FIBA World Cup 2014: Predictions for Semifinal and Championship Game
We started with 24 teams at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, but only three remain. It’s not exactly the three we expected, either.
Gone is Spain with the Gasol brothers, Serge Ibaka and Rudy Fernandez. Gone is Brazil with Anderson Varejao, Tiago Splitter and Nene Hilario. Instead, the powerhouse United States is joined by upstart Serbia and a France squad playing without Tony Parker.
So how will the rest of the tournament unfold? Let’s find out.
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Semifinal Game: Serbia vs. France
Serbia is the next opponent in Friday's semifinal clash, but it is impossible to discuss France at this point without mentioning its dominance over Spain in the quarterfinals.
Not only was Spain absolutely loaded with talent, but it was playing on home soil. All France did was shock the basketball world and completely shut down an offense featuring a number of NBA players.
The most impressive player in that game was Rudy Gobert, and he is also the one to watch in the semifinal. After challenging the Gasol brothers and Ibaka down low and coming away with 13 rebounds, a matchup with Serbia should seem like something of a breather.
Gobert may not be an offensive superstar, but he never backed down on defense and challenged nearly every shot at the rim. Spain ended up with a whopping 52 points.
Look for that defense to dictate the tempo in this contest as well. With Gobert patrolling the paint and guys like Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum and Thomas Heurtel flanking him, Serbia will have issues scoring.
It will be up to Milos Teodosic, who scored 23 points against Brazil, to find a way to navigate the lane with his ball-handling skills and set up Nemanja Bjelica and Miroslav Raduljica with open looks. Teodosic will also have to score some of his own for Serbia to overcome France’s stout defense.
Even if Serbia does find a way to consistently score, the thought here is that Diaw makes sure his team has enough points on the offensive end. He led the way with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists behind 6-of-12 shooting against Spain and set the tone as an overall playmaker.
Marc Stein of ESPN noted that it has been an impressive stretch for Mr. Diaw:
France will win this one thanks to the momentum on its side after the Spain win, the stout defense and Diaw’s control of the offense.
Prediction: France 73, Serbia 67
Championship Game: United States vs. France
France’s victory over Spain may have been the win of the tournament, but nobody is going to beat the United States at the World Cup. France will find that out the hard way in Sunday's championship match.
ESPN broadcaster Fran Fraschilla told Bleacher Report that the Americans only have one opponent to worry about: "The only threat to Team USA is its own complacency. A huge hurdle’s been removed with the loss of Spain. A lack of focus is the only concern I have, but that is very unlikely with Mike Krzyzewski. These players have been brainwashed in a positive way to focus on the next task at hand."
The next task at hand is winning a World Cup title. It won’t exactly take a master motivator to get this team of NBA superstars ready to play with the prize on the line, even if it isn’t Spain on the other end.
The big men trio of Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried and DeMarcus Cousins has completely dominated this tournament, but it was the backcourt that led the way against Lithuania in the semifinals.
Kyrie Irving scored 18 points, dished out four assists and tallied two steals, James Harden finished with 16 points and three steals, Stephen Curry had 13 points and Klay Thompson tallied 16 points, three assists, three rebounds, two blocks and one steal. It was a testament to how much talent is on this roster that Faried and Davis were fairly quiet and the contest was still a blowout.
France has some nice pieces all over the floor, but it simply cannot match up with the Americans.
There have been some games this tournament that Team USA struggled out of the gate, but the thought here is that Mike Krzyzewski tries to end this contest rather quickly. Look for the Americans to institute some type of high-pressure defense from the opening quarter as they try to force turnovers and get out in transition.
These FIBA games are shorter than NBA contests, and a fast start for the red, white and blue will end France’s chances at a victory. There is just too much firepower for the United States.
Prediction: United States 94, France 73
*All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.
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