[DAY 2] Group B: Lithuania vs. Venezuela

[JGX]

Has Romerovas ever taken a three that didn't go off the back rim?

No class by Venezuela at the end, it's totally reasonable for Kemzura to want to maximize the point differential in this situation.

[Shawshank]

I and as many lithuanian fans we were worried about our team after preparation games.But what i saw in our first game,we saw real lithuanian basketball ! 5 player 10+ ....Fantastic Kleiza game and solid team effort,solid defence,smart exacution and triples faling like rain in autumn...Ok no need to be too optimistic its was only the first step and we made 1/4 game.
Now all our mind,all our tools and everythign we have we have to bring to 1/4 game.THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT game win or go home.Im not sure what will happen,because we gonna get very strong opponent,but what i saw today WE will HAVE A CHANCE...

[Shawshank]

I'm very happy with Jonas Mačiulis' performance (11 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists). The guy is filling the 3 just like he did in Turkey and a lot of people thought he won't be able to deliver after the injury and the lack of top stage basketball experience. That was the main concern after Jasaitis' injury. Songaila proved me wrong and hopefully keep doin this. I expected Kleiza doing well, but he did even better. Šaras and Kalnietis combined 15 assists and 24 points. Pocius despite few mistakes looks like a strong starter. The only players that could and can deliver more - Kaukėnas and Valančiūnas. This team is surely the deepest Lithuanian NT since 2008 (we'll have the addition of Jasaitis and Seibutis for Olympics (if)).

Senas arklys vagos negadina...

[Vazzy]

great start for Lithuania team so far. good performance by our both Play makers. ofc Kleiza did his job well, but on the other hand, he is not the only one who brought the victory.
Vazquez on my mind just looked like an idiot this game like his coach who want understand how to loose at all.
what the hell are they was thinking about then there was left 4 seconds and they started to complain about time-out? cant understand this kind of situation.

[Mindozas]

what the hell are they was thinking about then there was left 4 seconds and they started to complain about time-out? cant understand this kind of situation.

We have a great signature of JGX here: "Most ppl get childish when they lose." (Fedfan)

About the game: I didn't expect such performance offensivelly from us. It was known very well that Venesuela is weak defensivelly, but still, we managed to take most of our chances, hit the shots - smth that didn't happen for a long long time. However, still too many up and downs through-out the game, our defense is shaky, but it isn't our stong part anyways, however, there's still big space for improvement.

Overall good opening game

[Gytaz]

Vazquez on my mind just looked like an idiot this game like his coach who want understand how to loose at all.

+1

They both acted like clowns, complaining, leaving the court immediately after the game without shaking other teams players' hands (which is always done after the game) and talking shit at the press conference.

This so called "unwritten rule" that you can't take a time-out at the end of the game if the winner is already clear, is just stupid. This is Olympic qualifying tournament, not some street-league and Musselman should know better. If he doesn't like that, he can go back to the NBA, where the point difference doesn't matter, but I guess nobody wants him there.


Good game by Lithuania, much better than any of the friendlies.

[MrMojoRisin]

Liths desperately need to fix their problems with silly mistakes, I mean, it's inexcusable for team with highest goals to do so many stupid and needless turnovers. Also, we must keep the rhythm the entire game, we can't just go with the flow and let the opposition to make their way back into the game, again, it's gonna cost dearly againt top notch teams. But yet, it was a good first game, I knew our team would step it up their game and they did it in the nice fashion. Like we say in Lithuania, "Sensation? For you - maybe, for me? - no. "

[Illegal2k10]

Venezuela coach is a joke:P i cant believe he didnt get a T after that circus worth performance.

[Z.A.L.I.A.]

The game:

[stojanov8]

lithaunia you loosers ,refs unfair ,no bad refs ,venezuela win!!

[Hepcat]

It's sad that these tournaments always seem to draw the buffoons out of the woodwork.

[christodoulou76]

It's sad that these tournaments always seem to draw the buffoons out of the woodwork.

I was just thinking the same thing.

[sinobball]

Musselman apparently hasnt found out what goal average means in this first round. Nigeria is light years away from beating Lithuania by 19, but the game is still played until the clock reaches zero in this kind of tournament.

Back in Turkey, if Puerto Rico had gone for the shot against China instead of winding the clock down, we could have evaded being eliminated by a team we thought we would beat.

Nigeria is not lights away but I thought your post was quite prophetic in a way. Congrats!