FIBA World Cup 2014 Schedule: TV Info, Live Stream and Championship Preview
The seas have parted for the United States at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Spain, the supposed biggest threat to an American championship, was eliminated by France. Brazil, which featured a number of NBA players, was eliminated by Serbia. Then, Serbia eliminated the same France team that knocked out mighty Spain.
That means Team USA will take on Serbia in the championship game Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN 2 and available for live stream on Watch ESPN.
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Serbia got here by beating France in what may have been the most exciting game of the entire tournament considering how close it was at the end and the overall stakes in the semifinal. Serbia won 90-85 in what was an absolute shootout down the stretch thanks largely to the 35 points from Nicolas Batum of France.
Batum almost single-handedly led France back from a double-digit deficit.
It was redemption for Serbia because it lost to France in the group stage. In fact, it continued the redemption tour after Serbia stunned Brazil in the quarterfinals 84-56. Serbia beat Brazil in complete blowout fashion after losing to it in group play.
Serbia is definitely the underdog story of the World Cup after it finished 2-3 in the group stage and only managed to defeat Iran and Egypt, which are not exactly powerhouses.
The leader is point guard Milos Teodosic, who controls the tempo with his ball-handling skills and court vision and is an excellent passer. He leads the team with 4.1 assists a night and has a tendency to drive the lane and force defenders to collapse and then kick out to shooters.
Teodosic can also score on his own and is leading the team with 14 points a night. He even dropped 24 points in the semifinals victory over France.
John Schumann of NBA.com noted that the Americans better have their eye on the crafty guard:
Elsewhere, Miroslav Raduljica is scoring 13.5 points a game at center and is a solid combination with Nemanja Bjelica on the glass. However, they will have their hands full with Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried and DeMarcus Cousins.
As for the United States, it has completely dominated in every single game thus far. Spain was the only real threat on paper based on talent, and it is no longer a concern.
At this point, the Americans’ advantage in terms of talent on the roster is well-established. They have Davis, Cousins and Faried down low, who have all impressed in this tournament, and will likely out-rebound Serbia rather easily.
There was even some concern coming into the tournament that the big men were the weakest part of team, but that has been far from the case.
Fran Fraschilla suggested as much to Bleacher Report in two separate quotes:
“If I had a vote for MVP in this tournament, it would be Kenneth Faried. He’s been their high-energy drink.”
He said, “Anthony Davis has shown he’s about to be one of the best two-way players in the world.”
While the big men should control the boards against Serbia, the real advantage here is the depth on the perimeter. Teodosic has been a star at the World Cup, but the Americans simply counter with so much firepower in the form of NBA superstars Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and James Harden.
Anytime there is a sizable favorite in any game, that team doesn’t want the underdog to hang around too long. Team USA has yet to play a close game and could get tight down the stretch if it comes down to the end. We saw it happen to Spain against France.
With that in mind, coach Mike Krzyzewski may look to institute some high-pressure defense from the opening tip. If the United States can force some early turnovers and get out in transition, this game could be over quickly.
The Americans have proved that they are capable of turning on the switch for five to 10 minutes at a time and completely putting a game away. They won’t wait around for too long before doing that Sunday.
Prediction: United States 94, Serbia 73
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.
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