1. Nikola Jokic



Of all the players on this list, The Joker just might be the most deadly. The skilled Serbian big man averages 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game in the NBA and is easily one of the league's best centers. Needless to say, Jokic will most likely not have any trouble getting his points against our front court but it's his elite-level passing that makes him a legitimate threat. Imagine this scenario: Jokic posts up, he is doubled, he delivers a no-look pass to either Bogdan Bogdanovic or Nemanja Bjelica for an open three. Scary.



2. Boban Marjanovic



Boban Marjanovic is probably one of the nicest and likeable guys in the NBA today. But we probably won't like him after he decimates us in the paint. Marjanovic doesn't get a lot of playing time in the NBA because of matchup problems with fast and agile centers. The bad news is that we don't have that kind of player in our roster. Remember Marjanovic's no-jump dunk? Expect to see a lot of that in our matchup against Serbia.



3. Danilo Gallinari



Gallinari is a 10-year NBA veteran. You'd think he'd be older and less effective because of that but you'd be mistaken. Gallinari is currently having the best season of his career with averages of 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 44% shooting from the three-point arc. Gallo is the kind of player that can score wherever and whenever he wants. It's unsure how good he would have been if his career wasn't plagued by injuries. What's sure is that it's going to be a tall order stopping him if he's healthy this September.



4. Marco Belinelli



Belinelli is 32 years old and is definitely past his prime. But a player's shooting touch is one of the last things to disappear from his game and Belinelli's range is definitely still there. Belinelli's three-point conversion rate this season is not as good as it once was but if he gets hot, it's almost certainly game over. It is our opinion that basketball becomes easier for your team when you have Gallinari standing on the right wing and Belinelli on the left. Unfortunately, that is going to be a nightmare for us, the opposing team.



5. Yanick Moreira



Yanick Moreira is not a recognizable name in these parts but maybe it should be. Moreira has played in the NBA D-League and other major leagues in places like Spain, Italy, Greece, and Iran. Moreira's shining moment would have to be Angola's win over Australia, a team we continue to struggle against, in the 2010 FIBA World Cup. In that game, he scored 38 points and 15 rebounds, a feat he'll be looking to repeat against the Philippines.