable of making a run for a medal.  I will breakdown each tournament by site and forecast who I see as serious threats to get in.  These tournaments are broken down into two pools with 3 teams playing a round robin amongst the pool of which the top two finishers make it to the single elmination bracket style finally with Pool A1 playing Pool B2 in the Semis and vice versa,  This is going to be the biggest summer for basketball ever!!! Let the fun begin!

OQT Belgrade (Serbia)

The home team, Serbia, is a prohibitive favorite. They are led by Denver Nugget big man Nikola Jokic.but they have other NBA prospects like the recently traded Bogdan Bogdanovic, and recently drafted Rade Zagorac. Considering they have a huge advantage with the tournament in Serbia and the best team in the field, I’d be very surpised if they don’t get through. Puerto Rico might be the team to challenge them the most in this field offering up a team led by Dallas Maverick PG JJ Barea and former NBAer Renaldo Balkman. However, in group B looms the best player in this field, Kirstaps Prozingis (Latvia) and former NBA lottery pick Jan Vessely (Czech Republic)

GROUP A
Serbia (FIBA rank No. 6)
Angola (No. 15)
Puerto Rico (No. 16)

GROUP B
Latvia (No. 35)
Czech Republic (No. 42)
Japan (No. 48)

J-rue Mykel Prediction
A1 Serbia over B2 Czech Republic
A2 Puerto Rico over B1 Latvia
Serbia over Puerto Rico for the Olympic Spot

OQT Manilla (Phillapines)

Compared to Belingrade, this is a world championship heavyweight fight.  Two up and coming international squads head Group A in Canada and Turkey, and in group B we have perennial power France.  The canadian national team roster boasts great names including the likes of Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson, Kelly Olynk, Cory Joseph, Nik Stauskas, Jamal Murray, Tyler Ennis, Trey Lyles, Dwight Powell, and Andrew Nicholson.  While extremely talented they are also very young and perhaps 2020 is a more realistic target date for the Canadian takeover, either way they will be one of the funnest teams to watch. While Turkey may not have the household names that Canada does, they do have established NBA defensive stalwart in Omer Asiik, recent 1st round pick Furkan Kormaz, recetly traded Ersan Ilyasova, and Cavalier draft and stash from a year ago Cedi Osman. The third team in Group A, Senegal, will be lead by Minnesota Timberwolve big man Gorgui Deng, and NBADLer Mouhammed Sene.  France has the firepower to match Canada and given their veteran leadership, are the favorite to win the Olympic spot in Manilla.  Hard to say if any of the guys selected in the draft this year (Yabusele, Luwawu, Michineau, Cordinier, or Cornelie) will be donning the French uni, this team will undoubtedly be playing to win led by Tony Paker, Rudy Gobert, Nicholas Batum, Boris Diaw, Evan Fournier, and Nando de Colo, France will certainly be a tough out here and if they make it through in Rio.  Neither New Zealand or the Phillipines looks poised to challenge France in group B, I’m not 100% if Thunder big Steven Adams or Kentucky Wildcat recruit Tai Wynard (17 years old) will be suiting up for the Kiwi’s, but should it happen they would be names to watch.  While the Phillipines have the home court advantage, a growing national love for the game of basketball, and former NBA great Andray Blatche, there probably isn’t much hope here either.  

GROUP A
Turkey (No. 8)
Canada (No. 26)
Senegal (No. 31)

GROUP B
France (No. 5)
New Zealand (No. 21)
Phillipines (No. 28)

J-rue Mykel Prediction
A1 Canada over B2 New Zealand
B1 France over A2 Turkey
France over Canada

OQT Turin (Italy)

While Manilla boasts some serious firepower, the level of basketball will probably be best in Turin.  In Group A consistent threat Greece, rising Mexico, and sneaky good Iran reside in what should be a very balanced group.  Greece will undoubtedly be lead by Milwaukee Bucks rising star Giannas Antetokounmpo.  Running mates include Oregon’s Tyler Dorsey, former NBAers Nick Calathes and Kostas Papanikolaou as well as current Sacramento King Kostas Koufos. Gustavo Ayon and Jorge Gutierrez (Milwaukee Bucks) headline the Mexican squad.  Kings lottery pick Georgios Papagiannas should be suitiing up for the team Greece, although I’m not sure if that has been confirmed. Former NBA Hamed Haddadi serves as Iran’s most reckognizable name. Group B contains two international powerhouses in Italy and Croatia and an under the radar squad Tunisia that is capable of playing really good basketball.  Italy will have the home court advantage and several familiar players with Danillo Galinari, Marco Belineli, Andrea Bargnani, and Captian Luigi Datome leading the charge.  The Croatian national team also boasts NBA firepower in Mario Herzonja and Bojan (Not to be confused with Bogdan) Bogdanovic who averaged double figures for the Nets this year, as well as 76er lottery pick Dario Saric, Im not sure if any of the three Croatians selected in the draft this year (Bender, Ziziic, Zubac) will be playing, but if they do, they sure will be guys to follow. Tunisia clearly lakes the name recognition of the other Group B squads but big man Salah Mejri did spend time with the Dallas Mavericks this season and they willl undoubtedly show up to play.  That’s why we play the games folks.  Get your popcorn ready.  Meaningful basketball in July!!! HOORAY.

GROUP A
Greece (No. 10)
Iran (No. 17)
Mexico (No. 19)

GROUP B
Croatia (No. 12)
Tunisia (No. 23)
Italy (No. 35)

J-Rue Mykel Predictions
Group B2 Italy over Group A1 Greece
Group B1 Croatia over Group A2 Mexico
Italy over Croatia

All in all this will be a lot of fun.  I have 2 of the 3 hosts winning their respecitve tournaments (Serbia and Italy) and France taking out Canada in what I hope lives up to my personal billing as the the Thrilla in Manilla part duex.  What do you guys think?