I guess they were just too big for FIBA.

The 2010 FIBA World Championships has began and Team USA is in good shape as it posted its fourth straight win over Iran 88-51 to lead Group B. Also known as basketball’s World Cup, the World Championships are also held every four years and share similar qualification and scheduling formats to determine a winner.

The FIBA tournament may only be held once every four years, but coupled with the quadrennial Olympic men’s basketball tournament, an international basketball champion is decided every two years.

The biggest difference between the Olympics and the World Championships is that the United States’ dominance on the basketball court is limited only to the former. The United States has won 13 gold medals in the Olympics; no other country has more than two.

On the other hand, the USA basketball team has won three gold medals at the World Championships, but so have Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, and the U.S. has not won since 1994.

This year’s tournament is hosted by Turkey, it lasts more than two weeks with the gold medal game taking place on Sunday, Sept. 12, or what is better known in the United States as NFL Week 1.

The teams were drawn into four six-team groups. Group play began Saturday with teams playing five games in their group and the top four teams advance to the Round of 16 where it is single elimination.

They may not dominate this tournament like they do the Olympics, but it’s tough not to make the United States the favorite going in. Their roster consists of all NBA talent, the only country who can say that. Guards Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups and Stephen Curry made the final 12-man roster as did wing players Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay.

The frontline is headlined by Lamar Odom and Andre Iguodala. A ‘dream team’ this is not however, as there are nobody from the Boston Celtics after Rajon Rondo withdrew from the team, Odom is the only member of the defending champion Lakers and the big three of Miami are also noticeably absent.

The United States should have no problem winning its group with only Brazil expected to put up a fight. If the brackets hold true to form, USA and Spain could be on a collision course in the semifinals.

Which team will win the 2011 NBA Championship? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Miami Heat 2.75

Los Angeles Lakers 3.75

Boston Celtics 13.00

Dallas Mavericks 19.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more basketball betting odds. Want to watch the NBA live? Get NBA tickets online now.

FIBA World Championships USA Basketball

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