FIBA World Basketball Championship Preview - Group A

Basketball Betting Lines

08/25/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -

Country: Angola

FIBA Ranking: 12

Head Coach: Luis Magalhaes

Key Players: Joaquim 'Kikas' Gomes, Olimpio Cipriano

Overview: For years, the Angolan team has been associated as the African nation Charles Barkley eloquently referred to, "All I know about Angola is they in trouble." Times have changed and the Angolans have become one of Africa's most dominant team. By qualifying for this tournament, the Angolans were crowned African champions for the 10th time in the last 20 years.

Strengths: The African champs have a shortage of length up front but make up for their lack of size with grit and toughness. This has been the staple of Angolan basketball for years as they also bolster a lineup of athletic players who can get up and down the court with the best of them.

Weaknesses: Having only one player standing as tall as six-foot-10, grabbing rebounds and playing interior defense can be rather taxing. The Angolans will also have a shortage of shooters as they roster a plethora of slashers with little to no three-point shooting to speak of.

Tournament Expectations: Group A is quite possibly the deepest of all the groups. With Argentina, Germany and Serbia all ranked in the top-10 in the world, it will be difficult for the African champs to move towards the Round of 16. Their lack of size will be too much to overcome as the elite teams have will overwhelm them with size.

Country: Argentina

FIBA Ranking: 1

Head Coach: Sergio Hernandez

Key Players: Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, Andres Nocioni

Overview: This Argentina team will try to make the farewell tour for the group known as the "Golden Generation" memorable one. The origin of the name goes to the fact this same group are the ones who claimed silver at the 2002 FIBA World Championships, gold at the 2004 Olympics and bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games. Although they will be without its star, Manu Ginobili, there's no shortage of skill on a squad destined to make noise.

Strengths: Having one of the most balanced and well disciplined teams in the world has helped the Argentineans development over the past decade. Assisting in that balance has been the stellar interior play of Luis Scola, who at the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship was named tournament MVP. Along with Andres Nocioni and Carlos Delfino, the NBA contingent will play a large role in the success of the South Americans.

Weaknesses: With no Ginobili, the Argentineans will be left without a star got-to-player at the end of games. Also, being a veteran team means there isn't a ton of youthful vitality on the floor and the lack of athleticism could prove to be problematic against some of the more elite competition.

Tournament Expectations: Getting out of a tough Group A will be its first task but this team is capable of taking it as far as its tested veterans can manage to take them.

Country: Australia

FIBA Ranking: 11

Head Coach: Brett Brown

Key Players: Patrick Mills, David Andersen

Overview: It's been nearly 10 years since the Aussies have tasted a top-five finish at the Olympics or World Championship and with their star center, Andrew Bogut, out of action it's a trend that could likely continue.

Strengths: Going through a time of change and revival, this team from down under has one of the youngest lineups in international play. Their youthful line up can provide a number of challenges as they have knack to be pesky physical defenders, something opponents don't necessarily appreciate. They also have a formidable front court that will provide the defense and rebounding needed to compete. The experience the young players have on a high level of play is exceptional and will prove to be a benefit for them against other established talent in the tournament.

Weaknesses: Not having a top tier-point guard and center will hamper the possibilities the Boomers have in sight. Their inexperience and youth could potentially be volatile as there is little to no veteran experience to speak of.

Tournament Expectations: Making it into the Round of 16 won't be enough for the Boomers as the fourth place team in Group A will be matched up with the top seed from Group B, most likely the United States. With that in mind, the Australians will be in tough as they face quality opponents in Germany, Serbia and Argentina on their way into the Round of 16 and quarter finals.

Country: Germany

FIBA Ranking: 7

Head Coach: Dirk Bauermann

Key Players: Jan Jagla

Overview: Going into Turkey, the Germans will be without the one man synonymous with the team over the past 10 years, Dirk Nowitzki. In his absence the Germans will try to revive a squad of aging veterans from the 2008 Olympic campaign with some young blood.

Strengths: The Germans still bolster one of the biggest front lines in international competition and will have a sizable advantage on the interior once again. Their experience could be beneficial in close games but the experience and wit of bench boss, Bauermann, could be their biggest edge.

Weaknesses: With no Nowitzki, this team will be hard pressed to find a go-to- guy late in games. The backcourt is also a source of concern as there seems to be no current players exceptionally adept to being creative playmakers as some of the better talent waits in the wings.

Tournament Expectations: This is one of the hardest teams in the tournament to gauge. If their showing at the 2008 Olympics is an indication of what to expect, this Dirk-less edition will be hard pressed to make it out of a highly competitive Group A.

Country: Jordan

FIBA Ranking: 38

Head Coach: Mario Palma

Key Players: Rasheim Wright

Overview: Set to make its inaugural appearance at the FIBA World Championships, Jordan can credit a large part of its recent success to head coach Mario Palma.

Strengths: In Rasheim Wright, the Jordanians have one of the most prolific scorers in international competition as they rode their star throughout the FIBA Asia Championship in order to qualify for this summer's tournament. They also have a wizard on the bench in Palma, so given the opportunity this is a team that could surprise a few.

Weaknesses: A large majority of Jordanian players participated in limited amount of games due to the dissolution of their basketball federation a year ago. With such little experience, this team will have their work cut out for them.

Tournament Expectations: There's no chance this team catches a whiff of the Round of 16 but a single victory would go a long way for the program. Finding it at this tournament may be too much to ask for.

Country: Serbia

FIBA Ranking: 5

Head Coach: Dusan Ivkovic

Key Players: Nenad Krstic, Milos Teodosic

Overview: Before last year's Euro Basket 2009 in Poland, this team hadn't finished in the top-five in any international event since winning gold in 2002 at the World Championship in Indianapolis. Yet they still managed to find a youthful resurgence that helped them regain their place atop the European rankings.

Strengths: Serbia found out at last year's qualifier that they had very good talent at the youth level, as a number of its NBA players chose not to participate. The youngsters have been playing together and under coach Ivkovic for nearly three years and have developed a strong demeanor on the court. The guard play is exceptional and there is no shortage of size on this roster. Krstic, however, still could be suspended because of his role in a bench- clearing brawl during Serbia's exhibition game against Greece.

Weaknesses: Much of what makes the Serbs so intriguing is what makes them so vulnerable. The youth can be tough to handle if the situation gets rough, as a pre-tournament brawl with Greece indicates. How Serbia handles adversity could play a factor in determining where they finish.

Tournament Expectations: Even with most of its NBA players unavailable, this team intends to not just simply compete but to come out of Group A and contend for the entire tournament. Anything less than a quarter-final appearance will be seen as a disappointment.