FIBA Basketball World Championships 2006

This topic is about FIBA World Basketball Championhips 2006 that will be held in Japan on 19 August – 3 September 2006. Still some time till the start of it but we can start discussing now. In this post I'll try give you the general information about the competition.

Competition Format


Qualified Teams


Group Draw


Schedule

Here are presentation clips of each team from FIBA 2006 official website http://www.fiba2006.com

Group A
Nigeria
Serbia & Montenegro
France
Argentina
Venezuela
Lebanon

Group B
Panama
Angola
Japan
Germany
New Zealand
Spain

Group C
Qatar
Greece
Lithuania
Turkey
Australia
Brazil

Group D
Senegal
Slovenia
Italy
China
USA
Puerto Rico

All the previous winners.

1950 Argentina
1954 USA
1959 Brazil
1963 Brazil
1967 Soviet Union
1970 Yugoslavia
1974 Soviet Union
1978 Yugoslavia
1982 Soviet Union
1986 USA
1990 Yugoslavia
1994 USA
1998 Yugoslavia
2002 Yugoslavia
2006 ?????????

Some teams have already named their candidates.

Named to the 2006-08 USA National Team: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Memphis Grizzlies); Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Adam Morrison (Gonzaga University); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets); Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics); J.J. Redick (Duke University); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); Luke Ridnour (Seattle Supersonics); Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

Argentine candidates
Shooting Guards
Emanuel David Ginóbili (San Antonio Spurs/US)
Carlos Francisco Delfino (Detroit Pistons/US)
Julio Eduardo Mázzaro (River Plate/Arg)
Diego Damián García (Ben Hur/Arg)
Alfredo Paolo Quinteros (Boca Juniors/Arg)

Small Forwards
Andrés Marcelo Nocioni (Chicago Bulls/US)
Walter Herrmann (Unicaja Málaga/Spain)
Hernán Emilio Jasen (Adecco Estudiantes/Spain)
Carlos Matías Sandes (Boca Juniors/Arg)
Leandro Fabián Palladino (Ben Hur/Arg) (sf/sg)

Centers
Fabricio Jesús Oberto (San Antonio Spurs/US) 2.08m
Rubén Oscar Wolkowyski (Khimky/Russia) 2.06m
Diego Fernando Lo Grippo (Alerta Cantabria/Spain) 1.98m
Martín Darío Leiva (Boca Juniors/Arg) 2.07m
Román Javier González (Argentino de Junín/Arg) 2.06m

Power Forwards
Luis Alberto Scola (Tau/Spain)
Leonardo Martín Gutiérrez (Ben Hur/Arg)
Juan Pedro Gutiérrez (Granada/Spain)
Federico Guillermo Kammerichs (Girona/Spain)
Gabriel Diego Fernández (Varese/Italy) (pf/c)

Point Guards
Juan Ignacio Sánchez (Unicaja Málaga/Spain)
Pablo Prigioni (Tau/Spain)
Sebastián Fernando Ginóbili (Libertad de Sunchales/Arg)
Bruno Lábaque (River Plate/Arg)
Carlos Nicolás Gianella (Granada/Spain)
Lucas Javier Victoriano (Eurorida Scafati/Italy)
Daniel Edgardo Farabello (Varese/Italy)
Antonio Alejandro Porta Pernigotti (Livorno/Italy)

Lithuania candidates
Guards: Vidas Ginevicius, Simonas Serapinas, Mantas Kalnietis (all from „Zalgiris”)
Renaldas Seibutis („Olympiakos“ Pireaos, Greece)
Darius Pakamanis („Šiauliai“)
Vytenis Jasikevicius („Zalgiris – A.Sabonis school”)
Martynas Pocius (Duke university, USA), Sarūnas Jasikevicius („Indiana Pacers“, USA)
Arvydas Macijauskas („NO/OC Hornets“, USA)
Rimantas Kaukenas („Montepaschi“ Siena, Italy)
Giedrius Gustas („Barons“ Riga, Latvia)
Mindaugas Lukauskis, Tomas Delininkaitis (both „Lietuvos rytas“)

Forwards: Artūras Jomantas („Šiauliai“)
Stepas Babrauskas („Basket Groot“, Belgium)
Aurimas Kieza (Hofstra university, USA)
Vladimiras Severovas (Oakland university, USA)
Jonas Maciulis („Žalgiris”), Simas Jasaitis („Lietuvos rytas“)
Linas Kleiza („Denver Nuggets“, USA)
Ramunas Siskauskas („Benneton“ Treviso, Italy)
Mindaugas Zukauskas („Montepaschi“ Siena, Italy)
Darius Songaila („Chicago Bulls“, USA)

Centers: Darius Silinskis („Žalgiris”)
Povilas Ciukinas („Lietuvos rytas)
Marijonas Petravicius („Ventspils“, Latvia)
Antanas Kavaliauskas („Texas A&M“ university, USA), Darjusas Lavrinovicius, Paulius Jankunas („Zalgiris”)Ksystofas Lavrinovicius („Uniks” Kazan, Russia)
Robertas Javtokas („Lietuvos rytas“).

Slovenia candidates
Point Guards: Aleksandar Ćapin (Viola Reggio, Italy), Goran Dragič (Geoplin Slovan), Jaka Lakovič (Panathinaikos, Greece), Jure Močnik (Helios Domžale), Beno Udrih (San Antonio Spurs, USA)

Shooting Guards: Sani Bečirovič (Climamio Bologna, Italy), Gregor Hafnar (Whirpool Varese, Italy), Nebojša Joksimovič (Hemofarm, SČG), Sašo Ožbolt (Union Olimpija), Samo Udrih (Akasvayu Girona, Spain), Aleksander Vujačič (Los Angeles Lakers, USA), Domen Lorbek (Helios Domžale)

Small Forwards: Marko Maravič (Ricoh Manresa, Spain); Marko Milič (Vidivici Bologna, Italy), Boštjan Nachbar (New Jersey Nets, USA)

Centers: Primož Brezec (Charlotte Bobcats, USA), Saša Dončič (Geoplin Slovan), Dragiša Drobnjak (Union Olimpija), Jurica Golemac (Ural Great Perm, Russia), Goran Jurak (Vertical Vision Cantu, Italy), Erazem Lorbek (Climamio Bologna, Italy), Radoslav Nesterovič (San Antonio Spurs, USA), Hasan Rizvić (Union Olimpija), Uroš Slokar (Benetton Treviso, Italy), Matjaž Smodiš (CSKA Moskva, Russia), Marko Tušek (Lottomatica Roma, Italy), Želimir Zagorac (Helios Domžale), Miha Zupan (Geoplin Slovan)

Preparation games has already started. USA will not have Kobe Bryant in FIBA WC as he had a surgery. Lithuania will be without one of the leaders Ramunas Siskauskas who decided to take a break this summer after a long season.

I'm looking forward to seeing USA's matches. We played so poorly at the Olympics and especially the last World Championships . I think with Coach K at the helm and guys like Bowen, Battier and Joe Johnson to compliment the superstars we will finally put a real team out on the floor and not an all-star team who don't know the first thing about team basketball.

Actually I believe Kobe is missing the tryouts, but will be available for the Tournament.

The USA will not lose this tournament. That's a guarantee.

I think we(Argentina) will come into this tournament over-confident and choke. (2002 football WC)

We won win first like we did in the Olympics.

I just hope we get a decent finish.

Im confident with our squad...

In manu we trust...

Four teams name their final squads while most of the teams have to decided which 1 or 2 players to drop. So here are final squads:

Argentina
Juan Ignacio "Pepe" Sanchez ("Unicaja" Malaga, Spain)
Emanuel Ginobili (San Antonio "Spurs", USA)
Pablo Prigioni ("Tau Ceramica" Vitoria, Spain)
Daniel Farabello ("Whirpool" Varese, Italy)
Carlos Delfino (Detroit "Pistons", USA)
Leonardo Gutierrez (Ben Hur "Rafaela", Argentina)
Andres Nocioni (Chicago "Bulls", USA)
Walter Hermann (Charlotte "Bobcats", USA)
Luis Scola ("Tau Ceramica" Vitoria, Spain)
Ruben Wokkowyski ("Khimki", Russia)
Fabricio Oberto ("Spurs", USA)
Gabriel Fernandez ("Whirpool" Varese, Italy).

Australia
Jason Smith (Sidney "Kings", Australia)
Mark Worthington (Sidney "Kings", Australia)
Dawid Barlow (Sidney "Kings", Australia)
Luke Kendall (Sidney "Kings", Australia)
Russell Hinder (Sidney "Kings", Australia)
Sam Maccinnon (Brisbane "Bullets", Australia)
C.J.Bruton (Brisbane "Bullets", Australia)
Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee "Bucks", NBA)
Daniel Kickert (St.Mary college, USA)
Brad Newley (Townsville "Crocodiles", Australia)
Aaron Bruce (Baylor university, USA)
Wade Helliwell ("Lottomatica" Roma, Italy).

Brazil
Anderson Varejao (Cleveland "Cavaliers", NBA)
Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix "Suns", NBA)
Tiago Splitter ("Tau Ceramica" Vitoria, Spain)
Guilherme Giovannoni ("VidiVici" Bologna, Italy)
Marcelo Machado ("Žalgiris" Kaunas, Lithuania)
Alex Garcia (Preto "Ribeirao", Brazil)
W.dos Santos (Preto "Ribeirao", Brazil)
Caio Torres ("Estudiantes" Madrid, Spain)
Andre Bambu ("Pamesa" Castelon, Spain 3rd division)
Murilo Becker ("Franca", Brazil)
Ferreira (Uberlandia "Unitri", Brazil)
Rafa Huerta ("Juventut", Spain).

Italy
Fabio Di Bella ("Virtus" Bologna, Italy)
Gianluca Basile ("Winterthur FCB" Barcelona, Spain)
Matteo Soragna ("Benetton" Treviso, Italy)
Marco Belinelli ("Climamio" Bologna, Italy)
Andrea Pecile ("Montepaschi" Siena, Italy)
Marco Mordente ("Benetton" Treviso, Italy)
Mason Rocca ("Carpisa" Napoli, Italy)
Andrea Michelori ("Vertical Vision" Cantu, Italy)
Stefano Mancinelli ("Climamio" Bologna, Italy)
Angelo Gigli ("Bipop Carrire" Emilia-Rego, Italy)
Luca Garri ("Angelico" Biela, Italy)
Denis Marconato ("Winterthur FCB" Barcelona, Spain).

And here are teams that will have to drop some players. They haven't confirmed 12-man squad yet.

USA
Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards)
Shane Battier (Houston Rockets)
Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors)
Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs)
Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers)
Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls)
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards)
Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings)
Chris Paul (New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets)
Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

Lithuania
Darjus Lavrinovic (Kazan Uniks, Russia)
Ksystof Lavrinovic (Kazan Uniks, Russia)
Robertas Javtokas (Panathinaikos, Greece)
Darius Songaila (Washington Wizzards, NBA)
Paulius Jankunas (Zalgiris, Lithuania)
Linas Kleiza (Denver Nuggets, NBA)
Mindaugas Zukauskas (Montepaschi, Italy)
Simas Jasaitis (Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Israel)
Arvydas Macijauskas (Olympiakos, Greece)
Giedrius Gustas (Dinamo, Russia)
Mantas Kalnietis (Zalgiris, Lithuania)
Mindaugas Lukauskis (Lietuvos Rytas, Lithuania)
Tomas Delininkaitis (Lietuvos Rytas, Lithuania)

USA creamed all over Puerto Rico last night, beat them by 45 points I think. If they can keep up that type of play through the tournament they will win it easily.

I just don't think the world is ready for Arenas, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Elton Brand, and Dwight Howard. Plus Chris Bosh and Melo off the bench.

ShiftyPowers said:

I just don't think the world is ready for Arenas, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Elton Brand, and Dwight Howard. Plus Chris Bosh and Melo off the bench.

Click to expand...

I'd start this:

PG: Paul/Arenas/Hinrich
SG: Wade/Johnson
SF: James/Battier
PF: Anthony/Jamison
C: Brand/Howard/Bosh

I left Bowen and Miller off. They are the last two guys I think will be cut before the tourney starts.

Paul HAS to start. He distributes the ball better than Arenas or Hinrich who are more inclined to look for their shots (well Hinrich not so much but he still shoots a little too much imo, can't blame him he was a SG in college). What I like about this roster though is that they added shooters, guys that can make the international 3, guys like Hinrich, Johnson and Battier. USA missed that in Athens. I'm so excited to see this team play again. I can't wait for that exhibition on Monday!

Oh btw...

zalayeta said:

Walter Hermann (Charlotte Bobcats, USA)
Primož Brezec (Charlotte Bobcats, USA)

Click to expand...

represent

The US team will take this one..... IMO they finally have a team that can play international rules..... but you never know. You wouldn't expect Argentina to have enough to knock them off (second place IMO), or the euro teams to be able to take it. And Australia won't get through that group

$teauA said:

I'd start this:

PG: Paul/Arenas/Hinrich
SG: Wade/Johnson
SF: James/Battier
PF: Anthony/Jamison
C: Brand/Howard/Bosh

I left Bowen and Miller off. They are the last two guys I think will be cut before the tourney starts.

Paul HAS to start. He distributes the ball better than Arenas or Hinrich who are more inclined to look for their shots (well Hinrich not so much but he still shoots a little too much imo, can't blame him he was a SG in college). What I like about this roster though is that they added shooters, guys that can make the international 3, guys like Hinrich, Johnson and Battier. USA missed that in Athens. I'm so excited to see this team play again. I can't wait for that exhibition on Monday!

Click to expand...

You're crazy. Arenas is a superstar, Paul isn't. And Melo at Power Forward? Come on! Look, I love Melo, but he's a 3 and nothing else, you need someone who can play in the post with his back to the basket. Brand isn't a center anyway, but he's great in the post and he can step out and drain 15 foot jumpshots. He's like a super international power forward. Then Howard is the best rebounder in the world, he's a lock to start in my opinion, but I'm almost positive K won't.

Parra Power said:

The US team will take this one..... IMO they finally have a team that can play international rules..... but you never know. You wouldn't expect Argentina to have enough to knock them off (second place IMO), or the euro teams to be able to take it. And Australia won't get through that group

Click to expand...

ShiftyPowers said:

You're crazy. Arenas is a superstar, Paul isn't.

Click to expand...

and stars are sure thing? what happen to the 'star'bury ran team USA
meh.. I don't consider arenas a superstar though

IMO the players that get will the majority of pt would be paul/wade/lebron/bosh/howard ... damn scary 5... and they don't seem to be the selfish type either (=fun to watch)...

ShiftyPowers said:

You're crazy. Arenas is a superstar, Paul isn't. And Melo at Power Forward? Come on! Look, I love Melo, but he's a 3 and nothing else, you need someone who can play in the post with his back to the basket. Brand isn't a center anyway, but he's great in the post and he can step out and drain 15 foot jumpshots. He's like a super international power forward. Then Howard is the best rebounder in the world, he's a lock to start in my opinion, but I'm almost positive K won't.

Click to expand...

No I'm not crazy. This isn't the NBA, it's international play. You need a guy that is pass first to run the point (Paul is, Arenas isn't) and you need other players who can drain mid range shots (Anthony can, Howard and Bosh can't). Oh and I don't think back to the basket plays help that much in international play, watch a full game and tell me how many of those plays you see run.

Bosh can't drain a mid range shot? Maybe you're the one who needs to watch a few more games buddy. The Trap lane cuts down on post moves for sure, but I'm not saying we need two behemoths in the middle! Brand and Bosh are guys who can drain midrange shots like nothing plus play in the post! They are insanely athletic too. Melo just isn't a power forward.

Arenas is absolutely a superstar Carlos*y, and after this season I believe he can do anything. 29 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals. Incredible. Honestly, I'd rather have him in my lineup than Wade because he can shoot; Wade's shot is very streaky and there's no way he's going to get so many crappy calls in the international game.

Look, I love Chris Paul and I'm glad he's on the team, but I don't think he should get a starting spot over Arenas. I'm willing to give him a starting spot over Wade (moving Arenas to the 2), but nothing else. Plus I believe Arenas will do whatever it takes to lead the team to victory. He's just one of those guys you see doing whatever is best for the team.

Oh, and I'm still not sure about Kobe. If he plays I think he starts at Shooting Guard no question along side James, Brand, and Howard/Bosh. Point guard is up in the air. I also love Kirk's tenacious defense and outside shot. But I think we can all agree, the person who's game suits the international game the least is probably the biggest lock to start right now: Dwyane Wade.

Has Kobe played international before?

egh, battier is the luckiest mutha on that team just like Laettner in 1992. whateva, i'm still going for the USA tho as long as the fans keep on booin coach rat like they did in Vegas.