World Championship Power Rankings

[Grinder]

C O N T E N D E R S



1.) Spain
Calderon / Rubio
Navarro / Llull
Fernandez / Mumbru / San Emeterio
Reyes / Garbajosa / Claver
M. Gasol / Vazquez

No Pau Gasol? No problem. Spain more than makes up for it with his brother Marc Gasol and the athletic Fran Vazquez. Rubio and Calderon handle the playmaking duties, while Navarro and Fernandez take control of the scoring on the wings. San Emeterio, Mumbru, Reyes, and Garbajosa bring veteran presence, scoring, and toughness off the bench. Llull, Claver, and Vazquez provide the necessary athleticism needed to combat USA bench players. The most complete team in the tournament.

2.) Team USA
Rondo / Rose / Westbrook
Billups / Curry
Iguodala / Gay / Granger
Durant / Odom
Chandler / Love

Team USA is always a threat to win it all but with this depleted roster, it's far from a lock. Kevin Durant will be the go to guy for this team with Derrick Rose playing second fiddle...after that it's a large drop off. The guard situation is still unclear but it appears that Stephen Curry and Chauncey Billups are locks and will be needed against the zone defenses Team USA will face. Rudy Gay might be the third option that this team needs offensively as well as an athletic spark off the bench. Lamar Odom will need to be consistent and Chandler has to stay healthy for the US to claim gold.

3.) Greece
Diamantidis / Zisis
Spanoulis / Calathes / Vasiliadis
Perperoglou / Printezis
Fotsis / Kaimakaglou
Bourousis / Schortsanitis / Tsartsaris

Known in the past for slowing down the pace of the game and running lots of pick and rolls, new coach Jonas Kazlauskas has this team looking like a fast paced, well oiled offensive machine. Spanoulis will always be the go to guy on this team, while Bourousis and Schortsanitis are two huge bodies in the post that have vastly different skill sets. The mercurial Fotsis is an X factor for this team similar to Lamar Odom, while Tsartsaris is a tough defender and scorer off the bench. Nick Calathes brings some youth and energy off the bench and has the ability to play both guard positions while Vasiliadis is a prolific scorer and the zone buster for this team. Diamantidis has been known for years as one of the premier defenders in Europe and can guard 3 positions effectively, knock down the 3 ball, and handle the playmaking duties - an extremely important piece for this Greek team.



4.) Brazil
Huertas / Nezinho / Neto
Barbosa / Alex
Marcelinho / Vinicius
Varejao / Guilherme / Becker
Nene / Splitter

In a tournament where several elite big men are missing, Brazil stands out from the pack. Possibly having the best triumvirate of bigs in the tournament, the South American squad also brings excellent perimeter shooting and athleticism to the table. Marcelo Huertas was one of the best point guards in the ACB and a crucial piece to Caja Laboral's ACB title. Barbosa is an electrifying scorer whose speed may only be matched by a few players in the world. Alex Garcia and Marcelo Machado are elite 3 point threats and Marcus Vinicius is a former NBA player who brings athleticism and versatility on the defensive end. Despite coming off the bench, Tiago Splitter will get a ton of playing time and give Spurs fans a preview of what he's capable of when he destroys opposing bench bigs. NBA fans already know what Varejao and Nene are capable of. I rate this team higher than most.

5.) Serbia
Teodosic / Markovic
Tepic / Rasic
Keselj / Bjelica
Velickovic / Macvan / Savanovic
Krstic / Perovic / Radulijca

Last year's surprising Eurobasket finalists and the "OKC Thunder" of the World Championship look primed to make another deep run in the WC. Reigning Euroleague MVP Milos Teodosic is fearless and is an elite shooter and playmaker as well as possessing excellent size for either guard spot at 6'5". Tepic and Bjelica are two tall, young wing players that can play the 1,2,3 giving the Serbian squad excellent ball movement. Velickovic is a young combo forward that is already one of the better forwards in Europe. Nenad Krstic is the elder statesmen at age 27 and is a reliable presence in the post. Milan Macvan, an NBA prospect, is the Serbian version of Kevin Love and it should really interesting to see them go up against each other. Kosta Perovic didn't fare well in the NBA but has proven himself to be a very effective player in Europe. This team is loaded with tons of young talent (Radulijca, Keslj, Bjelica) and extremely schooled in its fundamentals at the helm of the great coach Dusko Ivkovic. Watch out for the young Serbs.



6.) Argentina
Prigioni / Cantero
Delfino / Quinteros
Nocioni / Jasen / Kammerichs
Scola / L. Gutierrez
Oberto / Gonzalez / J. Gutierrez

Does this aging group of veterans have on last medal left in them? That's what we'll find out in a few weeks time. Returning all the major players from the "golden era of Argentine basketball" minus Manu Ginobili and Walter Herrmann, Argentina looks dangerous and poised to make a run in this year's WC. Prigioni brings a reliable presence at the point guard spot and knows how to control the tempo of the game. Delfino will be relied upon to bring perimeter scoring and toughness, while Scola is always a beast internationally will be the go to guy for this team and might be the best big man in this tournament. Oberto and big Roman Gonzalez will be relied upon to clean up the boards and protect the rim. Hernan Jasen could be a crucial piece for this team if Andres Nocioni isn't at full strength. Quinteros is a lights out shooter and along with Jasen will be vital piece off the bench. Cantero and Leo Gutierrez are both good shooters and will need to knock down shots to relieve the starters some minutes.

D A R K H O R S E S

7.) Turkey
Tun

[Grinder]

ADVANCE OUT OF THE GROUP STAGE



11.) Australia
Mills / Gibson / Markovic
Newley / Ingles
Worthington / Barlow
Andersen / Nielsen
Maric / Ogilvy / Baynes

Australia suffered a huge blow with the injury to Andrew Bogut, followed by the retirement of CJ Bruton and the withdrawal of Nathan Jawai. Luckily, Partizan stud Aleks Maric has decided to suit up for the Boomers along with Raptors' forward David Andersen and Olympiacos big man Matt Nielsen. The Aussies are very tough in the front court and are headed up by the lightning quick Patty Mills. Ingles, Newley, and Barlow are all good scorers and perimeter threats while Gibson was the defensive player of the year in Australia. They play good team basketball, but don't lack the fire power necessary to go deep in this tournament.

12.) Russia
Bykov / Vyaltsev
Ponkrashov / Fridzon / Zozulin
Shved / Monya / Kurbanov
Khryapa / Vorontsevich
Mozgov / Kaun

Despite missing perennial presences Andrei Kirilenko and JR Holden, Russia is always going to be tough under head coach David Blatt. The new Knick, Mozgov and former Jayhawk, Sasha Kaun form a dynamic and athletic duo at the 5 spot and will be imperative to Russian success. Khryapa is one of the best players in Europe and an excellent defender - the most important player on this team. Vorontsevich is a good shot blocker and a versatile player while Monya isn't that much more of a player than he was in the NBA a few years ago. Guard play is very suspect here with Bykov and Ponkrashov being mediocre at best. Young Alexey Shved will be important and can play the 1, 2 and 3.

13.) Lithuania
Kalnietis / Delininkaitis
Gecevicius / Seibutis / Pocius
Jasaitis / Maciulis
Kleiza / Jankunas / Klimavicius
Javtokas / Andriuskevicius

This squad is essentially the Lithuanian B team + a few other players. Notable absences here include Jasikevicius, Siskauskas, Kaukenas, Songaila, Ilgauskas, Petravicius, D. Lavrinovic, K. Lavrinvovic and Macijaukas. Pretty much the entire starting five is missing. I would have plugged in some of the young prospects such as Motiejunas (cut) and Valanciunas (MVP of the u18) for experience. Kleiza and Gecevicius will be the go to guys for this team. Javtokas and Kalneitis bring athleticism and Jankunas is a skilled 4.



14.) France
Bokolo / Albicy
Batum /De Colo / Causeur
F. Pietrus / Gelabale
Diaw / Traore / Koffi
Mahinmi / Ajin

[chains5000]

Rubio might be the starter instead of Calderon, he isn't making great decisions lately.

Splitter should start for Brazil, he's better than Nen

[plowking]

Didn't New Zealand come 3rd once? Did every other team die that world championship or something?

[Grinder]

Didn't New Zealand come 3rd once? Did every other team die that world championship or something?

It was in 02 when they beat China in the Round of 16 and Puerto Rico in the quarters. They lost to the US by 48 and they finished 4th while the US finished 6th.


[QUOTE=chains5000]Rubio might be the starter instead of Calderon, he isn't making great decisions lately.

Splitter should start for Brazil, he's better than Nen

[CeltsGarlic]

Lithuania is 13??? Im just curious what you will say after the World Championship...

[kaktus14]

Savanovic is probably starter now on PF position for Serbia,he has been their best player so far in friendlies,Vujanic isnt in squad,back-up PG will be Rasic or Markovic,while SG slot is open for Paunic and Milosavljevic,while Tepic can play 3 and so far Keselj was starter in front of Bjelica who was complete shit

[Scott Baker]

So is Rondo cut?

[kaktus14]

For Croatia Kus I hope will not go and his slot will be filled with Bogdanovic who is one of the best young players in Europe,he was in friendlies one of our top scorers,also Delas is 4/5 position and he isnt going to WC,canceled beacuse of injury or was too tired after u20 eurobasket,here for 5 or 6th big man slots will be probably divided between Pasalic and andric who was nice suprise so far in recent games.

[chains5000]

For Croatia Kus I hope will not go and his slot will be filled with Bogdanovic who is one of the best young players in Europe,he was in friendlies one of our top scorers,also Delas is 4/5 position and he isnt going to WC,canceled beacuse of injury or was too tired after u20 eurobasket,here for 5 or 6th big man slots will be probably divided between Pasalic and andric who was nice suprise so far in recent games.

Banic!!!

[Yung D-Will]

Rondo's definitely not cut he was the poster on team Usa's website a couple days ago

[kaktus14]

Banic!!!

He is done,cant defend anyone,Fotsis raped him last week

But congrats of getting rid of Markota

[Grinder]

So is Rondo cut?

Nah, he's not cut, I should probably add him and take out Granger or Iggy.

Don't see the need for 6 point guards.

[Grinder]

For Croatia Kus I hope will not go and his slot will be filled with Bogdanovic who is one of the best young players in Europe,he was in friendlies one of our top scorers,also Delas is 4/5 position and he isnt going to WC,canceled beacuse of injury or was too tired after u20 eurobasket,here for 5 or 6th big man slots will be probably divided between Pasalic and andric who was nice suprise so far in recent games.

Yeah, I forgot about Bogdanovic, I've added him now, same with Andric.

Is Loncar probably starting?

[chains5000]

He is done,cant defend anyone,Fotsis raped him last week

But congrats of getting rid of Markota

He's just resting for the next season...
As for Markota...