FIBA World Cup Preview: Group F
While Group F isn't considered the tournament's "Group of Death" - that distinction is more widely bestowed upon Group H with Canada, Australia, Lithuania, and Senegal - it possesses the quality to produce some potentially mouthwatering ties of its own.
Brazil is arguably the group's most well-rounded outfit, equipped with a balance of veteran leadership and young blood. The 12th-ranked nation will take stalwarts like Anderson Varejao and Marcelinho Huertas to China but will also rely on fast-rising talent like 20-year-old guard Yago Mateus and Memphis Grizzlies forward Bruno Caboclo.
Greece, meanwhile, may have the best player at the event in 2019 NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar commendably stayed true to his summer commitment to the Hellenic side, which will hope to at least equal its best FIBA World Cup finish: a silver medal in 2006 (while the tournament was known as the World Championship).
Montenegro isn't likely to go down without a fight, though. With a population of just over 600,000, it's the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup. Despite its size, Montenegro is still ranked a respectable 28th in the world and is making its first appearance at the World Cup as an independent nation.
Without Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, who withdrew from World Cup consideration earlier this summer, New Zealand may be hard-pressed to find success in a tough group otherwise sprinkled with NBA talent.
Group Schedule
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1 | New Zealand vs. Brazil | 4:00 a.m. |
| Sept. 1 | Greece vs. Montenegro | 8:00 a.m. |
| Sept. 3 | Montenegro vs. New Zealand | 4:00 a.m. |
| Sept. 3 | Brazil vs. Greece | 8:00 a.m. |
| Sept. 5 | Brazil vs. Montenegro | 4:00 a.m. |
| Sept. 5 | Greece vs. New Zealand | 8:00 a.m. |
Greece
Projected starting 5
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| PG | Kostas Sloukas |
| SG | Nick Calathes |
| SF | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| PF | Georgios Printezis |
| C | Ioannis Bourousis |
Key Player
No surprises here. Antetokounmpo is the heart of Greece's national team, and his teammates will go as far as he can take them. As demonstrated by Milwaukee's run to the Eastern Conference finals, that could be a notable distance.
No, the rest of Greece's lineup may not have Bucks-level quality, but there's no one on any of the 32 teams headed to China who matches up favorably with Antetokounmpo. The 24-year-old averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds with the Bucks last season and should, at the very least, be able to lead his country to the second round, where a potential clash with the United States awaits.
New Zealand
Projected starting 5
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| PG | Tai Webster |
| SG | Corey Webster |
| SF | Thomas Abercrombie |
| PF | Finn Delany |
| C | Rob Loe |
Key Player
Corey Webster will probably start alongside younger brother Tai in the Tall Blacks' backcourt, and the older sibling is likely to bear much of the team's scoring responsibilities. He has proven himself more than capable in recent showings, which includes a 21-point, six-assist display Tuesday that helped New Zealand upset Italy 88-82 in a World Cup tuneup.
If the 30-year-old guard's name sounds familiar to Association fans, it's probably because Webster was once on the cusp of an NBA job. He spent the 2015 preseason with the New Orleans Pelicans but was waived just prior to the start of the season.
Brazil
Projected starting 5
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| PG | Marcelinho Huertas |
| SG | Leandro Barbosa |
| SF | Bruno Caboclo |
| PF | Augusto Lima |
| C | Cristiano Felicio |
Key Player
Leandro "Brazilian Blur" Barbosa might not outwork shutter speeds like he once did, but the former NBA journeyman is still a respected leader on this Brazil squad. While his role as a starter isn't necessarily a lock, the team will still need him to continue lighting up the scoreboard in China much as he did during the Americas Qualifiers, when he led the team with 14.7 points per game.
He hasn't featured in the Association since heading back to the Phoenix Suns for the 2016-17 season, but the 36-year-old is still kicking professionally, having since returned to his native country to continue his career. This World Cup is likely to be his last international foray.
Montenegro
Projected starting 5
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| PG | Derek Needham |
| SG | Petar Popovic |
| SF | Aleksa Popovic |
| PF | Nemanja Radovic |
| C | Nikola Vucevic |
Key player
Orlando Magic star Nikola Vucevic has blossomed into one of the NBA's best bigs and is coming off his most impressive campaign to date. The Swiss-born center earned his first All-Star nomination and was one of just seven (very good) players in the league last season to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. The 28-year-old developed a respectable 3-point shot, converting 2.9 attempts per game at a career-high 36.4 percent clip.
It's tough to imagine Vucevic's talent alone being enough to carry Montenegro out of a loaded group and into the second round. However, he's the best big man in the quartet (if you don't count Antetokounmpo as one), and if he can leverage that advantage against Brazil in their opening tilt, it could put the Montenegrins in a favorable position to advance.