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FIBA Worlds: Games To Watch/Open Thread 10.9.10

Today is a rather unremarkable day of action, as the games will be between the losers of the Quarter-Finals. All they'll determine will be the 5th and 7th Place games, so you'd be totally forgiven for taking a FIBA break today. Still, they should be interesting, as they're between premiere teams.

For the full bracket, click here. For the full schedule and previous results, click here.

Classification Round Games:

3. Spain (Group D) vs. 2. Slovenia (Group B)

Time: 10:00 AM Central Standard Time

Network: ESPN 3 Only

Analysis/Prediction: Spain has really missed Pau Gasol's presence inside, and I think they'll miss it even more today, against Slovenia's lean and mean interior defense. Still, Slovenia looked pathetic against Turkey, and even though this tournament has been an overall disappointment for Spain, I think they'll come through and win this game. They have the superior talent, and Marc Gasol should be able to get at least 10 Points down low, especially if Nenad Krstic could. Spain by about 5.

2. Russia (Group C) vs. 2. Argentina (Group A)

Time: 1:00 PM Central Standard Time

Network: ESPN 3 Only

Analysis/Prediction: Both of these teams will be tired from the back-to-back they were forced to play, but Argentina should have a slight edge, as their games was over at that half. Still, I think that Russia's strong interior defense will succeed in collapsing on Scola as Lithuania's did, keeping the Argentinians on the perimeter. And Mosgov and Kaun, who are much taller than Scola, should be able to have their way with him inside. So I'll predict a solid 10 point or so win for Russia.

REPLAY:

Global Community Cup, Team USA vs. Lithuania

Time: 2:00 PM CST

Network: NBATV

This will be a perfect preview of the upcoming USA-Lithuania Semi-Final, so it's a good game to watch and analyze if you are so inclined.

If you're watching the games, feel free to post your reaction to them in the comments section here!