Volume 2 of the World Cup Power Rankings

[Kings2]

13 Brazil
14 Greece
15 Mexico
16 Latvia
17 New Zealand
18 Puerto Rico
19 China
20 Philippines
21 Montenegro
22 Japan
23 Georgia
24 Venezuela
25 South Sudan
26 Egypt
27 Jordan
28 Angola
29 Lebanon
30 Iran
31 Cape Verde
32 Cote d'Ivoire

 

[DenverJokic2]

Slovenia is not a top 10 team anymore. The Vlatko Cancar and Edo Muric injuries have really hit them hard. Their frontcourt is incredibly weak now.

 

[Darrell Armstrong2]

Slovenia is not a top 10 team anymore. The Vlatko Cancar and Edo Muric injuries have really hit them hard. Their frontcourt is incredibly weak now.

It has to be the only case of a squad losing games and key players, and not getting penalised for it.

 

[achinet2]

It surprises me how championship after championship Spain is placed quite low on the list. I don't understand why, Spain is the current European and World champion... although I think this has always been good for them.

 

[Ridirkulous2]

Yeah Spain playing very good basketball and they lose 4 positions only because of Rubio...

 

[Darrell Armstrong2]

Greece has also managed to beat Slovenia twice, and they are placed 14th because... Giannis won't play? He wasn't playing in those victories anyway. Greece also didn't fare that poorly against Serbia and Italy, two teams placed above them in the ranking... and somehow also below Slovenia. Seriously, all Slovenia has achieved this summer is barely beating powerhouses like China and Montenegro. They're going to need much more to even make it to QFs.

 

[christodoulou762]

Greece has also managed to beat Slovenia twice, and they are placed 14th because... Giannis won't play? He wasn't playing in those victories anyway. Greece also didn't fare that poorly against Serbia and Italy, two teams placed above them in the ranking... and somehow also below Slovenia. Seriously, all Slovenia has achieved this summer is barely beating powerhouses like China and Montenegro. They're going to need much more to even make it to QFs.

Yes, it seems the rankings are made without an acknowledgement of group strength. Most people will agree that LTU is likely to beat GRE and make it to the QFs behind USA. So if group composition was taken into account, LTU should be in top 8, but they are ranked 12th. Similarly ITA and SRB are locks to make the QFs (with DOM as a dark horse), so they should both be top 8, whereas SRB is ranked 9th. And by the same logic, only one of GER or SLO should be in top 8, since after AUS there is only one QF spot left for them. Lastly, it will be a blood bath between CAN, ESP and FRA for the two QF spots from that side of the bracket. Yet all three are in top 8.

A more realistic prediction of final standings would be

1. USA
2. FRA*
3. CAN*
4. AUS
5. LTU
6. GER
7. ITA
8. SRB

*replace CAN or FRA with ESP if you prefer

 

[mojo132]

Yes, it seems the rankings are made without an acknowledgement of group strength. Most people will agree that LTU is likely to beat GRE and make it to the QFs behind USA. So if group composition was taken into account, LTU should be in top 8, but they are ranked 12th. Similarly ITA and SRB are locks to make the QFs (with DOM as a dark horse), so they should both be top 8, whereas SRB is ranked 9th. And by the same logic, only one of GER or SLO should be in top 8, since after AUS there is only one QF spot left for them. Lastly, it will be a blood bath between CAN, ESP and FRA for the two QF spots from that side of the bracket. Yet all three are in top 8.

A more realistic prediction of final standings would be

1. USA
2. FRA*
3. CAN*
4. AUS
5. LTU
6. GER
7. ITA
8. SRB

*replace CAN or FRA with ESP if you prefer

As dumb as these things are, it is a Power Ranking not a prediction of finishing order. Pools and paths to the QF and SF should not be considered here.

Spain, Greece and Lithuania are too low, Slovenia & Finland too high. Canada beats Germany on thier home floor yet are 2 spots behind....none of this matters.

 

[DenverJokic2]

These are the 4 best teams I’ve seen play so far:

1. USA
2. Australia
3. Spain
4. Germany

Haven’t seen France, Italy, or Serbia play yet.

 

[Dirtyh2]

Spain, Greece and Lithuania are too low, Slovenia & Finland too high. Canada beats Germany on thier home floor yet are 2 spots behind....none of this matters.

Finland won Lithuania in home and lost 4pts without 2 starters in road. I just can't agree that Lithuania is too low. Greece is way too low, Slovenia and Dominican way too high. Finland and Lithuania are just fine.

Edit. Mistake on Dominican.

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

In the second round, Slovenia will mostlikely meet Australia and Germany, beating one of those without Čančar, Murič, while some of the guards currently are also pretty out of shape, would be a huge upset. Upsets happen, however since it's rankings we are talking about here, Slovenia has no place among top10 currently.

 

[Shawshank2]

Lithuania is missing half of our top 10 players,we ourselfs calling NT 2023 B roster our position around 10-12th place is accurate

In Eurobasket 2022 clear big 3 was Valanciunas,Sabonis,Grigonis only one from them is playing in 2023

 

[Darrell Armstrong2]

Lithuania is missing half of our top 10 players,we ourselfs calling NT 2023 B roster our position around 10-12th place is accurate

In Eurobasket 2022 clear big 3 was Valanciunas,Sabonis,Grigonis only one from them is playing in 2023

You're right, but other squads have even more key players out.

Lithuania should win all their first round matchups and go into the second phase with a clean slate. Then you only have to beat Greece B (no Giannis, Sloukas or Calathes) to earn a QFs berth. And the potential matchups are Serbia B (no Jokic, Micic or Kalinic) and Italy. I think you have a fighting chance against any of them. Finding Lithuania in semis wouldn't be a huge upset.

 

[Shawshank2]

Yes draw is favourable i agree and thats why there is chances making QF,but i was talking more about NT tallent level

LTU NT 2023 looks very shaky in preparation stages.Main problem is weak guards play.


Our 2022 roster was alot stronger and we made just 1/8 because draw was ridiculously bad .We ended our road in 1/8 and manage to play 2pts diffrence games with all 3 medal podium teams


This 2023 LTU roster is simply weak but we cant ask for better draw is other way around

 

[Darrell Armstrong2]

Yes draw is favourable i agree and thats why there is chances making QF,but i was talking more about NT tallent level

LTU NT 2023 looks very shaky in preparation stages.Main problem is weak guards play.

Our 2022 roster was alot stronger and we made just 1/8 because draw was ridiculously bad .We ended our road in 1/8 but manage to play with entire medal podium teams


Game versus Montenegro and Greece will be more like 50/50.

Oh, come on. Montenegro has struggled in preparation matches and their guard play isn't exactly a strength. Valanciunas > Vucevic, also. No guarantees, of course, but giving Montenegro a 50% chance against you is completely unrealistic. Greece looks more solid, although not quite a title contender.

 

[Shawshank2]

Ask americans they value Vucevic more than Valanciunas according to their nba contracts and stats.

Their american guard is more dangerous in scoring alot of points than any ltu guard in one game series

Dublejevic will do his stuff inside too. When Montenegro had stronger roster than this 2023?


Its way closer than u think.I take Montenegro as very dangerous opponent for our B roster

 

[Darrell Armstrong2]

I may be biased because the only Montenegro friendly game I saw was against France. And both Vucevic and Dubljevic were awful in that one. I think they combined for 5 baskets from 21 shots if I'm not mistaken. Perry didn't play, also.

But sure, they gave Germany a run for their money last year and could be better this time around. They just didn't show it in the preparation, and as far as I know they don't have any more games until the World Cup. I've never been a fan of Vucevic, BTW. He seems to shrink when the games matter, and looks more like a stat padder than a real winner to me.

 

[Cameronwraitz2]

I may be biased because the only Montenegro friendly game I saw was against France. And both Vucevic and Dubljevic were awful in that one. I think they combined for 5 baskets from 21 shots if I'm not mistaken. Perry didn't play, also.

But sure, they gave Germany a run for their money last year and could be better this time around. They just didn't show it in the preparation, and as far as I know they don't have any more games until the World Cup. I've never been a fan of Vucevic, BTW. He seems to shrink when the games matter, and looks more like a stat padder than a real winner to me.

on Sunday Montenegro will play the Philippines behind closed doors (maybe also against someone else, since the Gilas will also play Mexico and Ivory)

​​​​​but it will be possible to judge something by the game only if the Gilas will play on normal level and there will be highlights

 

[Shawshank2]

I may be biased because the only Montenegro friendly game I saw was against France. And both Vucevic and Dubljevic were awful in that one. I think they combined for 5 baskets from 21 shots if I'm not mistaken. Perry didn't play, also.

But sure, they gave Germany a run for their money last year and could be better this time around. They just didn't show it in the preparation, and as far as I know they don't have any more games until the World Cup. I've never been a fan of Vucevic, BTW. He seems to shrink when the games matter, and looks more like a stat padder than a real winner to me.

Montenegro have very close losses to Germany and Turkey in 2022 and that was without Vucevic even playing


My point is that I dont see huge upset if

Vucevic,Perry,Dublejevic and co will beat Valanciunas,Jokubaitis,Brazdeikis and co in close game.

Dont look just at country names.When Lithuania is sending B roster and Montenegro A roster.

 

[usagre2]

Tier 1
———
USA

Tier 2
———
CANADA

Tier 3
———
AUSTRALIA
GERMANY
FRANCE

Tier 4
———
SPAIN
SLOVENIA
SERBIA

Tier 5
———
ITALY

Tier 6
———-
It doesn’t really matter.
But if I have to pick its

GREECE
LITHUANIA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC