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Toruko2
Guest
I would not put much meaning into these games. This is just unprepared and ugly basketball.
I would not put much meaning into these games. This is just unprepared and ugly basketball.
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pohani komarac2
Guest
That's far from truth. Untill 10 years ago Croatia always had a among top 10 teams in Europe, and before 90is Croatia produced many greats. Even so if today with Zubac, Šarić, Bogdanović, Tomić, Žižić, Matković, Božić...Croatia had something to say against anyone. But that's not the biggest problem
Thing is that Croatian generations 94., 95., 96., 97., 98., 99., were winning medals at youth championships, and those generations are now in their prime years. We should be winning medals now, but instead we are going to fight for basketball survival. That is something to deal with it. From those teams we got like 3 and half players in Šarić, Hezonja, Zubac and Žižić. OK there was big unfortune with Arapović and Bender brothers who's carers were ended by injuries. But where are all other eurocup level players that should be made from those generations is beyond every logic. Something our federation needs to talk about.
Unfortunately for our basketball after 02. generation that is also failing we have poor generations due to huge drop of interest for basketball in Croatia. Besides few prospects there are almost no players even for semi amateur level utill 2010 generation. And to make things worse it looks like top prospects Marko Volf and Roko Jerkić will end up playing for Germany. Same happened with Luka Stojić, Marko Petrić and Ivan Crnjac. Igor Miličić sons ended playing for Poland, while Spain approached Toni Garma to take him. It's close that our basketball will not survive this and is forever gone from basketball map
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Straight forward2
Guest
Sure, that's why I wrote "basically", meaning you were uber elite only 90's, but off course Croatia was a legit team even in 00s and it was stacked decade and had some good teams later. Today obviously you lack true guards, one of that and you could fight for medals, but that's the issue with most countries. And off course if kids go to football mainly and else where it's hard to raise talent for small countries. Lithuania is a meka of BB, but recently we had a bit more kids going to play football and not basketball. But overall BB remain the king and it's not even close cause our football players are hopeless. And finally we got few uber talents who will carry the tradition which was build by Marciulionis and Sabonis in modern times. It's sad indeed if Croatia won't even be able to stick around top 12-14 teams FIBA teams. It's a country of Petrovic, Kukoc, Radja, Cosic, Saric, Bogdanovic, Giricek, Hezonja, Zubac. There's tons of countries with much thinner tradition.
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Serbian_Layup2
Guest
Roko Leni Ukic's son is pretty talented, though still very young.
https://x.com/Scoutspects/status/1890810443695870352
Wemby's health condition is not naive at all. Chris Bosh had to end his career due to blood clots in his lungs if I remember correctly. Mirza Teletovic basically the same case. I doubt very much that Spurs are going to let him play at Eurobasket in order to get him completely healthy before start of NBA season.
https://x.com/Scoutspects/status/1890810443695870352
Wemby's health condition is not naive at all. Chris Bosh had to end his career due to blood clots in his lungs if I remember correctly. Mirza Teletovic basically the same case. I doubt very much that Spurs are going to let him play at Eurobasket in order to get him completely healthy before start of NBA season.
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Toruko2
Guest
I am not really into Croatian basketball though what I am seeing is similar problems to the Turkish basketball. Lack of solid perimeter players, most of the carrying player are unavailable because of the NBA. Many guys are too old. I mean the Croatian basketball should be really thankful to Bogdanovic. He gave everything he had.
Too many prospect didnt pan out. I remember the 2002 born players during the U16 EC. Roko Prkacin was considered the most valuable prospect in the tournament and he didnt develop either. The talents are there but they dont develop in the right way. There are really loads of parallels to Turkish basketball.
Too many prospect didnt pan out. I remember the 2002 born players during the U16 EC. Roko Prkacin was considered the most valuable prospect in the tournament and he didnt develop either. The talents are there but they dont develop in the right way. There are really loads of parallels to Turkish basketball.
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Straight forward2
Guest
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Straight forward2
Guest
As for Lithuania, I want this group (Finland already known):
Spain, Lithuania, Czech Rep, Finland, Great Britain, Portugal
It would be rather comfortable fight for top spot in the group with Spain. Nothing even close compared to what Lithuania had in 2022. The group will be pretty comfortable no-matte the draw for us.
Spain, Lithuania, Czech Rep, Finland, Great Britain, Portugal
It would be rather comfortable fight for top spot in the group with Spain. Nothing even close compared to what Lithuania had in 2022. The group will be pretty comfortable no-matte the draw for us.
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Toruko2
Guest
I dont want Serbia or Germany from pot 1. Prefered opponent is Spain but wouldnt mind a France without Wemby either.
Slovenia from pot 2 would be divine but wouldnt mind Greece or LTU either. Latvia must be avoided at any cost.
No Italy from pot 3 please.
Rest doesnt matter.
Slovenia from pot 2 would be divine but wouldnt mind Greece or LTU either. Latvia must be avoided at any cost.
No Italy from pot 3 please.
Rest doesnt matter.
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Straight forward2
Guest
Lithuania linked with Finland from 4 seed, so no Lithuania Turkey match-up in the group.
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Toruko2
Guest
Oh ok, thank you for informing. A Sabonis Markannen matchup will be great to watch.
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Straight forward2
Guest
Not entirely direct probably, but yeah. One of the best European players at the moment.
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Dirtyh2
Guest
I would rather have Sweden or Iceland becouse their fanbase but it's very nice that Finland picked Lithuania. I hope to see lot of fans.
Markkanen is in the middle of horrible season but let's see.
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Straight forward2
Guest
Nunez out. Garbajosa will go for another nasty naturalization. Spain's sucking cock recently and losing all respect that they achieved in long decades.
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Camoka2
Guest
Israil will be a dark horse for EuroBasket 2025 and maybe will be a powerhouse for the next decade.
Avdija is turning a star forward in NBA. He is one of the best european players right now and he may be still considered young.
Also, probably they will have too first round pick in the upcoming NBA draft with Ben Saraf and Daniel Wolf. Even though Saraf can be drafted in a higher pick, I think Wolf will be more important for Israel national team. They have some other guard prospects than Saraf but Wolf looks like their only high level big prospect.
So, with the core of Avdija, Saraf and Wolf, and with other solid Euroleague players and some Eurocup level players, Israel can make some noise in the upcoming national team tournaments.
Avdija is turning a star forward in NBA. He is one of the best european players right now and he may be still considered young.
Also, probably they will have too first round pick in the upcoming NBA draft with Ben Saraf and Daniel Wolf. Even though Saraf can be drafted in a higher pick, I think Wolf will be more important for Israel national team. They have some other guard prospects than Saraf but Wolf looks like their only high level big prospect.
So, with the core of Avdija, Saraf and Wolf, and with other solid Euroleague players and some Eurocup level players, Israel can make some noise in the upcoming national team tournaments.
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Straight forward2
Guest
That's a good point though. While many teams as Turkey, Croatia, even Greece, Italy have no true answer at guard, Israel has Saraf who will be a force probably starting with 2027 WC. The questin is can they consistently qualify for the tournaments and is there enough depth.
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Toruko2
Guest
Deni Avdija is really on the verge of an all star level. His game reminds me a bit of Lebron James. Avdija also drives relentlessly with strength and speed and relies on his athleticism but he needs to work on his shot. If his shot comes around he is surely an allstar two way player.
I am not very high on Ben Saraf though. He might have the potential to stay in the NBA. I dont know but I wouldnt bet on it.
About Wolf... I watched him in the U20 EC and he is a very talented big but to expect Israel to be a force might be a bit too ambitious. Israel will surely be more competitive though.
I am not very high on Ben Saraf though. He might have the potential to stay in the NBA. I dont know but I wouldnt bet on it.
About Wolf... I watched him in the U20 EC and he is a very talented big but to expect Israel to be a force might be a bit too ambitious. Israel will surely be more competitive though.
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Straight forward2
Guest
Avdija growing into a best version that Saric could become.
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Toruko2
Guest
After seeing Shane Larkin getting in shape and todays game of Korkmaz I really can set the bar on the semi finals for the Turkish team. Especially Korkmaz is playing, which is amazingly positive.
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Straight forward2
Guest
I would suggest to be patient and humble. Turkey never won anything in ages and there's zero objective ground to put them among contenders. Zero. We don't even know if that's gonna be any competitive team. No WC, no Olympic qualification, struggle in EB qualification. No point guard. The only world class player at the least impactful position in today's game. 27th in FIBA ranking and you're announcing semis already just as you did before 2022 EB
I would suggest just celebrate the ticket of Eurobasket in the first place.
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Toruko2
Guest
I would suggest to be patient and humble. Turkey never won anything in ages and there's zero objective ground to put them among contenders. Zero. We don't even know if that's gonna be any competitive team. No WC, no Olympic qualification, struggle in EB qualification. No point guard. The only world class player at the least impactful position in today's game. 27th in FIBA ranking and you're announcing semis already just as you did before 2022 EB
Germany was ranked 27 after the WC 19. Important is not the past but the quality of the roster and team Turkey will be among the strongest teams on the paper. The bad results in the past were because of shortcomings or injuries and the team was not strong enough. 2022 France got away because Osman couldnt make one free throw and France got to the finals. This Turkish team will be much stronger.
There are many reasons to be optimistic. :thumbsup: