2015 FIBA Asia Championship - Power Ranking: Week 1

CHANGSHA (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - In the lead-up to the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on September 23, our experts will be ranking the 16 teams bound for Changsha, China, based on their respective player compositions and preparations for the biennial tournament.

Though these rankings are entirely based on out experts' opinions and have no mathematical or theoretical grounding, keep in mind that player injuries, eligibility issues, training camp reports, and pre-tournament game results will all have considerable impact.

1		Iran Iran are the defending champions. Team Melli is expected to be very strong again this year with the same old faces doing the same amount of damage to their foes. Yes, Iran got beaten by China's B Team twice a couple of weeks ago, but they have remained healthy as of late. They have also been dominant in the 2015 William Jones Cup, winning their first four games by an average of 24.3 points.
2		China China have been training since March, and the injuries might be taking a toll. As of now, star player Yi Jianlian is still resting and has not yet rejoined the team. Still, this team maybe has the biggest size in the field, and they have homecourt advantage throughout the entire tournament. China is renowned for playing a notch or two better at home, so they are in great shape. Also, an upcoming 4-nations tournament with Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will help.
3		Korea The Koreans went 1-1 against Chinese Taipei in two tune-up games, losing the first game by 3, but then proceeding to blow Chinese Taipei out in the second game. Korea’s strengths are supposed to be its depth and consistency, but these haven't been in full display in the 2015 Jones Cup, where the team has lost two of five games.
4		Philippines Despite half of the team that played in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup missing, the Philippines got a big boost this past week with the possibility of LA Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson suiting up. Their trip to Estonia yielded a lot of learnings, and they have racked up some impressive wins in the 2015 Jones Cup. Momentum seems to have swung, and things are improving for Gilas Pilipinas.
5		Chinese Taipei A win over the Koreans has done wonders for Chinese Taipei's current level of confidence, and they have been playing quite well at home in the 2015 Jones Cup. They are relatively healthy (save for an injury to Jet Chang), and are primed to be a sleeper contender when the FIBA Asia Championship begins. One knock, however, is the possibility that this may be star playmaker Lin Chih-Chieh's final campaign with the national team.
6		Kazakhstan The Snow Leopards are currently in Lithuania for their training camp and tune-up games. Big things are expected from this team after they finished among the top four in last year's Asian Games WITHOUT naturalized guard Jerry Johnson. With him back in the fold and with training in full swign, things should continue to look up for the Kazakhs.
7		Lebanon Loren Woods has been the confirmed naturalized player for the Cedars, and he looked solid in their  tune-up games in Europe. This dampens the worries connected to his age and the fact he is fresh from an injury that sidelined him for much of the past LBL season. The rumors about Fadi El Khatib's having trouble securing a release from his CBA squad persists, though.
8		Japan There is palpable excitement about this Japanese team, especially with former NBA player Yuta Tabuse leading the pack. Good results against a Czech Republic select team augur well for the team, and though their Jones Cup campaign hasn't been spectacular, there are noticeable flashes of brilliance. Of course, not having star big man Kosuke Takeuchi still hurts..
9		Jordan Coach Rajko Toroman had to cancel an international training camp for his boys because of budget constraints, but that doesn’t mean Jordan won't be a force to be reckoned with. With veterans Zaid Abbas and Sam Daghlas back to lead the team, look for Al Nashama to be a tough nut to crack again this year. Also, they have confirmed participation in a 4-nations competition in China next week.
10		Qatar Iconic player Yaseen Musa has officially retired and top local PG Mansour El Hadary still doesn't look fit enough from his ligament tear injury. Tired old veterans like Erfan Ali Saeed and Daoud Musa Daoud will have to carry the slack along with emerging scorer Khalid Suliman Abdi and returning naturalized player Trey Johnson, who looks half a step slower than he used to be.
11		Palestine I’m excited to see the Palestinians play in their first-ever FIBA Asia Championship, but I’m not too excited about their chances. They are good enough to place second in Group B, but every game after that is going to be a major uphill battle. With Omar Krayem and Nicola Fadayel back in the team, however, this may just be the best Palestine team ever assembled.
12		India India were supposed to explode into prominence this year, but the departure of Scott Flemming and Satnam Singh Bhamaras decision to focus on his NBA prospects both cast a shadow over India’s chances of making a dent in #FIBAAsia2015. Still, if the terrific trio of Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, Amjyot Singh, and Amrit Pal Singh can play really well, anything can happen.
13		Kuwait Nothing much from this Gulf nation, but their not-so-bad showing in the 2014 Asian Games promises that they will be, at the very least, a competitive bunch who should still make it out of Group B ahead of the teams below them here. Watch out for spitfire guard Ahmad Al Baloushi.
14		Hong Kong Even at full strength, Hong Kong will have a lot of trouble in Group B, but I’m not even sure if key guys like Lo Yi Ting and Lee Ki will play. Guys like Duncan Reid and Chan Siu-Wing will need to step up. Needless to say, Hong Kong will not be expected to make any ripples in the big tournament.
15		Singapore Fresh from winning the bronze medal in the 2014 SEA Games, Singapore’s confidence is at an all-time high. That, however, will not be enough for them to beat any team in Group C.
16		Malaysia Filipino coach Paul Advincula recently proclaimed that his boys are ready and won’t back down from any challenge in #FIBAAsia2015. That’s a good attitude to have for a team that, in all possibility, may finish dead last.