... of the first groups to get underway at the World Championships, which kick off in Turkey on Saturday.

 

Group A

 

1. Argentina

 

FIBA ranking: 1

 

Coach: Sergio Hernandez is the winningest coach of Argentina's Liga Nacional and comes off a domestic title with Penarol, his first since taking over the national side. Look for his star player on that club team, Leo Gutierrez, to see plenty of action. He's a tweener forward.

Synopsis: Consider our South American friends reason No. 1 to consider FIBA's rankings about as useful as your typically faulty preseason ranking. After failing to medal in the last Worlds and managing only the bronze in Athens, Argentina's magical run looks like it may have come to an end. Manu Ginobili is sitting this event out and the remnants from the team that won a silver in 2002 and Olympic gold in the summer of '04 are hoping to get by on the older but wiser tip. Injuries have Argentina concerned entering this event, with emotional leader Andres Nocioni ruled out after trying to play through an ankle ailment and backup point man Juan Pablo Cantero tearing a hamstring and returning home. Still, the albiceleste's hunger makes them dangerous, with vets attempting to play through pain in an offseason where they would ideally be resting bleed their country's colors and know this could be their last stand.

Key players: F- Luis Scola, G- Carlos Delfino, F- Gutierrez, G- Pablo Prigioni, C- Fabricio Oberto

Strengths: Heart, experience, and the best big in the group in Scola.

Weaknesses: Older team, particularly up front. Absence of Manu and Pepe Sanchez weakens perimeter rotation. Injury concerns have crippled quality depth.

 

 

2. Australia

 

FIBA ranking: 11

 

Coach: Brett Brown, a native of Maine who has been an assistant with San Antonio since 2003, has been at the helm of the Boomers for just over a year after a decorated past in Australia's NBL.

Synopsis: Andrew Bogut's gruesome injury late in the regular season crippled the Aussies chances in this event as definitively as it ended Milwaukee's chance of getting out of the first round. Newly acquired Raptors big man David Andersen and former NCAA D-I standouts Aleks Maric (Nebraska), Aron Baynes (Washington State) and Matt Nielsen (Colorado State) will be counted on to hold the fort down but obviously aren't as strong a rotation without the 2005 NBA No. 1 pick. Portland Trail Blazers hopeful Patty Mills will be at the controls and has the game-changing ability to get up and down the floor. Joe Ingles and Brad Newley, who will be counted on for their size, shooting and versatility on the wing, have NBA Summer League experience.

Key players: G- Mills, F/C- Andersen, F- Nielsen, C- Maric, G- Newley

Strengths: Quality size remains a plus, Mills' speed offers variable, gritty team whose fierce national pride ensures a solid effort across the board.

Weaknesses: Missing Bogut impacts sturdiness of defense, lack of depth and athleticism on wing.

 

 

3. Serbia

 

FIBA ranking: 5

Coach: "Duda" Ivkovic is a legendary European coach, currently at the helm of Greek power Olympiakos. He's got Phil Jackson/Pat Riley-like cred, leading then-Yugoslavia to the 1990 World Championship. He returned to coach his native Serbia in 2009.

Synopsis: Serbia will have to get out of group play with Nenad Krstic suspended three games for hurling a chair at Greece's Sofoklis Schortsianitis during last week's pre-tournament friendly, hitting Yoannis Borousis instead. While his absence makes Serbia's road more difficult, it's not crippling. Kosta Perovic, who has had a cup of coffee with Golden State and currently plays at Barcelona, should hold down the fort alongside NBA prospects Miroslav Raduljica, Milos Macvan, Novica Velickovic and Nemanja Bjelica, a 6-10 wing. Reigning Euroleague MVP Milos Teodosic is an elite guard who holds the key to Serbia's hopes of winning the group and medaling in this event, but he's been shelved two games for his role in the aforementioned brawl.

Key players: F/C- Krstic, G- Teodosic, C- Perovic, F- Velickovic, F- Bjelica.

Strengths: Excellent size and skill up front, strong rebounding.

Weaknesses: Uncertainty over Krstic and Teodosic that could harm the team's rhythm, quality and depth at the guard position is suspect.

 

4. Germany

 

FIBA ranking: 7

 

Coach: Dirk Bauermann will coach in his third World Championships, leading Germany to a 12th place finish in 1994 and a berth in the quarterfinals in '06, where Deutschland ultimately wound up eighth. This is his second stint at the helm of the National team, having been hired back in 2003. Domestically, Bauermann is best known for winning seven straight championships with Bayer Leverkusen from 1990-96.

Synopsis: In a perfect world, the Germans would be trotting out Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman, but instead will cross their fingers that they'll be able to rely on that duo for next year's Olympic qualifying. These championships will instead be about developing young talent and the modest attainable goal of getting out of the group stage. 20-year-old Tibor Pleiss, a first-round pick of the Thunder in June, will team with 21-year-old Tim Ohlbrecht to help out up front, while 21-year-old Gonzaga standout Elias Harris looks to prepare for his sophomore season by teaming with 21-year old NBA prospect Robin Benzing and former Iowa State guard Lucca Staiger on the wing. Vets Jan Jagla, Patrick Femerling, Steffen Hamann and Demond Greene will be a huge part of things, but this tournament's primary purpose will getting the next generation some much-needed seasoning in the hopes they'll help form a deeper squad in 2011.

Key players: F- Jagla, C- Femerling, F- E. Harris, F- Benzing, G- Greene

Strengths: Length and skill up front isn't what it could be, but still an asset.

Weaknesses: No Dirk or Kaman impacts the quality of depth up front, point guard play has long been an issue, limited experience at small forward.

 

5. Angola

 

FIBA ranking: 12

 

Coach: Luís Magalhães is coaching his second major tournament and can only hope to match his success in his rookie stint, having won Afrobasket in '09, the seventh straight time Angola won the tournament. The Portugese head coach has won five domestic titles in his native country and an additional one in Angola in '08.

Synopsis: Rated as the top team in Africa as reigning champs of the continent, the Angolans have been busy in preparation for this event, playing games in L.A., Brazil and Italy to try and get up to speed. After an all-time best ninth-place finish in the '06 World Championships, it would be disappointing if Angola wasn't able to get out of the group stage. A participant in the last five Olympics, Magalhães' team is fueled by veterans Olimpio Cipriano, Carlos Almeida, Eduardo Mingas and Joaquim Gomes. Forwards Gomes (Valparaiso), Divaldo Mbunga (Montana St.) and Roberto Fortes (Illinois St.) played NCAA D-I ball, while the decorated Cipriano got an NBA shot in Summer League with the Pistons in '07. Likely starting point guard Miguel Lutonda is 38 years old.

Key players: F/G- Cipriano, F/C- Gomes, F- Mingas, G- Morais, G- Almeida

Strengths: Fearless, experienced as a unit.

Weaknesses: Lack of quality size, uneven guard play, turnovers.

 

6. Jordan

 

FIBA ranking: 37

 

Coach: Mario Palma will know his Angolan opposition intimately, having coached it to three Afrobasket titles early last decade and Olympic berths in 2000 and '04. The Portugese coach is already a hero in Jordan after leading it to a bronze medal at the most recent Afrobasket, landing a spot at these championships.

Synopsis: Remember the old SNL skit where the Superfans had Mike Ditka beating buses and full countries? That's what comes to mind when I ponder how Michael Jordan would do against the Arab kingdom that, believe it or not, wasn't actualy named after him in ancient times. And while he might be able to team with Adonis Jordan, former two-sport star Brian Jordan his two UCF-enrolled sons and beat the nation of Jordan's team, he wouldn't be able to beat five guys by himself. That's just silly. This particular Jordan squad has been pretty successful of late, leading to this first appearance in a FIBA Worlds. Philly native Rashiem Wright has D-League experience and is an effective scorer, while San Diego's Sam Daghlas handles well and is also capable. Up front, native Jordanians Zaid Abbas and 7-footer Ayman Dais are counted on extensively, while Minnesota's Jamal Abu-Shamala Enver Soobzokov see a lot of action of the wing.

Key players: G- Wright, F- Z.Abbas, G- Daghlas, C- Dais, F/G- Abu-Shamala

Strengths: A fearless playmaker, nice athleticism at a few key spots.

Weaknesses: Mama said if you can't say anything nice...

 

 

Group B

 

1. USA

 

FIBA ranking: 2

 

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski won his third NCAA Championship at Duke this past April and is seemingly getting better at what he does. That batch of Blue Devils was the least talented of his title-winners, but stuck together and overachieved. He stayed on as head coach of the National Team system to promote the stability he and Colangelo have been clamoring for since taking charge.

Synopsis: After being spoiled by a Redeem Team that may one day join the Dream team and that 1960 squad that also went into the Hall of Fame this year, the general public is expectedly a little lukewarm about our lads. It's a young team, Kevin Durant is the biggest name outside of Krzyzewski and odds are good the team will have to win a few uglies, relying on defense and athleticism to combat size and savvy. Rajon Rondo's dismissal means Derrick Rose is the floor general, with Chauncey Billups utilized as a stabilizer in the halfcourt with a green light to try his luck from the perimeter. Durant and Lamar Odom are playing out of position at the four and five, while Andre Iguodala's defense has him firmly entrenched at small forward. Rudy Gay will be the first forward off the bench, Tyson Chandler is the lone center, and it appears Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon are the preferred choices to serve as tempo-changers off the bench.

Key players: F- Durant, G- Rose, F/G- Iguodala, G- Billups, F- Gay

Strengths: Freakish athleticism, ball pressure and the advantage of facing the best in the world on a nightly basis.

Weaknesses: Youth, streaky perimeter shooting, size concerns.

2. Brazil

FIBA ranking: 14

 

Coach: In one of the juicier developments in the international game, Argentina's Ruben Mangano, who led Manu and Co. to that unforgettable Olympic gold in '04, took over here in January. Considering he's the most successful coach in Argentina's history with over 20 titles, it wouldn't be riveting at all if the two South American powers cross paths at some point in the knockout round.

Synopsis: Many see Brazil as the team most likely to upset the United States in Group B play, but those hopes took a hit late last week when Nene was deemed out due to inflammation in both legs. It says a lot about the development of the country's basketball program that it can call up a proven international veteran like J.P. Batista of Gonzaga fame to take his place. Nene's absence means Cleveland's Anderson Varejao and San Antonio rookie Tiago Splitter will be given the bulk of the responsibility up front. Leandro Barbosa is hoping for a fresh start in Toronto and looking to generate forward momentum by taking charge here, with mainstays Marcelo Huertas, Alex Garcia, Marcelo Machado and Nezinho dos Santos all back to run the floor with him. Huertas enters the FIBAs nursing knee issues, while Varejao is fighting off an ankle sprain.

Key players: G- Barbosa, F/C- Varejao, F/C- Splitter, G- Huertas, G/F- Garcia.

Strengths: Athleticism, quality size, rebounding.

Weaknesses: Perimeter shooting, turnovers.

 

 

3. Slovenia

 

FIBA ranking: 20

 

Coach: Memi Becriovic was put in charge just prior to Christmas of last year and is stepping into the big shoes of Jure Zdovc, who led the Slovenians to an all-time best fourth place finish at the latest Eurobasket. Becirovic will rely heavily on son Sani, one of the country's most talented wings, provided his boy can overcome a shoulder injury he's been dealing with over the past few weeks.

Synopsis: Although they lack the quality size to take advantage of a potential U.S. weakness, Slovenia does have the long-ball capacity to sneak off with an upset. Certainly, there's enough skill to get out of group play, with old pal Boki Nachbar leading the way. He was disappointing at Turkey's Efes Pilsen, but knows what he's in for and figures to rise to the challenge in this type of setting. Vets Uros Slokar and Primoz Brezec join him up front as known commodities, while young center Gasper Vidmar is the typical Euro center, skilled with limited athleticism, but at 6-11, could give the U.S. issues. Guard play is sound, led by Phoenix's Goran Dragic and veterans Jaka Lakovic, Sani Becirovic and Samo Udrih (Beno's brother). Odds are they'll miss Erazem Lorbek more than Beno or Sasha Vujacic, who both grew disgruntled with the national team
setup.

Key players: G- Dragic, G- Lakovic, F/C- Slokar, C- Brezec, G- S.Becirovic

Strengths: Shooting, ball-handling, experience.

Weaknesses: Rebounding, strength in the post. 

 

 

4. Croatia

FIBA ranking: T-15

 

Coach: Josip Vrankovic is one of the younger coaches at this event (41), having played on the Croatian national team as recently as 2001. He's been in charge since last year after a successful run with Bosnian club Siroki. Older brother Stojko, a 7-2 center, was a part of awful NBA teams in Boston, Minnesota and L.A., naturally with the Clippers, in the 90s.

Synopsis: Enemy No. 1 as far as the U.S. is concerned is a team without a single NBA player, although there are many names the die-hards would be familiar with. Roko Ukic opted for a deal in Turkey when he couldn't crack Milwaukee's rotation and Zoran Planinic lasted three uneventful seasons in Jersey. Ante Tomic's rights are held by Utah, but he'll be at Real Madrid for a while, where as Krosimir Lancar and Marko Tomas have been heavily scouted. This is a group that Croatia has been waiting on to blossom for quite some time, so there's a healthy amount of pressure on a side that's reached the quarterfinals in the last two Eurobaskets and the '08 Olympics. Unfortunately, Ukic, Planinic and Tomic all bring injury concerns into this event, tempering  realistic aspirations.

Key players: G- Ukic, C- Tomic, G- Planinic, G/F- Tomas, F- Loncar.

Strengths: Length at the guard and wing spots, continuity among their core players.

Weaknesses: Depth up front, injury situation, game-changing athleticism.

 

5. Iran

 

FIBA ranking: 21

 

Coach: Veselin Matic is over two decades into a noteworthy career that has featured coaching stops in his native Serbia, the former Yugoslavia, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Lebanon and now Iran. The world's version of Larry Brown? We'll see if Iran is better off when he leaves than when he got there. Already, it has defended its Asiabasket title under his tutelage.

Synopsis: This will be the first FIBA Worlds for the two-time reigning Asiabasket champs, which lost all five of their games at the '08 Olympics but have owned their continent of late, winning 16 of the last 17 against Asian rivals. Unfortunately, everyone in the group with the exception of Tunisia represents far stronger competition than Iran is used to. Center Hamed Haddadi is hoping working against Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Hasheem Thabeet at his day job has rubbed off positively, while Arsalan Kazemi averaged close to a double-double in his freshman year at Rice and shows a knack for always being around the ball. If their guards can overachieve and Haddadi and Kazemi can avoid foul trouble in their winnable games, a trip to the knockout round isn't out of the question. Still, with captain Samad Nikkah Bahrami and 3-point specialist Hamed Afagh ruled out with foot injuries, advancement is unlikely.

Key players: C- Haddadi, F- Kazemi, F- Oshen Sahakian, G- Mehdi Kamrani, G- Iman Zandi

Strengths: Size and hustle up front.

Weaknesses: Mediocre play at guard and on the wing.

 

6. Tunisia

FIBA ranking: 42

 

Coach: Adel Tlatli, head coach of his country's national team for going on a full decade, is the Tunisian Stan Van Gundy, overly passionate and historically capable of willing his team to greater heights.

Synopsis: Also debuting at the World Championships, bank on Africa's third-place entry having a few forgettable nights at this event, with the meeting against the U.S. holding the potential for years of nightmares. At the same time, few can fault the Tunisians for simply being happy to be here, having shocked its continent by reaching the podium to qualify for this event. Amine Rzig was the hero of the bronze-clinching win over Cameroon with 20 points and is the team's most dynamic player, while Salah Mejri is a project of a 7-footer who will at least be worth watching for curiosity's sake.

Key players: G/F- Rzig, G- Marouane Kechrid F- Mohamed Hdidane, C- Mejri, F- Atef Maoua.

Strengths: Enthusiasm

Weaknesses: A program that remains in the formative stages of development with a long way to go.

Tony Mejia is senior writer of Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at mejia@probasketballnews.com

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