EuroBasket 2022 Power Rankings

[Straight forward]

Why FIBA hasn't yet announced the ban of Russia? This is pathetic. Kick these maniacs out. Isolate the madness.

[Straight forward]

Latvia as the main host of Eurobasket 2025. Group stages will also take part in Finland and Cyprus. Congrats to our neighbours. Finally Latvia got some slack From my perspective, it should be comfortable to play in Latvia both group and knock out stage.

I wished Estonia could be in the mix though. They will have a nice generation with Kriisa, Drell, Henri Veesaar and it seems that basketball is the most popular sport now in Estonia. Lithuania is not alone in Europe

https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/statu...47280194678786

[Straight forward]

Fan facts about Eurobasket. Which countries representatives (in some cases representing imperial blocks rather than their direct countries) won EB MVPs most times? All time, since 1935.

Spain 7
Lithuania 6
Russia 5
Serbia 4
Croatia 4
Germany 2
Hungary 2

France 1 (surprise)
Turkey 1
Slovenia 1
Latvia 1
Israel 1
Czech Rep 1

Only two individuals snatched it 2 times - Pau Gasol and Kresimir Cosic

[Katastroika]

Latvia as the main host of Eurobasket 2025. Group stages will also take part in Finland and Cyprus. Congrats to our neighbours. Finally Latvia got some slack From my perspective, it should be comfortable to play in Latvia both group and knock out stage.

I wished Estonia could be in the mix though. They will have a nice generation with Kriisa, Drell, Henri Veesaar and it seems that basketball is the most popular sport now in Estonia. Lithuania is not alone in Europe

https://twitter.com/EuroBasket/statu...47280194678786

This multi-country hostings suck hard time. Incredibly annoying.

[Straight forward]

Batum out. So no Batum, no De Colo. That's 2 starters.

[Toruko]

Batum out. So no Batum, no De Colo. That's 2 starters.

I wouldnt say De Colo was a starter but yeah Batum was dead for a certain time but he always played well in tournaments.

[Straight forward]

I wouldnt say De Colo was a starter but yeah Batum was dead for a certain time but he always played well in tournaments.

Big hit nevertheless. Fournier now is absolutely necessary, IMO.

[Toruko]

Big hit nevertheless. Fournier now is absolutely necessary, IMO.

Fournier is always ready unless he is injured but you are right. Fournier is someone who is badly needed but there are others who could create their own shots. Okobo and even Beaubois

[Straight forward]

Fournier is always ready unless he is injured but you are right. Fournier is someone who is badly needed but there are others who could create their own shots. Okobo and even Beaubois

Doubt Beaubois would even consider. Didn't even see him in the NT for years, why now?

[Toruko]

Doubt Beaubois would even consider. Didn't even see him in the NT for years, why now?

Technically he is available. I dont expect him to play, either

[Shawshank]

Batum and Decolo 2 smartest France players that gave brain for very athletic team.Both always were playing close game endings well.

Decolo offensively making desicions,Batum guarding best opponents players.

France big 4 of last 2 medals winning teams 2019 and 2021 were:

Gobert with Batum in defence, Fournier with Decolo in offence

Huge loses for France.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

Batum singlehandedly screwed Slovenia twice in the past 10 years and turned the equilibrium back to France after we became a bit spoiled of beating France when neccesary, probably at some point after Rigadeau's retirement. He is a monster fiba player that because of surprinsingly mediocre NBA career somehow doesn't get the credit due. France is still loaded with talent, but these kinds of transitions to younger don't neccesarily always end up with simmilar results, even with comparable talent in question.

Somebody mentioned Croatia as a top8 team. If there was a chance to ban PG's from playing and play 4 on 4 instead, they're imo top5 easily.
But the way basketball is played currently, great teams with mediocre PG's will underperform, Croatia lacks even a mediocre PG for eurobasket level. The most extreme case of lack of PG in history in my opinion. Maybee even Simon running the point would decrase half of their problems but that's ussualy not a solution for more than one tournament. Running Ukič or Stipčevič at PG is almost simmilar to calling up Mulaomerović back from retirement. They will mostlikely need either young Gnjidić to make a solid progress or some naturalisation at PG. With the latter, they're immediately a top8 team, as they sure as hell have lots of talent on other positions...

And that's also the only reason for Slovenia's results. PGs. Sure Dončič is an animal. But even while some Nikolič is really a mediocre PG for european standards, at NT level there aren't that many better ones. Especialy if you exclude those numbers of mediocre-to-borderline decent French and Spanish PG's, with those two nations being the only ones which can even remotely get labeled as "deep" on that position. Prepelič, even if more of a SG, is a freaking gold in that perspective. Rupnik is pretty near of a dissaster for a PG, but ironicaly still an upgrade on half of the eurobaskets point guards that show up. That should say it all actualy.

Also, it's absolutely NO coincidence Italy was 5th in the olympics, with probably one of the more dissapointing rosters in their history, that's not just "oh finally after al those years" or some cinderella story, with Manion and Pajola, that are considered just as mediocre players in Virtus Bologna, they will keep on ending up in top8.

[Serbian_Layup]

Gobert is also questionable for Eurobasket. I think those star French players are aiming 2024 Olympics in Paris as their ultimate goal where they will try to take down USA. Everything up until that point will be of less importance for them and serve as preparation for Olympics.

[Straight forward]

Batum singlehandedly screwed Slovenia twice in the past 10 years and turned the equilibrium back to France after we became a bit spoiled of beating France when neccesary, probably at some point after Rigadeau's retirement. He is a monster fiba player that because of surprinsingly mediocre NBA career somehow doesn't get the credit due. France is still loaded with talent, but these kinds of transitions to younger don't neccesarily always end up with simmilar results, even with comparable talent in question.

Somebody mentioned Croatia as a top8 team. If there was a chance to ban PG's from playing and play 4 on 4 instead, they're imo top5 easily.
But the way basketball is played currently, great teams with mediocre PG's will underperform, Croatia lacks even a mediocre PG for eurobasket level. The most extreme case of lack of PG in history in my opinion. Maybee even Simon running the point would decrase half of their problems but that's ussualy not a solution for more than one tournament. Running Ukič or Stipčevič at PG is almost simmilar to calling up Mulaomerović back from retirement. They will mostlikely need either young Gnjidić to make a solid progress or some naturalisation at PG. With the latter, they're immediately a top8 team, as they sure as hell have lots of talent on other positions...

And that's also the only reason for Slovenia's results. PGs. Sure Dončič is an animal. But even while some Nikolič is really a mediocre PG for european standards, at NT level there aren't that many better ones. Especialy if you exclude those numbers of mediocre-to-borderline decent French and Spanish PG's, with those two nations being the only ones which can even remotely get labeled as "deep" on that position. Prepelič, even if more of a SG, is a freaking gold in that perspective. Rupnik is pretty near of a dissaster for a PG, but ironicaly still an upgrade on half of the eurobaskets point guards that show up. That should say it all actualy.

Also, it's absolutely NO coincidence Italy was 5th in the olympics, with probably one of the more dissapointing rosters in their history, that's not just "oh finally after al those years" or some cinderella story, with Manion and Pajola, that are considered just as mediocre players in Virtus Bologna, they will keep on ending up in top8.

That is a spot on comment. Not that it comes as surprise Having a true point guard is pretty rare thing (and that's the game changer). That's why most "naturalization" comes in the "boxes 1". We should look at Czeck Rep. team as one of the best examples .Not a single superstar, but nearly deadly team because of very fundamentally sound architecture.

And you shouldn't be too humble, let's say it openly - Slovenia is the best guards nation in Europe along with Spain, France and probably Serbia. One thing is certain - Doncic, Dragic, Udrih is the best PGs punch in the NBA when it comes to Europe. The future is also bright. Doncic is young and plenty of interesting youngsters. Ziga Samar seems like the guy who could make some impact in Eurobasket already. And many more.

I would say Slovenia, France, Lithuania, Italy have their long term answers at 1. Spain and Serbia (assuming 28yo Micic is not precisely long term answer) should probably get away with something great as they always do even though today there's no blue printed names as of yet. But many don't...And that's the game changer cause naturalization is not only temporary solution usually, but also much less reliable whet it comes to creating winning environment.

[R1ou]

Italy, Czechs, Germany, Turkey, Lithuania

Turkey against Greece are 0-3 without Giannis, go on.

[okanial]

Turkey against Greece are 0-3 without Giannis, go on.

You know some teams are strong against others not because they are better but because they are mad match ups right? Also we have a really young roster and a good future with finally a good coach. Our future looks good so far

[Toruko]

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nationa...h-nationality/

Embiid playing for the French NT would be a huge problem.

[Straight forward]

Embiid playing for the French NT would be a huge problem.

Question is whenever Gobert and Victor (give him 2 years and he's a beast) are excited about it. France has enough of their 100% material to pack a heck of team.

[Julijasav]

Big concerns and huge disappointments, limited offense and knee problems

That's life, Toruko. That's life

I have been to slovienia and found this amazing place where you can stay and have a lot of contests.

https://erasmus-home.com/en/

And when you get married you will reevaluate the "groups of death" as well

Great to know that I was creating new Shopify site and that came up recently. Does eny freelancer play in dark mode web side spheres or a site for group meet like SWC poker?

[Big Lebowski]

I don't see big differences if France has Embiid or not. France is historically using non-French players.
As always, in predictions there are always many patriot-fanatics who see Lithuania and Turkey on the top and as always we will see Lithuania and Turkey not winning.
Lithuania is far from the top for years now and probably will never be back to its historical third places (2003 was some random thing), Turkey can lead with clubs where foreigners are allowed. Since only one naturalized player is allowed and since Yugoslav wars are over for years, Turkey will lose as always in the 1st round or the knock-out phase.

Spain, Serbia, Slovenia and France. These will be semifinalists. Others could easily stay at home.