Hoops

World Cup Day 3 discussion

I dont mind the 32 teams. But perhaps the last 10 spots should be open for a wildcard qualification process or something which isn't region locked.

6 Asia
6 Europe
6 Americas
6 Africa
10 Wildcard

The Tallblacks will have to pull a rabbit out of hat to win tonight but it’s not impossible.

Greggo I thought the same about the officiating until the end of the fourth quarter when help-the-host started. There were two clear decisions made poorly to advantage China: the foul made by a Chinese player that was inexplicably called on a Pole and then the non-awarding of three free throws. Also I've never seen a free throw shooter iced that long before... and twice!

The excuses I've seen from the Phillipines fans has been hilarious:

- FIBA has screwed us over by not allowing Jordan Clarkson to play as well (even know the rules for every team clearly state that only one naturalised player can play - which Blatche takes up);

- The reffing has screwed us; literally the coach said after the game "I just realized there are worse refs than PBA referees"

- We are at a disadvantage because our country is naturally shorter than countries like Serbia - and its unfair. I've seen some serious fans from the Philippines suggest the tournament in future should limit the heights of players to make for an even playing field LMAO.

- This is the C or D team and politics has taken away their ability to put the best team on the floor (ah maybe the PBA just isn't actually anywhere near as good as what you think)

Who would have thought a basketball fan would be into the Basketball World Cup!

Anyone else find the Kayo mini highlights for these leaves a lot to be desired? Often you'll see half of the next play before they cut to the next highlight. Other times you get a "highlight" of 2-3 poor possessions before a layup

Phillipines D looked lazy and sloppy on the highlights. Serbia looked like they were training against an Under 16 team.

Senegal look pretty terrible, Aussies will win by 30 if they go easy, or 50 like Lithuania if they play well.

It's silly that great teams like Slovenia and Croatia aren't even competing but minnows get a run.

I don't mind a few qualifiers to build the sport internationally, but I think they have too many. Too many good Euro teams missing out, even with a 32 team cup.

You're just now figuring out that Perthworld is a loser??

I dont mind the 32 teams. But perhaps the last 10 spots should be open for a wildcard qualification process or something which isn't region locked.

6 Asia
6 Europe
6 Americas
6 Africa
10 Wildcard

Tall Blacks Vs Montenegro will be live on Maori TV, they may have it streamed on their website as well?

The only time minnows have their chance to test themselves against the top teams is in this first round of the World Cup. No other time will they play the best countries in the world.

The minnows will have their opportunity against competition closer to their level in the classification rounds.

This first round will have some blowouts; the next group stage will be far more even. The 32 team system increases interest in the World Cup qualification windows. The classification round maintains interest in placings, which can still be significant for the countries that are developing in the basketball world.

I think this is something FIBA have done right. Philippines can cheer if they don't finish last. ;-)

I like the concept of the early rounds of the FIBA World Cup being played in multiple countries. But it kind of ruins the qualification process. And it can ruin the balance of the strength of each group. Just look how easy China's path is, given they were designated by design to be in the same pot as USA, Spain and France, which means they were effectively rated as a top 4 team and they got the advantage of being in a group with weaker teams. Australia should've sought hosting the group stages for whichever group they were placed in. We are in a similar timezone to Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.

All I can do is face palm when I see the Gilas play. It's just embarrassing :P

Some suspicious calls in the advantage of China, only for China to blow it. Satisfying.

Some suspicious calls in the advantage of China, only for China to blow it. Satisfying.

Next World Cup is going to be worse since it is being hosted by Philippines with Indonesia and Japan. So Asia will have three auto qualifiers due to being hosts plus their usual allocation? Yes you heard me right - Indonesia.

Asia are full of wannabes who aren't anywhere near the elite level. They should have two places max or combining with Oceania four. That way FIBA don't miss out on the Chinese market plus one other token team would be enough.

Slovenia and Latvia with their NBA players would have been more entertaining.

No offense to the asians here, but damn your teams are awful.

Have you seen some of the netball, cricket, rugby world cups now there time wasters. It will take a bit time but 32 teams from around the world is fantastic and making the game stronger.

Rated Euro teams missed out for this trash.

OT CHN 76-79 POL

Foul on the last layup in regular time would have been USF in NBL for unduly rough

Same. They obviously permeate FIBA. Useless governing body who can't even find a ladder as they are too busy giving China calls.

slew*

Overtime. Poland missed a slow of free throws in the fourth quarter including that last one. Costly.

Very sad that even at a World Cup China get dodgy calls their way.

Terrible reffing at the end in the China Poland game. The wrong foul call and then not awarding the 3 shots. Hoping Poland can steal it now after this delay.

Talk about icing the free throw shooter.

What a game though!

That is corruption.

BS call to gift China free throws.

I take back what I said about Canadian ref!

The creative calls are starting to go China's way.

If you thought Philippines were bad imagine Indonesia who will participate in 2023!

Yes it is, he loves mentioning that the ref is from Edmonton.

Canadian ref in the China v Poland game is great!

Is that another Canadian commentator in the China-Poland game?

A Shona Thorburn reference was just made in the CHN-POL telecast. LOL

Rated Euro teams missed out for this trash.

Now for the other delusion artists called China to lose.

FT 126-67.

Lovely stuff by Serbia.

Do points carry over to the next group round for games against teams that don't qualify for the next stage? If not, it might give Serbia a reason to be relaxed in this game.

So great seeing PHI getting done over slowly.

The Filo commentator was so pumped when PHI were up early 9-7 just a moment ago as if it was some sort of achievement.

On second thoughts I guess it is for them.

European teams have always been screwed at the WC (and even more so at the Olympics where there are only 12 teams allowed) due to FIBA wanting a truly 'global' spread of teams which has seen too much emphasis placed on the Asia region and even the Oceania region in the past.

Maybe Europe and Americas should get more spots.

According to the World Rankings Slovenia (7), Croatia (9), Mexico (14), Latvia (15), Ukraine (19), Finland (21), Georgia (26) and Belgium (31), should be there as the top 32 nations in the world. And all the nations worse than 32nd in the world at the World Cup are from outside of Europe and the Americas. Not suggesting that the rankings are the completely fair (European games are worth more than Asian games for example and New Zealand are considered 38th in the world) but either Europe should get a couple extra slots from Asia and Africa or have some global wildcard tournaments to decide the last spots at the World Cup to increase the quality of participants.

Could only watch 1 minute of the Iran vs. Tunisia game. Had to turn it off it was hurting my eyes.

Was thinking of putting money on the TAB special with Jokic scoring 18+ and Serbia winning by 40+. Paying $3.80 here. Not worried on the margin; but Jokic may have limited minutes in a game like this so could easily see him scoring less than 18. Didn't put it on in the end, we will see.

I think long term it might pay off by giving more teams' experience on this stage, but short term it's only marginally better than the cricket world cup in terms of haves and have-nots at this stage of the tourney.

It was 24 teams but FIBA expanded the WC to 32 teams for this tournament.

Hopefully they take a look at that again before the next WC.

32 teams is too many. 24 would be about right and would make for much better competition with fewer blowouts.

Not a lot of exciting matchups today. Hope Serbia get up by 150-ish.