MIES (Switzerland) - We are just 12 games away from learning the names of the last four passengers to board our flight towards France for the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024.
We've already parted ways with Bahrain, Côte d'Ivoire, Montenegro, Georgia, Poland, Angola, New Zealand, and Egypt, meaning this would be an edition of the Power Rankings with 16 teams.
#16 Lebanon (+7)
Safe to say, not a lot of people expected Lebanon to be here. Yet, seven places later, they've squeezed into the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Spain, edging out Angola, and writing new pages of their basketball history books.
So... why aren't they higher than #16? That's because they have to face the red hot Bahamas next. They will be the underdogs, so why not repeat another upset, and another on Sunday, and reach the Olympics for the first time ever? They've never been closer...
#15 Finland (+2)
Look at Finland, advancing to the Semi-Finals by a single point! Yet another tournament where you think Finland are in trouble, they are here just to learn and prepare for some other summers when their youngsters reach their prime, and all of a sudden, coach Lassi Tuovi finds a way to win and get his men learning while advancing.
They have Spain next, arguably the toughest of draws since they are playing in Spain. But what you see as the toughest draw, Finland understand as the best possible lesson to improve. And repeat the same on Sunday, if possible.
#14 Cameroon (+8)
For 30 minutes of their game against Brazil, we were ready to push Cameroon into the top ten of the Power Rankings. However, they could not hold on to a big lead to eliminate Brazil, but then again, they did defeat a juggernaut such as Aco Petrovic's team, meaning they deserve a major improvement.
A jump of eight spots for them compared to last week!
#13 Mexico (+3)
Job done, but nothing more or nothing less than that. Mexico did exactly what they were expected to do, they've lost to Lithuania and pulled away from Côte d'Ivoire late to get to 1-1 and move to the Semi-Finals.
They are in a similar situation as Finland. To advance to the Final of their tournament, they need to silence the home crowd on Saturday, with the difference of Mexico being in Puerto Rico.
#12 Italy (-5)
There is no shame in losing to Puerto Rico, especially when Jose Alvarado is playing like this. However, there is a drop in the Power Rankings, because losing just that one game changes everything for Italy.
To reach the Final on Sunday, they have to defeat Lithuania on Saturday. A much tougher path compared to, well, not facing Lithuania before the Final. Don't count Italy out just yet, they love these situations, just to prove everybody wrong.
#11 Dominican Republic (+2)
Jean Montero and Chris Duarte were their two best players in Greece so far, which is great, but at the same time, they play the two positions not covered by their next opponent's biggest stars.
Size is going to be a problem against Mario Hezonja, Dario Saric and Ivica Zubac. So the idea is clear. Speed the game up, hopefully it won't backfire the way it did against Greece in that 27-point defeat.
#10 Philippines (+10)
This is where things get complicated. The Philippines were looking like a legit top five team in their win against Latvia, but then they looked like they were on their way out when they couldn't get a stop against Georgia in the first half.
To their credit, they did fight back and made it through from the second spot. But with a blown chance to win the group, and with a game against Brazil coming up, they are stuck in the middle of this pack.
They are the most improved team here, moving up 10 spots since the last Power Rankings!
#9 Brazil (+1)
This is where things get complicated. Brazil were looking like a legit top five team in their win against Montenegro, but then they looked like they were on their way out when they couldn't get a stop against Cameroon in the first half.
To their credit, they did fight back and made it through - wait, this is where the copy-paste from the Philippines bit ends. Because Brazil actually managed to win the group.
But losing to Cameroon, that's the itsy bitsy difference from being top four or just ninth in the Power Rankings.
#8 Slovenia (-6)
They were so close to getting to that +29 mark to win the group and 'avoid' Greece in the Semi-Finals, but there was no despair among the Slovenes after the final buzzer sounded in the group stage.
Walking off the court and talking to the media members, all of them gave such a confident vibe, like they've been waiting for a match-up with Greece this whole time.
Klemen Prepelic, Luka Doncic, Gregor Hrovat, even coach Aleksander Sekulic - it was a very familiar vibe, too. It certainly felt like 2021, at least for a day, so wherever you are, whatever you've got planned for Saturday afternoon, clear your schedule and tune in.
Greece and Slovenia will most definitely play an instant classic in front of 11,000 fans in Piraeus.
#7 Croatia (+2)
The good news? Croatia stunned Slovenia, won the group, Dario Saric looks like the best power forward in all of Europe right now, Mario Hezonja is being aggressive, while Ivica Zubac is putting up 2K stats.
The bad news? Croatia haven't been to a major global event since 2016, meaning they never played against a team like the Dominican Republic, meaning they'll have to get used to a different brand of basketball right then and there, on the court.
First rendez-vous for the two nations, beautiful setting, too, on a Saturday evening, right next to the beach in Piraeus.
#6 Bahamas (+2)
Sure, sure, you can talk about Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon, but basketball enthusiasts all over the world have fallen in love with VJ 'V is for Villain' Edgecombe. The five star recruit is still just 18 years old, but he's already a frequent flyer in the air space above the court in Valencia.
He's off to Baylor next season. Before that, he's celebrating his birthday on July 30. Wouldn't it be fun to do it in France, though? Wouldn't it be fun to turn 19 right next to the biggest stars of international basketball?
Wouldn't that be life giving him the perfect birthday present?
#5 Puerto Rico (+1)
We praised the Dominican Republic, we praised the Bahamas, but in reality, Puerto Rico are the best team from the Americas so far in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Usually when they were winning games, it meant there was a high scoring affair where guys like Larry Ayuso, Carlos Arroyo, JJ Barea and others simply outscored you.
This time around, they built a defensive wall. They held Italy to just 69 points. Just by comparison, Italy averaged 79.3 points per game at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, and were held below 70 points just once.
By none other than the United States.
That's how good this Puerto Rico defense is.
#4 Latvia (-1)
In any other Power Rankings, we would've had them in double digits, probably. But here's one logical thing. Latvia don't need to be better than 15 other teams. They just need to be better than Brazil, Cameroon and the Philippines in Riga, and they will be at the Olympics.
We punish Latvia by one spot for that defeat against the Philippines. But it was a timely slap to the face, and expect them to react and bounce back with a vengeance on the court.
#3 Lithuania (+2)
You know what's kinda funny? There's all this talk about Giannis, Luka, Croatia, Montero, Brownlee, Brazil, Cameroon and Lebanon upsets, Latvia's crowd, Aldama taking over, Bahamas, clutch Finland, Alvarado, and of course the preparations of the already qualified teams.
Then there's Lithuania, just walking by, cool, calm, collected, en route to another Olympics berth without making too much noise about it. Probably thinking, "Sure, you guys talk about everything else, we'll just take care of our business and see you in Lille and Paris, okay? Okay."
#2 Spain (+2)
Why are the FIBA Youth Events important? Because you get to have the experience of playing for your country, you form a bond with your teammates, and one day, when you're all grown up, maybe the fact that you've known somebody your entire life helps you feel more connected on the court.
You know, just like these two kids down here, celebrating the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019 title.
The one on the left is averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals in just 15 minutes per game. The one on the right is a genuine star nowadays, leading Spain in scoring with 20.5 points, while also grabbing 8.5 rebounds, blocking 2.0 shots and stealing 1.0 balls per game at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia.
Yep. Spain, Usman Garuba and Santi Aldama always knew why youth events were important.
#1 Greece (0)
Not only did they protect their first spot, it feels like they fortified it. Coach Vassilis Spanoulis created a green light system and it's definitely paying off, with Greece not having a specialist shooter, but yet hitting an unreal 28 three-pointers in two games with 48.3 percent accuracy.
Of course, the system revolves around Giannis Antetokounmpo's greatness, but Spanoulis charged his men with so much confidence, that ten different players made at least one three-pointer in the first two games.
They face their toughest test to date since changing their mentality. Luka Doncic and Slovenia, meaning Spanoulis gets to face the kid who said he wore number seven on his jersey because of Kill Bill.
Can we fast forward to tip-off, please? Please?? Thanks.
*The power rankings are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.