Basketball: Kiwis' chance to rise against world's biggest boys

John Shurna (11) of the US claims the ball during the match against Iran at North Shore Events Centre. The US won 106-55. Photo / Getty Images

Whether it's the cockiness of youth, the language barrier or just flat-out honesty is hard to know. Probably it's a mixture of all three.

But there is no doubt Greece's captain, Nikolaos Pappas, is confident about his team's chances in the Under-19 world basketball championships.

The European champions began their campaign last night against the emerging African power Angola, but well before that match tipped off Pappas was talking up his team's chances.

"We are ready to win the tournament," Pappas deadpanned when asked for an assessment of his team's prospects. Everybody here knows we have a good team and they respect us. We are the European champions and we are ready to win in this tournament. But we must show that on the court."

His confidence is probably not misplaced. The Greek team have been together for two years. In 2007 they claimed the silver medal at the European Under-17 championships. Last year they went one better, beating Lithuania 57-50 in the final.

The quirk of the draw has placed them in the same group as Lithuania in Auckland. Puerto Rico upset the Lithuanians in their opening fixture yesterday, but Saturday night's match with Greece promises to be the marquee game of the opening pool phase.

Pappas was unfazed. "I think we are better than them," he said. "We have improved from last year and we have exactly the same team. We are ready to win. We are ready to show our game."

Bordering on arrogance, perhaps, but it certainly makes a refreshing change from the "talk-up-the-opposition-at-all-costs" line routinely trotted out by Kiwi sportspeople.

Pappas' confidence, however, isn't shared by the bookies, who have installed the United States as $2 favourites to take the title.

Given America's basketball pedigree, that is no surprise. But with the NBA cherrypicking foreign talent, the gap between the game's superpower and the rest of world has shrunk dramatically since the first Dream Team dazzled the world at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

These days the American senior team are routinely challenged by the likes of Greece, Argentina and Spain. In the junior ranks, the international game is even more competitive.

The US come into this tournament having won three titles and made six of eight finals overall, but it is 18 years since they last lifted the trophy at this level. And they are not the top qualifier from their region, having been defeated by Argentina in the final of last year's Under-18 Americas championships.

Still, few would argue they aren't worthy of their favourites tag.

Greece are second favourites ($4.50) while Lithuania ($5) and Australia ($8.50) were also fancied before tip-off.

New Zealand captain Dion Prewster knows his side will be hard-pushed against the taller squads. "We have our work cut out for us."

One of the shortest teams across the boards, New Zealand have had to compensate by focusing on a fast-break offence and dribble penetrations.

Australia's pre-tournament form, including a 20-point thumping of Greece, makes their price look attractive.

"That was a very big surprise for us," Pappas admitted.

Surprises should be fairly rare until the later stages of the tournament. While Africa and Asia continue to emerge as basketballing regions, there is still a gulf between countries from those continents and their slick European and American counterparts.

The best illustration of the cut-throat nature of European competition is provided by defending champions Serbia. Winners last time, they didn't qualify this time.

It's hard, then, to overstate the challenge facing Kenny McFadden's Junior Tall Blacks.

The American-born coach has been tapping the brains of those involved in the halcyon days of 2002, when the senior Tall Blacks shocked the basketball world by making the medal round of the world championships. That team's fourth-placed finish meant silverware eluded them, but it remains this nation's greatest achievement in the sport.

Coach Tab Baldwin, captain Pero Cameron and players such as Dylan Boucher have been consulted as the Kiwis look to take advantage of the direct entry granted to the host nation.

With the colossus of Australia standing in their way in Oceania, chances for Kiwis to play in international tournaments such as this have been non-existent.

Last night's game against Argentina will have by now provided a guide to how the young Kiwis might fare, but it is unlikely the scenario of needing to beat Kazakhstan in their final pool game to progress to the second stage will have changed.

That is the challenge McFadden has set his players. He knows full well there is plenty riding on his side at least earning respectability. "It is not only about playing for ourselves, it is about playing for young New Zealand basketballers," he said.

"It is showing that if you put in the hard work, even if you don't get a lot of financial support, if you play with that old Kiwi spirit - then things can happen."

THREE TO WATCH

Hugh Greenwood
Australia, guard

Already a member of the senior Boomers squad, the Emus captain is a hard working defender with an uncanny ability to find his way to the basket. He led Australia to the gold medal at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival averaging 14 points and 3.5 assists and registering a game high 27 points on 12-20 shooting in the final against China.

Seth Curry
USA, shooting guard

From American basketball royalty, Curry's father Dell was one of the most prolific three-point shooters in NBA history and the leading scorer in Charlotte Hornets history with 9,839 points. Already following in the old man's footsteps, older brother Stephen was claimed by Golden State as the seventh overall pick in this year's draft. Seth is tipped to follow suit. His scoring deeds are already impressive. In 2007/08 he was the leading freshman scorer in the NCAA and became the only freshman in Big South history to land over 100 three-pointers in a season as he averaged 20.2 points per game for Liberty University.

Nikolaos Pappas
Greece, point guard

Currently on-loan with Real Madrid in the Spanish IEB league, the 1.94m guard made his pro debut with Panellinios Athens during the 2006-07 season and has steadily progressed since. Was named MVP at the prestigious Albert Schweitzer tournament and played in the 2009 Nike Hoop Summit, where he helped the World Select Team defeat Team USA. Won the silver medal with Greece at the 2007 European U18 Championship and a year later went one better with the gold medal at the 2008 Championship, where he was also voted to the All-Tournament team.