RIGA (Latvia) - The countdown is on, as FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Final Phase tips off in a matter of hours.
The reason why we're all here again is because the first part of the competition is behind us. That allows us to move teams up or down in the Smart Power Rankings, again.
#1 Germany (+1)
Here's one for you: Germany ended this preliminary round with an average of 105.8 points per game. You know how impressive that is?
Only Soviet Union in 1985 have scored more in that phase of a EuroBasket tournament (107.4).
There you go. Germany did not miss one step on their journey through Tampere and are set to do the same in Riga, with an even more impressive roster list. That's because coach Alex Mumbru is set to return to coaching duties.
Kudos to Alan Ibrahimagic, the assistant coach who took care of business through the first five games.
#2 Türkiye (+4)
We warned you about these guys. We told you not to underestimate them because they went 3-2 in the preparation games, but to be fair, we underestimated them by placing them only sixth in the last edition of the Power Rankings.
Alperen Sengun has been so fun to follow so far, and their Big Three of Sengun, Shane Larkin and Cedi Osman is averaging nearly 50 points per game, on 58 percent field goal shooting.
#3 Serbia (-2)
This is pain.
Serbia lost Bogdan Bogdanovic to injury, and that's the main reason we pushed them down two spots, but to be in the top three here after losing the guy who averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists at the Olympics last summer, that speaks volumes of their depth.
We analyzed it, you know. You think they're different without him, but they're the same and you're wrong.
#4 Greece (0)
There were some flaws, sure; they could've won the group a bit smoother, sure; they could've swept the group, sure.
But Greece are still playing extremely efficient basketball, even with Giannis Antetokounmpo playing three of the possible five games so far. They are shooting 45.6 percent from beyond the arc on 25 attempts per game, only Türkiye are better from that distance, percentage-wise.
No wonder Giannis was just one assist away from registering his first EuroBasket triple-double when he's surrounded with hot shooting.
#5 France (-2)
Plenty of questions popped up as France scored just 69 points and lost the game to Israel. Mainly, the questions were if they have anybody to take the ball and go crazy, creating something out of nothing offensively.
Two answers so far: Sylvain Francisco and Guerschon Yabusele both went off for 30+ points during this event.
You don't think that's impressive? The last time a French player scored 30+ points in a FIBA EuroBasket game was in 2013, when Tony Parker had 32.
The last time France had two different players in the 30+ department in the same event? 1989, when Richard Dacoury had 32 against Bulgaria, while Stephane Ostrowski collected 31 against the Netherlands.
#6 Italy (+2)
If there was something like the highest energy player award or something, Italy would have a couple of names up there. Okay, it would be Saliou Niang for sure, but he wouldn't be the only Italian in the hypothetical top 10 highest energy player award nominees.
Meanwhile, you already know who would pick up the highest energy coach award.
#7 Lithuania (-2)
Losing Rokas Jokubaitis is heartbreaking. Not just because it's horrible to lose a player to such a gigantic injury, but also because he really feels like the heart and soul of this generation of Lithuania.
The latest news on Rokas Jokubaitis’ injury – tests carried out in Tampere revealed a left knee ligament injury.
The point guard is expected to be sidelined from basketball for at least six months. In the near future, Jokubaitis will travel to Munich, where his further treatment will continue in coordination with the Bayern Munich organization and the Lithuanian Basketball Association.
We wish Rokas strength and thank him for giving his whole heart this summer and during the EuroBasket.
Jokubaitis injured his knee at the start of the fourth quarter in the game against Finland.
They have the neighborhood derby coming up in the Round of 16, taking on Latvia, and we already know the atmosphere will be like something we probably never experienced on this stage, as these two are best friends and they keep telling us about it.
Btw, placing them at #7 is somewhat generous since they are shooting 27-of-104 from three-point range. Yep. Twenty-seven of one-hundred-and-four. Yep. Twenty-six percent. Record low for them in major events, probably.
#8 Latvia (-1)
"It would be special if we meet our neighbors somewhere down the line," Kristaps Porzingis said before the event. Guess we're somewhere down the line, huh?
All that we just had about Rokas Jokubaitis could be also said about Andrejs Grazulis. The 32-year-old was supposed to be used as a secret weapon when Latvia faced Serbia, but his game was cut short after just 90 seconds, and just like that, the heart and soul of this generation of Latvia is done for the tournament.
There were some worrying signs in their two defeats to Türkiye and Serbia, but the hosts can count on 11,000 fans carrying them forward in the Knock-Out Phase.
That's big. Because the feeling from within the arena was the roof was going to go off any time Kristaps Porzingis and Davis Bertans made those "out of human range" three-pointers, as coach Luca Banchi called them.
#9 Poland (+6)
To be fair, we did mention Poland could go crazy in front of their fans, and that they were a top four team in 2022, but not a lot of us over here in the Smart Power Rankings Headquarters were convinced by those sentences.
And yet, here we are. With Poland a spot above Slovenia. Which is exactly what they deserved, since they took down that same Slovenia side and scored 105 against them.
The defeat to Belgium was not planned, but it did not change anything, they had already known they would finish second no matter what. They are up against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 16, good luck predicting that one.
#10 Slovenia (+1)
Let's get one thing clear: Slovenia dropped a couple of games, but with Luka Doncic doing his usual thing, there is absolutely nobody who wants to see them on the other side of the floor.
They will also be facing their neighbors, Italy, in the Round of 16.
Remember 2023? They played the Classification Game 7-8 at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila, and Luka finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Just saying.
#11 Finland (-2)
Imagine playing your heart out in front of your fans, getting the only 40+ point game of the tournament so far, done by Lauri Markkanen obviously, pushing Lithuania all the way to the final seconds, and after all that, the basketball gods reward you...
...by putting you in front of Serbia in the Round of 16.
Bad luck. Or not, because this generation proved plenty of times they can spoil all sorts of plans on any given day. So look at it as the perfect opportunity to make your mark, Finland.
#12 Israel (0)
Somehow, all these teams are being pushed around, back and forth, and then, Israel always end up at 12. The math is mathing, we guess...
Quick aside, back in 2019, Deni Avdija averaged 18.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game en route to being named the MVP of the FIBA U20 EuroBasket in Tel Aviv.
Scouts and analysts wondered if he could copy-paste those numbers on senior level, too. The answer is no.
Because he is doing better, apparently. He's blazing the trail for Israel with 24.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game so far.
Israel haven't been in the Quarter-Finals since 2003, they'll need to jump over Greece to do so in 2025.
#13 Bosnia and Herzegovina (+4)
Wow! How many of you thought BIH could be here after they lost Dzanan Musa to injury? How many of you thought they could sneak into the Round of 16 when you saw their group?
Somehow, these guys keep defying the odds. There's your answer why we put them at #13 here, because they enjoy being the underdogs and upsetting the continent, so why stop now?
The only time they played the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA EuroBasket was in 1993, losing to Croatia back then.
Speaking of seconds, this is only the second time they picked up three wins in a single EuroBasket event, after doing so in 2013. They've never won four games in a single event. Until now?
#14 Georgia (+4)
We don't know what the working hours of on-duty pharmacies around Georgia, but they certainly had some calls as Greece and Spain battled well after midnight Tbilisi-time, and the Georgian fans watched nervously to see if their team could make history and advance to the Round of 16.
Is there such a things as collective blood pressure level of a nation? Because surely it was off the charts, looking helplessly at the screen and hoping for the best.
History. Georgia will go down as the team that pushed the defending champs Spain below the qualification line, thanks to their better head-to-head record. First time a defending champ failed to advance since 1995, first time Spain will not be in the final four since 1997.
It's okay, you can exhale now, Sakartvelo.
#15 Portugal (+1)
Speaking of history, Portugal reached the Knock-Out Phase for the first time ever. Technically, they had been among the sweet 16 previously, but in different competition systems, so this is special now.
Trivia time: For the first time ever, we have a case of both the country and the capital city being on a basketball jersey in a FIBA EuroBasket event.
That's because Rafael Lisboa is here, and he certainly made his presence felt when it mattered most against Estonia.
#16 Sweden (+4)
The only team which snuck into the Round of 16 with a single win.
Sweden registered their first win since 2013, but with the draw pairing them up with Türkiye, the odds are pretty much against them.
Still, these guys won't be completely devastated even if they lose in the Round of 16. Bigger picture, that's the name of the game for Pelle Larsson and his teammates.
Note: The Power Rankings are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.