2024 Olympics (Paris) - Men's Competition

[Straight forward]

Ben Simmons says he's gonna suit up for Boomers. Him and Josh Giddey would make funny size at 1.

Heard USA into competition for Embiid with France. But do France need Embiid when they have Wemby? Hard to say.

Steph Curry wants to play for USA if healthy. Durant says "we'll see". Next best Americans are Tatum, Morant and healthy Zion (IMO). This would probably mean better roster than 2020 and 2016, but it's safe to say USA has no talent to replace Lebron, Kobe, Durant as 2012 went.

Obviously Canada is getting more and more stacked with one of the best rookies in B. Mathurin. They could gather not much worse backcourt than USA's basically.

Europe as 2022 EB showed is a wild continent. Like 10 competitive NTs that can win it all. But still I think France, Serbia, Spain, Slovenia remain top contenders, followed by Greece, Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Turkey.

Don't know that to make from Argentina? Will they still be competitive Campazzo, Bolmaro, Vildoza, Laprovitolla, Gabriel Deck? Probably still pretty nice and competitive team.

Thought this thread will be useful since the news about Simmons came out tonight.

[mojo13]

Ben Simmons says he's gonna suit up for Boomers. Him and Josh Giddey would make funny size at 1.

Heard USA into competition for Embiid with France. But do France need Embiid when they have Wemby? Hard to say.

Steph Curry wants to play for USA if healthy. Durant says "we'll see". Next best Americans are Tatum, Morant and healthy Zion (IMO). This would probably mean better roster than 2020 and 2016, but it's safe to say USA has no talent to replace Lebron, Kobe, Durant as 2012 went.

Obviously Canada is getting more and more stacked with one of the best rookies in B. Mathurin. They could gather not much worse backcourt than USA's basically.

Europe as 2022 EB showed is a wild continent. Like 10 competitive NTs that can win it all. But still I think France, Serbia, Spain, Slovenia remain top contenders, followed by Greece, Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Turkey.

Don't know that to make from Argentina? Will they still be competitive Campazzo, Bolmaro, Vildoza, Laprovitolla, Gabriel Deck? Probably still pretty nice and competitive team.

Thought this thread will be useful since the news about Simmons came out tonight.

I wouldn't be so sure about Simmons suiting up for the Boomers. Simmons has a very poor history with the federation and would need to mend many burnt bridges. And would they even want him? There is something to be said for chemistry and fit. It seems clear Simmons is at least some level of cancer in the NBA and could likely be with Australia in FIBA. Odd fit for FIBA as well - he'd need to play in the front court wouldn't he?.

Only 7 games in with the 1-6 Net's he is 5.6p 6.0r, 6.4a on 43/0/47 shooting. That might be the player he is now - how does that help?

[Giannis34GOD]

Ben Simmons says he's gonna suit up for Boomers. Him and Josh Giddey would make funny size at 1.

Heard USA into competition for Embiid with France. But do France need Embiid when they have Wemby? Hard to say.

Steph Curry wants to play for USA if healthy. Durant says "we'll see". Next best Americans are Tatum, Morant and healthy Zion (IMO). This would probably mean better roster than 2020 and 2016, but it's safe to say USA has no talent to replace Lebron, Kobe, Durant as 2012 went.

Obviously Canada is getting more and more stacked with one of the best rookies in B. Mathurin. They could gather not much worse backcourt than USA's basically.

Europe as 2022 EB showed is a wild continent. Like 10 competitive NTs that can win it all. But still I think France, Serbia, Spain, Slovenia remain top contenders, followed by Greece, Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Turkey.

Don't know that to make from Argentina? Will they still be competitive Campazzo, Bolmaro, Vildoza, Laprovitolla, Gabriel Deck? Probably still pretty nice and competitive team.

Thought this thread will be useful since the news about Simmons came out tonight.

It's kinda weird why Olympics only has 12 teams... I can count 20 or more teams have a chance to win a medal... 2021 Olympics was not good competition since most of elite teams didn't qualify due to ongoing NBA season and protocol situation problem.... Why not expand to 16 teams?

[Aviator Game]

It's kinda weird why Olympics only has 12 teams... I can count 20 or more teams have a chance to win a medal... 2021 Olympics was not good competition since most of elite teams didn't qualify due to ongoing NBA season and protocol situation problem.... Why not expand to 16 teams?

I would also increase the number of teams to 16!

[Straight forward]

Terrorists, champs in raping and child killing, banned from Olympic basketball. Olympic basketball tournament is saved!

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1648356489755521026

[Kaitlynn]

The Olympics don’t really excite me anymore. The last one had too much controversy, it’s hard to enjoy athletes’ time to shine when all of the behind-the-scenes is cluttering the newsfeed.

[christodoulou76]

Apparently Lebron, Durant and Steph Curry might be on the US Olympic team next year.

[Victorious]

Olympics should not be the top tier basketball competition. It's only top tier because the Americans bring their very best starting with the Dream Team.

The qualification format is inadequate. First if all, it only host 12 teams. Only a handfull of top teams are there. There are just four spots in Olympic qualifying tournaments. These tournaments are played a few days after national competitions end. Or during the NBA finals. Many players don't show up and teams are unprepared.

The World Cup Format makes much more sense. Two years of qualifications and 32 participants.

Olympic basketball. Sure. Under the age of 23.

Right now I believe the Eurobasket is the toughest International competition. Winning gold there is harder than winning Silver at the Olympics.

[mojo13]

Olympics should not be the top tier basketball competition. It's only top tier because the Americans bring their very best starting with the Dream Team.

The qualification format is inadequate. First if all, it only host 12 teams. Only a handfull of top teams are there. There are just four spots in Olympic qualifying tournaments. These tournaments are played a few days after national competitions end. Or during the NBA finals. Many players don't show up and teams are unprepared.

The World Cup Format makes much more sense. Two years of qualifications and 32 participants.

Olympic basketball. Sure. Under the age of 23.

Right now I believe the Eurobasket is the toughest International competition. Winning gold there is harder than winning Silver at the Olympics.

I'm curious your rational on how the EuroBasket is harder to win than the World Cup.

The EuroBasket would be without the USA, Canada, Australia, Domincan Republic, Brazil and Argentina. Thats at least 5 of the top 12-15 teams in the World and three of the top 8 or so.

Adding in the Czech Republic, Turkey, Poland, Croatia, Ukraine, Belgium or whatever 2nd and 3rd rate Euro nations for those 5 or 6 does not come close to compensating.

In my opinion, of course!



Edit: Re-reading your post, perhaps you are saying the EuroBasket is tougher to win than the Olympics? That's a different and more valid comment. But you saying "Right now I believe the Eurobasket is the toughest International competition." has me confused.

[R1ou]

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that Euro superstards tend not to skip Eurobasket as it lately happens with WC.

[Cameronwraitz]

I'm curious your rational on how the EuroBasket is harder to win than the World Cup.

The EuroBasket would be without the USA, Canada, Australia, Domincan Republic, Brazil and Argentina. Thats at least 5 of the top 12-15 teams in the World and three of the top 8 or so.

Adding in the Czech Republic, Turkey, Poland, Croatia, Ukraine, Belgium or whatever 2nd and 3rd rate Euro nations for those 5 or 6 does not come close to compensating.

In my opinion, of course!



Edit: Re-reading your post, perhaps you are saying the EuroBasket is tougher to win than the Olympics? That's a different and more valid comment. But you saying "Right now I believe the Eurobasket is the toughest International competition." has me confused.

adding Croatia (big if true, but ffs), Turkey, Poland & Bosnia (although they're in death Q2025 group – CRO & FRA – only two qualify) could compensate. Montenegro & Israel – wildcard. Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia with adequate coach & Belgium (big if, they can surprise) probably not better, not worse than current DR and Argentina

[Victorious]

adding Croatia (big if true, but ffs), Turkey, Poland & Bosnia (although they're in death Q2025 group – CRO & FRA – only two qualify) could compensate. Montenegro & Israel – wildcard. Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia with adequate coach & Belgium (big if, they can surprise) probably not better, not worse than current DR and Argentina

Indeed.

Any lower tier European team can be a threat. While some Asian, African and I might even say American teams are simply not at that level yet. Think of Egypt, Jordan, Mexico, Japan etc.

Argentina and Brasil are not what they used to be.

Not to mention that top players do show up at Eurobasket, because they are in a known and trusted environment.

My point though is that the system to qualify for the Olympics is inadequate.

[mojo13]

Indeed.

Any lower tier European team can be a threat. While some Asian, African and I might even say American teams are simply not at that level yet. Think of Egypt, Jordan, Mexico, Japan etc.

Argentina and Brasil are not what they used to be.

Not to mention that top players do show up at Eurobasket, because they are in a known and trusted environment.

My point though is that the system to qualify for the Olympics is inadequate.

I agree with you on the last point. No doubt.


But the Dominican Republic and Brazil are better (or at least as good) as any Euro team outside FIBA's Top 10 (except current Latvia). DR and BRA are both solid top 15 teams. I really don't know what is going on with Argentina right now, but they have enough history to think this is temporary and that they are really still at the level DR and BRA.

Lower level America's team's can be a threat too. Heck, if the Bahamas can keep their team together they are likely better than all the 2nd and 3rd tier Euro nations as well. But I won't feel too bad about whatever Euro nation draws them in the Olympic qualifers as the chance their big three all make it so close to the NBA season seems low.

Puerto Rico can regularly put together Top 16 teams (as they just did). Sometimes the African teams can over come all their issues and pull all their talent together. Japan just easily dispatched Finland without their star player.

So without USA, CAN, DR, BRA, ARG, AUS you are missing 6 of the Top 15 teams in the World.

I can understand your arguement (but still disagree) that the combination of Poland, Turkey, Croatia, Belgium, Russia might be a wash with BRA, ARG, DR, PR but once you start removing USA, CAN, AUS it is a massive fall off in competition. Thus trying to say the EuroBasket is stronger than the World Cup does make sense to me..

[mojo13]

Based on the updated FIBA Rankings released today we have a window into the Pots for the draw of the Olympics pools

(this is assuming FIBA use's the same draw format as they did for Tokyo)


Pot 1
US
Whoever wins the last chance tournament that has Spain
Germany

Pot 2
Australia
Serbia
Canada

Pot 3
Whoever wins the last chance tournament that has Latvia
France
Whoever wins the last chance tournament that has Lithuania

Pot 4
Whoever wins the last chance tournament that has Slovenia
Japan
South Sudan

these will be drawn into 3 pools of four teams each.

They should still have the same rule about not having two teams from the same region (other then Europe) in the same group, and of not having three European teams in the same group. So you can get an idea of pool composition.
There is a chance that European teams all win the Qualfiers and would force one pool to have 3 European teams.

Also note they did the draw before the last chance Qualfiers for Tokyo - so there was no adjusment to Pots after the last chance tournaments were done. If a less ranked team wins the torunment that Spain is in they assume their Pot position and draw slot..

[Ridirkulous]

Based on the updated FIBA Rankings released today we have a window into the Pots for the draw of the Olympics pools

(this is assuming FIBA use's the same draw format as they did for Tokyo)


Pot 1
US
Whoever wins the last chance tournament that has Spain
Germany

Pot 2
Australia
Serbia
Canada

Pot 3
Whoever wins the last chance tournament that has Latvia
France
Whoever wins the last chance tournament that has Lithuania

Pot 4
Whoever wins the last chance tournament that has Slovenia
Japan
South Sudan

these will be drawn into 3 pools of four teams each.

They should still have the same rule about not having two teams from the same region (other then Europe) in the same group, and of not having three European teams in the same group. So you can get an idea of pool composition.
There is a chance that European teams all win the Qualfiers and would force one pool to have 3 European teams.

Also note they did the draw before the last chance Qualfiers for Tokyo - so there was no adjusment to Pots after the last chance tournaments were done. If a less ranked team wins the torunment that Spain is in they assume their Pot position and draw slot..

They changed the format in the Tokyo Olympics to reduce the number of games to risk less infections and also because the compressed schedule was already tough on the players. FIBA is fully expected to go back to the "two groups of six teams" format in Paris, I think.