Features 539
SGA impresses as Canada take down a dogged Slovenia
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his case for MVP, Dillon Brooks fed on the hate, and Canada got the win. For all of Luka Doncic’s fight, he couldn’t stop Slovenia from being eliminated from the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Was this a Lakers or Luka game? The local obsession with Austin Reaves, purely because he is an […]
Germany survives Dennis Schroeder’s shooting woes to beat Latvia
Dennis Schroeder had an historically awful day from the field but Germany’s depth was just too much in the end for Latvia. Davis Bertans and Arturs Zagars did what they could but, with more energy, Germany did just enough in the fourth quarters to reach the medal rounds of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. An […]
USA crush hapless Italy but learn little
The USA made light work of Italy in the 2023 FIBA World Cup quarter final but don’t read too much into it. For all the hope of Luigi Datome bringing the magic, it was Jalen Brunson and the gang who took charge from the off. Paint and Paolo There was certainly some promise for the […]
Bogdan Bogdanovic delivers as Serbia beat Lithuania
This was meant to be a battle of Jonas Valanciunas and Bogdan Bogdanovic. In the end, it was a one-man show as Bogi went wild to bring Serbia past Lithuania and into the semi-finals of the 2023 FIBA World Cup An aggressive opening Bogdan Bogdanovic let us know exactly how this first quarter was going […]
Will the real Serbia basketball team please stand up?
Serbia ran riot in the first half and ripped the soul from Dominicana before it even knew what had happen. The question is, where was this Serbian performance when it was needed two days ago? Imagine a boot stamping on a face for 40 minutes. That’s what it was like for Dominican Republic on Sunday […]
Gigi Datome’s story isn’t finished yet
With Luigi Datome’s career on the line, as well as their future at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Italy did everything they could to lose but Gigi made sure the story is still being written as they eventually took down Puerto Rico Whatever fear of a hangover from Gianmarco Pozzecco’s men after their epic comeback […]
Rokas Jokubaitis leads Lithuania past Greece
Rokas Jokubaitis came up big in the second half as he provided the creative spark Lithuania needed to see off Greece and secure their place in the quarter finals of the FIBA World Cup Technically speaking, this was only an elimination game for Greece. In reality, Lithuania didn’t fancy the cards falling their way if […]
They fought here
There was, of course, a basketball game and one with stakes at that but Emmet Ryan just had to go to Araneta Coliseum for the sheer history October 1, 1975, the date is on the banner high for the Thrilla in Manila. In my early 20s, I was thrilled to find that the bonus content […]
Papapetrou guides Greece past gallant New Zealand
New Zealand left it all out there in a display filled with bravery and belief but it just wasn’t enough in the end as Greece, eventually, secured their spot in the second phase. Emmet Ryan reports from Manila Being a Tall Black is a vocation because you’ve got to be devoted to dream of this […]
Steve Kerr may regret not testing Kessler
It was another easy win for the USA as they took care of Jordan with ease at the 2023 FIBA World Cup but Emmet Ryan thinks Steve Kerr missed a golden opportunity to test his emergency option It’s not like the USA appear to need much help so far at this World Cup. Comfortable victories […]
Valanciunas proves that this is his court
It took a while for the big man battle to get going but once it did, Jonas Valanciunas was decisive in his duel with Nikola Vucevic as Lithuania moved to 3-0 with victory over Montenegro Basketball is a complex game involving movement, sets, knowing when to be opportunistic, adjustments, and so much more. Sometimes however […]
USA coast past Greece but that may be a worry for the Americans
It felt like a glorified exhibition from early on and that’s bad news for the victors, writes Emmet Ryan. Austin Reaves may be beloved by the locals but cruise control in Manila isn’t ideal even if it lead to a comprehensive win over Greece Take your pick really. Staring down the interior D of the […]