FIBA World Cup Report: and then There Were Two (Cavs)…

Three Cavs continued their FIBA Basketball World Cup march this weekend. First off, Erik Murphy and Finland failed to make it out of pool play. Of course, since Murphy has the same odds of making the opening day Cavs roster as I do, calling him a “Cav” is generous. Kyrie, Andy, and Delly did, however, make it to the elimination round and one of them failed to advance…

USA 86, Mexico 63. Kyrie Irving overcame a scare when he fell in the final game of the opening round against Ukraine, injuring his hip. Fortunately, he returned to play 24 minutes versus Mexico on Saturday, with no problems. He started and scored four and dished twice against Mexico, who were overmatched against the USA guards. I’ll admit I didn’t watch the game, but just the fact that Kyrie returned with no ill effects, is takeaway enough for me. WHEW. Kyrie continues tomorrow against Goran Dragic and Slovenia.

Speaking of Mexico, PF/C, Gustavo Ayon, just won himself a contract with a solid showing against team USA: 25 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in 36 minutes. If the Cavs wanted to do a sign and trade with Atlanta to give Ayon a little more cash than the veteran minimum, they could probably have signed him. But after Ayon’s FIBA performance, he was quickly snapped up by Real Madrid, according to Solobasket. The ends of NBA benches are going to be a little strange this year, as players like Ayon who can start and make four times as much money overseas are going to eschew the NBA veteran minimum to play in Europe, China, and even Australia.

Turkey 65, Australia 64. Matthew Dellavedova and the Boomers lost a heartbreaker against Turkey. Delly was brilliant. Australia’s late game coaching wasn’t. Delly had 13, five dimes, two turnovers, and three rebounds, and was +8 for the game. Australia was pretty hapless when he wasn’t on the floor. Delly displayed headiness throughout: taking charges, always getting Australia into their offense quickly, setting everyone else up before himself, and hitting timely shots. He had some awesome passes: consistently hitting guys in stride with breakout passes that led to free-throws or layups; an over the shoulder no looker; and even a pass to San Antonio’s Aaron Baynes off the backboard that I rewound and watched four times. Delly’s best play of the game came with a minute left as he executed a high pick and roll with Baynes. Instead of dishing it, Superdova hit one of his patented from-the-hip floaters over Omer Asik to put Australia up five with 1:02 to go. Australia had played solid defense throughout, limiting Turkey to 40% shooting, and it seems every one of Austrlia’s players displays Delly’s solid fundamentals of body up defensive positioning and defensive stance, but unfortunately not everyone had Delly’s situational awareness.

Late three pointers killed Australia. After Delly’s shot, Preldzic hit a three for Turkey to cut the deficit to two, and Turkey hard trapped Delly three feet behind the left wing to force him to give it up t0 Baynes who missed a wide open Cameron Barstow under the basket, which led to a shot-clock violation. Bairstow (a four year senior with New Mexico, and now a rookie with the Bulls) gave up the game winning play as Turkey ran an isolation against him on the left wing for Emir Preldzic. Preldzic hit a step back three with five seconds left to put Turkey up by one.  How do you give up a three in that situation?

Anyway, Australia had one play left, and instead of running the play through Delly, they sent him to the left corner and tried to run a left wing pick and roll with Brad Newly and Aaron Baynes which ended up in a fumbled ball and a turnover. I don’t know why coach Andrej Lamanis didn’t put the ball in Delly’s hands. Maybe he was afraid of him being trapped again, but it was a decision that likely cost the Boomers a shot at winning the game. Delly would have at least found a way to get a shot up.

It was a game that saw Australia up 12 in the third quarter, and up five with a minute left. But maybe Australia was karmically doomed. In the final opening round game, they completely tanked one versus Angola, resting most of their best players and playing a putrid third quarter. Most thought it was to avoid a match-up against the USA in the quarterfinals. FIBA is now investigating.

Also, on the available big man front, I have to say I wasn’t that impressed with Aaron Baynes: decent talent, but not much of an athlete, and will, at times, make maddeningly dumb plays like putting it on the deck from the three-point line. He’s good for six NBA fouls, but he’s a garbage timer at this point. Still, I was glad to see Delly play so well, and I can’t wait to see him throw lobs to guys who can actually finish them. Delly would have had 10 assists if he was throwing those passes to his fellow Cavaliers. Now if the Cavs can just trade Kyrie for a big man…

Brazil 85, Argentina 65. Anderson Varejao helped lead Brazil in a game that was closer then the final score. Coach Ruben Magnano took my advice and moved Andy into the starting lineup for the last three games after Brazil got pasted by Spain last week. (In truth, I think Magnano is just letting Nene, Splitter, and Andy split the starts). Wild Thing delivered with a very Andy-esque game: eight points, nine rebounds, four assists, more than a couple uncredited steals, and +17 in 32 minutes of action over the Luis Scola led Argentinians. Scola was held to 9 points on 2-10 shooting, and Andy looked positively explosive at times: cutting down the lane for a rolling and-1, out-jumping everyone for rebounds, and, of course, hitting the deck multiple times as he played with his characteristic abandon. (I hold my breath every time). His chemistry with Splitter and Brazil’s rapidly improving guards and wings was awesome, too.

Speaking of awesome, starting guard, Neto broke out for Brazil: 21 points, +25, two dimes, no turnovers, and 9/10 from the floor. He looked electric. Check out this Kyrie-esque move at 1:04 against Scola. (stick around for a beautiful steal and outlet pass by Andy 15 seconds later). Too bad the Jazz own Neto’s draft rights.

Andy and the Brazillians continue against Serbia on Wednesday who are led by seven-footer, Miroslav Raduljica — currently on the Clippers roster and expected to be bought out. He’s another big man prospect worth exploring. He’s averaging 14.5 and 5 boards in 22 minutes a night for Serbia. The Cavs should think about sending a second rounder the Clips way. Also on Serbia, rookie-of-the-year dark horse, Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is averaging 11.3 a game, filling up the box score and leading Serbia in +/-. He’s going to be scintillating for the Nets.

If you haven’t checked out FIBA action, you should. Alternate universe Cavalier, Jonas Valanciunas and Lithuania match up with Omer Asik and Turkey, Tuesday, and the Americans play Slovenia. Wednesday’s Spain/France game is going to be epic too: Gobert (speaking of which, how many draft picks would it take…), Diaw, Fournier, Batum, and Pietrus versus Gasols, Ibaka, Sergio, Rubio, Calderon, Fernandez, and Navarro. Wow. It’s almost enough to get me through to November.