Agreed, Serbia have looked great during the tournament (not that I have seen much of their games during pool stages) - so if I was a betting man I'd tip Serbia too.

Never count out the underdog though!

Serbia.

Has Germany played their final?? They lead all game and are undefeated for the tournament...


Serbia needs to get hot from 3 to win!

Germany 1.99 2.01 Serbia (Market % 100.00)

Serbia by 4. Mostly because I have Serbian mates and it's easier to root for them.

In all honesty I just hope it’s an unreal game and does the Final justice.

On the FIBA Insta page, 61% of votes are tipping Germany.

Im going with Serbia

Can Germany play that good again, Serbia slightly stronger bench. Let's hope it’s as good as the semi finals.
Serbia by two in what has been a fantastic tournament.

Serbia into favouritism now.

Just to be different going for Germany no logical reason but I like the brothers. What a fantastic week let's hope this a cracker as well

Intensity is certainly there to start the game.

Physicality is immense, Serbia not missing any shots, keep that going and it'll be good night

These top euro team players have great knowledge and iq.

USA lucky they got Canada instead. These two teams are furious.

If it wasn't already late, there’s probably a drinking game in having a drink each time they cut to Melo or Bird and they’re looking at their phone.

Great close game so far...

Unbelievable, 47all, love how tough they play. It's a pity there has to be a loser.

The execution by both teams is incredibly clean.

We are so behind these Euros.

So struggle to see how anyone would rank NBL second best ..... bit like … nba world champs…

It's not only boomers behind, US as well.

Gleeson absolutely great commentator and loving how the game is played.

Gaze needs to stop using how the rules are interpreted in the NBL as some sort of benchmark.

Flop by the Serbian player there, look like he was shot.

Serbia completely lost the plot there.

Three foul on Schroder could be telling.

Gleeson trying to ignore whatever the mascot was doing.

Appears the length of the Germany's is causing uncertainty

Early Oktoberfest?

Despite the name it starts on Saturday.

That would be early...

Slightly and I don't believe that's what you meant as most people don't realise it runs in September ending at the beginning of October.

What a comeback by Serbia.

Maybe not.

I've been twice.

German defence in the paint has been impressive more often than not.

Schroder is a menace for Serbia to deal with.

Weird second half - Serbia have got their pants pulled down by Germany but still sort of in it?

Herbert was sacked by a Russian club before the war started and then hired as Germany coach. Plus he's Canadian (LOL USA).

I've been twice

Congratulations Germany.

Onya Germany!

Yah I got it right for once. What a game, great week, is it the blitz next.

Massive. To get though the USA and then Serbia, not dropping a game. Interior D, Bonga great through the middle stretches, Schroder excellent scoring but also shadowing Bogdan.

I didn't think they’d be able to back up after that US game. Thoroughly impressed.

Unbeaten winners, congratulations Germany and Serbia on a fantastic final. The Canadian- German coach is truly very clever. Schroder clearly the best player and other than the one game he stunk, probably the mvp of the tournament.

Octoberfest celebrates king Ludwig's birthday and goes for normally 16 days starting in September and finishing on the first Sunday in October.

Fantastic entertainment of the last weeks, well done fiba.

Coach will be poached after olympics.
Not much they can improve on, Germany one of the few teams with a full roster.
Hartenstein a slim chance maybe. Kleber?

Basketball Reference has Duane Washington Jr as German-born. 8 PPG with Phoenix last year as a 22 yo?

Herbert is the real deal unlike fake tough guy Goorjian.

The Germans don't need to trawl the NBA for players with tenuous links to Germany when Bayern are spending so much on their basketball department nowadays. They deserve a lot of credit whether you like them or not as a club.

Not that big either....

Schroder - 6'1 pg
Lo - 6’3 pg/sg
Hollatz - 6’3 pg/sg
Obst - 6’3 sg/pg
Kramer - 6’5 sg/pg
Giffey - 6’7 sf/sg
Bonga - 6’8 sf/pf
Theis - 6’8 pf/c
Thiemann - 6’9 pf/c
Wagner - 6’10 sf/pf
Wagner - 6’11 pf/c
Voightman - 6’11 c/pf

What the teams that advanced to the finals have in common is the league in which the players are currently playing.

Germany

NBA 4

EuroLeague 7 (Former NBA 1)

SpainLeague 1 (Former EuroLeague 1)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Serbia

NBA 3

EuroLeague 6 (Former NBA 1)

SpainLeague 3 (Former Eurocup 1) (Former EuroLeague 2)

" I can't wait for the annual "It's not October yet" from the general public."

I feel like most under 40s would have travelled enough the last 20 years through Euro piss tours to know that fact though.

A few good points made, teams need balance , boomers got lot nba bench talent, it's not the same as top quality euro teams. What was the makeup of Canadian team re nba players?

boomers got lot nba bench talent, it's not the same as top quality euro teams. What was the makeup of Canadian team re nba players?

Great game, Serbia and Germany were consistently good all tourny. Tough luck losing Dobric early but strong fightback.

I actually thought the final didnt quite showcase the 100% best of either team. Both would be tired after 8 games in 16 or 17 days. But it went down to the wire, a fitting finish to this tournament.

Such a great finish to what was an excellent tournament - very tight games on the last day, and Canada and Germany winning! Full credit to the 3 countries hosting the event.

Sadly, the next WC has been bought (!) by Qatar.

I think the time zones and Kayo really helped with this World Cup. Meant that my 11yo son and I could watch all the Boomers games and a few other random games we had cursory interest in (checking out Serbia, Lithuania, Canada, the US games, etc). He stayed up to watch USA-Germany and the "you might not see anything like that again" moment with Bridges to force OT, and then Canada-Germany with Dillon the Villain and MVP chants.

Bonga is only 23, definitely NBA calibre

Looked up Bonga's NBA stats:

0.9 PPG for the Lakers in 5.5 MPG as a rookie
Then 5 PPG in 18.9 MPG for Washington in 49/66 starts, before dropped minutes in his second season there: 2 PPG in 10.8 MPG.

Finally Toronto in 2021/22 for 15 games, 4.6 MPG and 0.8 PPG.

I think the time zones and Kayo really helped with this World Cup.

Goorj on the radio the other day saying he expects no change to the team except for Landale. We are doomed.

Taking my 'glass half full approach', I’m positive we can beat South Sudan and Japan.

Next 3 major events 2024/27/28- Paris, Qatar, LA

We've been totally spoiled with timezones for 2019/21/23

Having said that, I've watched most of the games on delay or 1.5* anyway. Not realistic to watch a game at 6pm- that's family dinner time

"Goorj on the radio the other day saying he expects no change to the team except for Landale. We are doomed."

On the basis of our WC performance, yes.
Im wondering though, we maybe do have a list that is good enough to medal - we just need a game plan that's sufficiently effective against the top teams....and enough time to put that game plan into practice.
In that regard, I the main thing that needs changing
is the coach/s

Spotted on r/NBA:

There are like 6 nba players in the gold medal game vs 19 in the bronze medal game

Patty"TheGOAT"Mills's summary above had the Final as a 17:7 player split for Europe vs. NBA.

An interesting hypothetical is how this Boomers team goes with Simmons at his best, given that the consensus seems to be we need shooting and better coaching, and he helps neither of those. Just pretend Simmons is at his peak, pre-breakdowns, however unlikely it all is. How far does it move the needle for Australia?

Maybe he's Nick Kay but far more athletic and doesn't get burned like Kay did against Germany? Or given Giddey isn't a great shooter, he's another Giddey playing that penetrating/transition role but with actual defence?

Given Ingles' shooting wasn't like in the past, maybe Simmons just slots in with those minutes but gives more energy?

If I recall, Inglis shooting at the last Olympics was also poor. Goorg is a defensive coach but the team defence wasn't good. I’m not certain the was to much input from other coaches and even players. At fiba quality tournaments you need great team D, Goorg should get it done his way or we will be gone.

The issue with the Ben for Joe suggestion is you still need to respect Ingles from the 3 and cant sag off him. With Simmons you can just leave him there and not threat that he will knock down an open 3.

Year of birth

Germany
1991
1992 (3)
1993
1994
1996
1997 (2)
1999
2001 (2)

Serbia
1990
1992
1994 (3)
1995 (3)
1997
1998
2000
2003

Canada
1991 (3)
1992
1995
1996 (2)
1998 (2)
1999
2000
2002

USA
1995 (2)
1996 (3)
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001 (2)
2002

Boomers
1987
1988 (2)
1992
1995 (2)
1996
1997 (2)
2000
2002
2003

All four teams that advanced to the quarterfinals - Slovenia, Italy, Latvia, and Lithuania - have only one player born in the 1980s.

The oldest person in Slovenia was born in 1989.
The oldest person in Italy was born in 1987. He retired after this World Cup.
The oldest person in Latvia was born in 1989.
The oldest person in Lithuania was born in 1989.

Unless the head coach changes, Ingles, Mills and Goulding will likely play next year.
They are all born in the 1980s. But I think age doesn't matter as long as you have good skills.
So, as long as Mills isn't the starter next year, I'm fine with it.
However, Ingles failed to show competitiveness in this World Cup. He failed to get a shot wide open.
Goulding should no longer be selected.

Mills is the only perimeter threat on the team, he's definitely starting...

I highly doubt Goulding is selected

Joe will be selected but I expect his minutes to drop…

"The issue with the Ben for Joe suggestion is you still need to respect Ingles from the 3 and cant sag off him. With Simmons you can just leave him there and not threat that he will knock down an open 3."

I don't even want Simmons on the team and am sick of hearing his name, but Ingles was a total liability this WC, offensively and defensively. Line ups with him, Giddey and Mills were so bad defensively that Goorj should have been fired the second he put them out there. Then whenever he had the ball on offence, he took so long to do nothing with it that the defence weren't troubled in the slightest.

At least Simmons would only be useless on one end of the floor.

If I recall, Inglis

Inglis second language?

or ex-36ers employee.

TheGOAT - I was thinking about that too regarding ages. I tried this but it's a bit shit:



Ideally it would weight players by playing time so Goulding is negligible but Patty and Ingles show the heft of those left-most green blocks. Daniels is the 2003 for Australia, so can discount that.

I'm worried about the Olympics.

Me2. I can see Ingles, Goulding and Kay going to Paris and spending a lot of time warming the bench.