FIBA Asia Championships 2015: Dates, Draw, Schedule, Live Stream and Preview
International basketball puts on its final marquee tournament of the summer with the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships, beginning Wednesday and running through the early days of October.
The 28th-ever tournament by FIBA Asia will crown the continent's best national team, and tensions should be high among the teams, with more than two years separating us from the last FIBA Asia Championships. That tournament was taken by Iran, who have won a stunning three of the last four dating back to 2009.
For some, FIBA Asia is a chance to hone their skills and build toward next summer's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. For others, it's all about the here and now, as the continent's biggest basketball prize is on the line.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here's a glance at everything to know for FIBA Asia 2015.
FIBA Asia Championships 2015
Host: Changsha, China
Dates: September 23 to October 3
Live Stream: LiveBasketball.TV
Group Draw
| Iran | Philippines | Korea | Chinese Taipei |
| Japan | Palestine | Jordan | Lebanon |
| Malaysia | Kuwait | Singapore | Qatar |
| India | Hong Kong | China | Kazakhstan |
Group-Stage Schedule
| Sept. 23 | Kuwait vs. Hong Kong | 9:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 23 | Philippines vs. Palestine | 11:45 p.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Iran vs. Japan | 2:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Korea vs. Jordan | 4:45 a.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Malaysia vs. India | 7:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Singapore vs. China | 7:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Chinese Taipei vs. Lebanon | 9:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Qatar vs. Kazakhstan | 9:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Philippines vs. Hong Kong | 9:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 24 | Iran vs. India | 11:45 p.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Japan vs. Malaysia | 2:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Chinese Taipei vs. Kazakhstan | 4:45 a.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Palestine vs. Kuwait | 7:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Korea vs. China | 7:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Jordan vs. Singapore | 9:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Lebanon vs. Qatar | 9:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Malaysia vs. Iran | 9:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 25 | Singapore vs. Korea | 11:45 p.m. |
| Sept. 26 | India vs. Japan | 2:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 26 | Kuwait vs. Philippines | 4:45 a.m. |
| Sept. 26 | Hong Kong vs. Palestine | 7:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 26 | China vs. Jordan | 7:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 26 | Qatar vs. Chinese Taipei | 9:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 26 | Kazakhstan vs. Lebanon | 9:30 a.m. |
Group and schedule info courtesy of FIBA.com.
Preview
There's not a clear-cut "Group of Death" in this year's FIBA Asia Championships, but for all intents and purposes, we can dub Group A with that distinction.
That largely is because it includes Iran, the defending champion who has had every other nation's number in the continent over the last several years. As if three titles isn't enough, Iran has seen all of them come in the last four tournaments.
Iran may have the closest things to NBA-caliber talent in the entire tournament. They're led down low by center Hamed Haddadi, the 7'2" big man with a big-time game that led him to stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns.
With veteran leadership from Haddadi and floor general Mahdi Kamrani, Iran should have no trouble in Group A despite potential tests from Japan and Malaysia. A dominant stretch of performances at the 2015 Williams Jones Cup should only amplify their confidence.
Of course, they can look across to Group C to see their undisputed biggest challenge.
That comes from the host nation, as China looks intent on making up for its shortcomings in the last two FIBA Asia tournaments. They're the only team in the field who's No. 14 FIBA World ranking surpasses Iran's No. 17.
Yi Jianlian could provide the star power capable of leading China past Iran and any other FIBA Asia test. Despite going from a No. 6 overall NBA draft pick into a bust, he's arguably the most talented player in the entire tournament.
He should be comfortable after inking a deal for next year, per Yutang Sports:
But the team on the highest upward trajectory isn't either of those teams.
Rather, it's the Philippines, who sound intent on ending a stretch of unsuccessful international basketball. They built toward that with a silver-place finish in 2013, when they came one win away from ending a now 30-year FIBA Asia title drought.
Five-time FIBA Asia champions in their own right, the Philippines appear confident of their chances in Group B and beyond, per player Asi Taulava:
Considering the star caliber of these three favorite teams and the fact that they each hail from different groups, the early rounds of FIBA Asia should be relatively simple. Expect the likes of China, Iran and the Philippines to cruise in their respective groups before inevitable late-round bouts.
It won't be until then that the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships truly take off.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
