FIBA - New power ladder tracks form of teams in lead up to Olympics

LONDON (Olympics) - Friendly games and tournaments that national teams take part in the build-up to major basketball events are an indicator as to how teams will ultimately perform when the real fun begins.

Remember when Italy surprised the United States 95-78 in the Koln Arena in Germany before the 2004 Athens Games?

That result set alarm bells ringing and justifiably, too, as the favoured Americans ended up finishing fourth in their Preliminary Round Group in Athens and left Greece with a bronze medal and not gold.

Now on london2012.fiba.com are Power Ladders for both men and women that take into account the friendly games every national side is playing this summer ahead of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women (OQTW), the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) and, of course, for the teams that have already secured a place in the tournament field of the London Games.

With preparations of women's National Teams generally a week or so ahead of their male counterparts, it is in the ladies' Power Ladder that the first signs of form are appearing.

France could not look any stronger heading into the OQTW because Les Bleues have won all six of their warm-up games, a success rate has them at the top of the Power Ladder where every team's won/loss percentage, point scored and points allowed and point differential is shown.

Five qualifying places to the London Games are at stake in Ankara and the French appear to have an excellent chance of taking one.

The men's Power Ladder is yet to really take form. With a large number of games scheduled over the coming week, Australia and Argentina - after series wins over China and Angola respectively - will be hoping to keep the good form going. As the NBA Finals are still be played, the United States do not have any results to display and nor do Spain, who just announced their Olympic squad this week.

The Power Ladder also allows fans to look at the full friendly schedules for all the teams and also filter schedules so they can view results and upcoming games of their own teams, while FIBA live statistics are available for many of these games.

The Power Ladder will not be affected by results at the OQTW or OQT.

As we count down to the Olympics, keep your eyes on the FIBA Power Ladder and see who is hot and who is not.

FIBA