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Mystro

Years ago

Frances Team for the World Champs takes a hit

NZ have their work cut out for them but I would not judge them on that tour of Europe and NZ have proven before that they can rise to the occasion on the big stage.
France still have a lot of depth to select from and Pietrus is insane and highly underrated but America is a prime example of a team of stars as opposed to a star team. Hopefully the Tallblacks combination's and team play and hustle can negate a bit of the other teams "star" value. Tony Parker is the biggest loss for France, he is so quick and capable of creating scoring chances out of nothing.
Spain will def take out the group tho.

Reply #277711 Report this topic

Beantown

Years ago

Yeah, can't see that NZ lineup outplaying the starting 5 MACDUB listed for France above. The only guy I would even consider taking ahead of any of those French players is Penney. Even then, its a tough call to take him ahead of the extremely athletic, tall Pietrus, who can finish at the basket AND shoot from the outside (though he is a bit streaky).

Reply #277701 Report this topic

Years ago

And to back up MACDUB further, with the exception of Canada, the teams the Kiwi's lost to are not even competing at the WC's!

Reply #277700 Report this topic

MACDUB

Years ago

What the hell?
Your trying to tell us that Lithuania aren't that great. Big Call!
Like I said, Im a NZer.
The TB's, on their last european tour had many of those players you mentioned above (Penney, Abercrombie, Vukona, Pledger, Tait, Loe and Fitchett).

How did they go? They lost to Estonia twice, Italy once (by 18), Canada once (by 22), Belgium once (by 22) and Finland once (by 11).
Now no disrespect to the likes of Estonia, Belgium and Finland, if the TB's can't beat these minor European teams, how do you think they will do against Lithuania who is a European powerhouse?

Reply #277697 Report this topic

Years ago

^ Agree

Reply #277680 Report this topic

MACDUB

Years ago

The Banker, I support the Tall Blacks and am a kiwi. Although I can't even see us finishing ahead of France in our pool

They still have a great team. Sure they don't have Parker and Turiaf, but guys like Pietrus(Mickael), Batum, Noah, Diaw and Beabouis are unbelievably skilled players.

Their starting 5 could potentially look like this:

Beaubois
Pietrus (Mikael)
Batum
Diaw
Noah

Thats a scary starting 5, add in players off the bench such as Petro, Mahinmi, Nando De Colo and Gelabale and that is one crazy-good team.
Wouldn't be suprised if they bet Lithuania, to come 2nd in their pool behind Spain.

Reply #277649 Report this topic

Mystro

Years ago

With the first week over, let's hear some results.

Any surprises/upsets? Which teams dominated, and which got dominated?

Reply #836745 Report this topic

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Frances Team for the World Champs takes a hit

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