SPAIN vs FRANCE
The Eurobasket rematch. Two of the dominant European teams of the last few years. France will be looking for revenge from their group stage blowout against Spain. Spain will be looking to make a true statement about who the best European team is. Should be a good one.
France appeared to be back in top form in their win over Croatia on Saturday, they will need to keep that form in order to have a chance at topping Spain. In the front court, there is simply no competition. The Gasol brothers and Iblocka will eat up the french bigs. Boris Diaw will need to be more aggressive scoring if they want any chance inside - something he is usually reluctant to do. Ultimately this will come down to the wing play of Batum and Fournier. Fournier looked great against Croatia, utilizing his quickness to attack the rim. He will need to be in the same form, using his speed to blow past the aging Spanish guards. But it will be tough if no one on Les Blues is connecting from beyond the arc. And there is the ultimate problem. The French guard play simply hasn't been able to create space inside. Against Spain, that is a death sentence. All the Spanish will need to do is pack in the paint and this game could be over.
The real question is how physical this game will get. After all, we've seen these two teams be less than friendly before...
Prediction: Spain by 15
France appeared to be back in top form in their win over Croatia on Saturday, they will need to keep that form in order to have a chance at topping Spain. In the front court, there is simply no competition. The Gasol brothers and Iblocka will eat up the french bigs. Boris Diaw will need to be more aggressive scoring if they want any chance inside - something he is usually reluctant to do. Ultimately this will come down to the wing play of Batum and Fournier. Fournier looked great against Croatia, utilizing his quickness to attack the rim. He will need to be in the same form, using his speed to blow past the aging Spanish guards. But it will be tough if no one on Les Blues is connecting from beyond the arc. And there is the ultimate problem. The French guard play simply hasn't been able to create space inside. Against Spain, that is a death sentence. All the Spanish will need to do is pack in the paint and this game could be over.
The real question is how physical this game will get. After all, we've seen these two teams be less than friendly before...
Prediction: Spain by 15
Serbia vs Brazil
This should be an excellent match up. Brazil has tremendous talent inside with Nene, Splitter, and Varejao. Serbia has talent of its own at the front court with Raduljica, who has had a tremendous tournament averaging 14.5 points and 5 rebounds, and if Nenad Krstic continues to play the way he did against Greece. Brazil probably has the slight edge inside, but they are often stagnant on offense when they are unable to create space by sinking parameter shots. Without this, the offensive prowess of Nene is diminished.
Serbia on the other hand will not have those spacing issues. The key to their round of 16 victory was the brilliance of Teodosic and BOGDAN Bodganovic. Both have been excellent from downtown, shooting 42.4% and 39.3% respectively. When those two are on the floor to together, the floor is wide open.
Brazil has a very capable shooting in Leandrinho Barbosa (47.4% from beyond the arc). But they will also need Huertas and Neto to step up on the wings. If they can space the floor, look out for those beautiful passing skills from Huertas. That will be the key to keep Brazil from forcing the issue.
Prediction: Serbia by 5
Serbia on the other hand will not have those spacing issues. The key to their round of 16 victory was the brilliance of Teodosic and BOGDAN Bodganovic. Both have been excellent from downtown, shooting 42.4% and 39.3% respectively. When those two are on the floor to together, the floor is wide open.
Brazil has a very capable shooting in Leandrinho Barbosa (47.4% from beyond the arc). But they will also need Huertas and Neto to step up on the wings. If they can space the floor, look out for those beautiful passing skills from Huertas. That will be the key to keep Brazil from forcing the issue.
Prediction: Serbia by 5