Group D, Day 1, New Zealand vs Lithuania

[Straight forward]

New team of Lithuania facing New Zealand Predictions?

[sseppel]

New Zeland begins and ends with Kirk Penney. That's not enough to beat Kleiza and company.

[Saskibaloia]

I'm predicting that the Tall Blacks get annihilated by 30 points by Lithuania. Unfortunately, this Tall Blacks squad is not like back in 2002 when they reached the Semi-Finals. However, who knows, these Kiwis always pull something special out of the hat whenever they play sport, for example, their football team: "The All Whites" when the team were the only football team in the World Cup to finish undefeated. That's right! Undefeated as they played 3 games and drew all of their games. Who knows, Kirk Penney could do a Magic Johnson/ Michael Jordan performance: 35 pts, 18rbs, 13 asts, 4 stls, 3 blks 10/15fg ... etc but of course, I doubt it.

[eliooo93]

Lithuania should win this one by 20.

[CKR13]

Lithuania should win handily.

[donmar]

New Zealand's weakness is their best player Kirk Penney.. shut him down and Lithuania will win it.. but I'm not gonna say they're going to loss right away... anything can happen.. they may not be able to go to the next round but they can be one of the spoilers... inflict enough damage to ruin one of the basketball powers' world champ campaign...

[Saskibaloia]

It's so true that anything can happen in the World Championships. Everyone still remembers when Lithuania barely defeated Angola or back in 1994 when South Korea gave Australia the fright of their lives.

[Federoy]

Series History (official meetings excluding exhibitions):

Lithuania vs. New Zealand: 1-0, LTU*

Last meeting (official or exhibition):

2007 Riga International Tournament; Riga, LVA. (94-81, LTU)

*All-time series is tied 3-3 (both A & B strength teams on the senior level)

[dxjayrock2008]

Lietuva/Lithuania!

[Perseus]

Lithuania +6

[arturcia]

the first match is often difficult for us. if Kirk is not playing the game of his live Lithuania will win easily 85 - 72

[samer_1_2]

Lithuania will win unless something wrong happens
More than 10 points

[Illegal2k10]

Dont underestimate New Zealand. They know how to play basketball, and know how to do it with heart.
Personally I expect quite a close match for 3 and a half, o even full 4 quaters.
I wish both teams the best of luck.

[AirBall]

New Zealand is quite unpredictable team... I really doubt that Lithuania will smash them hard...

All in all should be monster run&gun... Most probably 180 points game...

[thelebanese80]

we can't count on new Zealand results in the preparation games: they won against big teams, but lost easy matches.

I suppose that new zealand results are unstable lately.

Anything can happen, but i give a small advantage to Lithuania

[g.g]

Lithuania by 15+

[mvblair]

Illegal2k10 is right. This will be a close game at the half. In the second half though, Lithuania will start to pull away and win by 15.

[felix_r]

New Zeland begins and ends with Kirk Penney. That's not enough to beat Kleiza and company.

I want to remind you, that "Tall Blacks" won Russia with only 9 points from Kirk Penney

[Migelitas]

Lithuania NT meat Izmir Arena

[sashikas]

I predict a close game between these two teams. New Zealand has proven in the friendlies, that they can beat quite everyone, who are considered a strong, but not elite, team. Lithuania this year is one of them. Good form of tall blacks might be the sign that they have reached the peak of physical condition too early and it is no help to the "green tank" (© Spanish media), meeting them in the World Basket opener. I guess the winner will be decided in the second half of the fourth quarter. I hope, Lithuania will end up a winner in this clash.