2014 FIBA World Cup: 10 major takeaways
By Bryce Olin
10. What Goes Around…
To avoid a potential matchup with the USA in the Quarterfinals, Australia “tanked” a group game against Angola by sitting out starters Aron Baynes and Joe Ingles for the whole game and then resting other top players, Matthew Dellavedova and David Andersen, for the second half, according to Eric Freeman of Yahoo’s Ball Don’t Lie.
With the way the bracket was set up, the second-place team from Group D was going to be matched up to play the United States in the quarterfinals, and the third-place team from Group D, although they would take on the second-place team from Group C in the Round of 16, would avoid the USA and play the first-place team of Group D if both Group D teams advanced.
Instead of attempting to challenge for second-place in Group D, Australia obviously lost to Angola on purpose to avoid the USA as long as they could. While I don’t really have a problem with it (The USA is really good. Why would anyone want to play them?), Slovenia, who then was on track to play the USA because of Australia’s tank move, and Goran Dragic did:
Basketball is a beautiful sport, there is no room for fixing the game like today Australia vs Angola!! @FIBA should do something about that!
— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) September 4, 2014
I understand Dragic’s point, but I also believe in karma, and karma definitely won in the end.
Fast-forward to 1:14 if you just want to see the end of the game. Turkey sent Australia packing on a cold-blooded three with five seconds left in the game. Be careful what you wish for, Aussies! That’s a wrap on the 2014 FIBA World Cup. It was fun while it lasted! See you again in four years.