Lesson in FIBA competition system

ALYTUS (EuroBasket 2011) - Those who picked F.Y.R. of Macedonia to win Group C of EuroBasket 2011 ahead of the tournament with Finland going through as well would likely have been ordered to see a doctor.

What about Bosnia and Herzegovin a winning the group and Greece heading home?

Maybe we should call an ambulance for you.

But that is one possible constellation from the most balanced - and unpredictable - group in Lithuania and represents a perfect example of why in international basketball it doesn't matter how many games you win but which ones as well as the importance of keeping games close.

Going into the final day of games in Alytus, there is a possibility of a three-way tie for third place among Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Finland.

All three teams would be 1-1 against each other and the point difference coefficient would then be used as deciding criteria and Finland would advance thanks to a huge 28-point blow out of Bosnia after losing against Croatia by five points.

Big wins are always important in FIBA tournaments - just as big losses are to be avoided at all costs.

Group C could also have a four-team tie at 3-2 among F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Greece, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina - something quite rare at FIBA competitions, where three-way ties are not uncommon.

But a degree in FIBA competitions is useful when trying to decipher which teams can still dream of the 2012 Olympics - once in the second round an Olympic Qualifying Tournament place may only be a win or two away - or cry themselves to sleep on the plane back home.

In the aforementioned situation, Bosnia would win the group with F.Y.R. of Macedonia taking second place. Croatia would then grab third place, sending the darkhorse title contenders Greece home before the tournament even moves to Vilnius.

This is because within the four-team tie, Bosnia and F.Y.R. of Macedonia both have 2-1 records among the four teams while Croatia and Greece would be 1-2. Then comes head-to-head between those teams with Bosnia taking first because they beat F.Y.R. of Macedonia on Monday and Croatia knocked off Greece - the two results necessary to create the four-way tie.

Have a headache? Why don't you go see a doctor?

FIBA