Group L Preview: Unbeaten duo Canada and Spain on collision course

JAKARTA (Indonesia) - Canada and Spain enter the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as two unbeaten teams looking to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

The talent-laden Canadians and defending champions Spain are slotted in Group L together with Brazil and Latvia. They both carry identical 3-0 records, while Brazil and Latvia both have 2-1 slates.

There is no doubt that this is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Second Round groups in the tournament. With reigning champions Spain and high-powered Canada set to face off, basketball fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the action. Brazil have also bucked the injury to star Raul Neto, while Latvia's Cinderella run has been mesmerizing.

Now, let's take a closer look at the teams in Group L and preview what promises to be a thrilling round of basketball.

The Favorite: Canada

Canada is arguably the clear favorite in Group L, and for good reason. Led by rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they boast a talented and deep roster that is, at least on paper, capable of finishing on the podium at the World Cup.

In the First Round, Canada dominated their opponents, winning all three games by an average of 37 points. SGA also has a lot of helping hands around him with guys RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk and Nickeil Alexander-Walker putting up good numbers so far. While they will face tougher competition in the Second Round, Canada's impressive performance in the first round has established them as a team to be reckoned with for medal contention.

 

 

The Underdog: Latvia

While Latvia are certainly not a team to be taken lightly, they will be up against it in Group L. With a relatively inexperienced roster and now without Dairis Bertans, they will have their work cut out for them if they hope to advance to the Quarter-Finals. They have already shown a lot of magic moments in Jakarta, and will need one or two more if they are to progress further. That being said, they have arguably the loudest fans in Group L, and they will be looking to continue punching above their weight in the Second Round.

The Pivotal Game: Canada v Spain

The game between Canada and Spain is undoubtedly the most important game in Group L. Spain, the reigning champions, are one of the best teams in the world and will provide a stern test for Canada. On the other side, Canada have looked like they can simply flip a switch and dominate their opponents.

If the Canadians continue to play at a high level and can come away with a win, they will firmly establish themselves as one of the clear favorites to win it all in this tournament. However, if Spain can emerge victorious, they will send a message to the rest of the tournament that despite a scarcity of superstars, they are still the team to beat. Their meeting could also determine their last eight seeding if both progress.

The Open Question: Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continue to dominate?

One of the biggest storylines in Group L is the play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA is playing in his first World Cup, and he has bee as good as advertised. He is currently averaging 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game after the First Round.

However, the competition will only get tougher in the Second Round. Now, he'll go up against Spain's rising star Juan Nunez and Brazilian legend Marcelinho Huertas. It remains to be seen if Gilgeous-Alexander can continue to play at such a high level against better competition. If he can, Canada should continue their undefeated run.

The Poll

 

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