Eurobasket 2011, Lithuania

[felix_r]

Great! More teams mean more fans coming! (and they are good for the economy, which really needs a boost )

Just why didn't they say it before the qualifications?

[Gytaz]

I wonder, what the system of competition will be... 4 groups with 6 teams? There will definitely be some problems with accommodation. Adding 2 more groups (one in Vilnius and one in Kaunas, since these cities were only supposed to host the second round and the play-offs) would probably be a better choice for this Eurobasket.

[greg]

I wonder, what the system of competition will be... 4 groups with 6 teams? There will definitely be some problems with accommodation. Adding 2 more groups (one in Vilnius and one in Kaunas, since these cities were only supposed to host the second round and the play-offs) would probably be a better choice for this Eurobasket.

polskikosz.pl reports that it will 4 groups with 6 teams. 3 teams from every group advance and then everything is the same like it was in 2007 in Spain and 2009 in Poland.


We had 9 games in 14 days for quaterfinalists and it's looking like we are going to have 11 games in 16 days...

[Dreamcatcher]

I don't like the fact, that there will be some very weak teams. And there are already system of 24 teams in WC.

And how about such teams, like Montenegro, Britain and others three, who managed to go through clasification? And those teams, who lost, but probably will go to Euro? It was useless.

[pohani komarac]

I don't like the fact, that there will be some very weak teams. And there are already system of 24 teams in WC.

And how about such teams, like Montenegro, Britain and others three, who managed to go through clasification? And those teams, who lost, but probably will go to Euro? It was useless.

like i said, they must feal dumb now , but at least, especially new formed montenegro who is fithing for recognition in basketball, nobady can say you are here just because they decided to have 24 teams

[Gytaz]

And how about such teams, like Montenegro, Britain and others three, who managed to go through clasification? And those teams, who lost, but probably will go to Euro? It was useless.

At least they got some practice before next year's Eurobasket.

[Rycka]

Where there gonna stay, our country is small there is no place for such many ppl go away

[Gytaz]

Where there gonna stay, our country is small there is no place for such many ppl go away

What the hell? Do you really think it's a bad thing that more people will come to Lithuania?

[Roy M]

http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_xPe1l...leMode_on.html

Unbelieviable!

[Luíz for 3]

This is the biggest joke all-time of FIBA Europe! 15 teams competing for 5+1 places in EB'11 and now, one week after the end of the qualification, 12 of them are in the EuroBasket. This is totally unfair for the teams that qualified "on the court". Even Latvia, who was supposed to play the Relegation Round next year with Portugal, Hungary and Finland, is in. I'm really concerned about the level of the competition we will see in Lithuania, hope I'm wrong.
And what about the 2nd round of the EuroBasket Division B in August 2011? It's unnecessary because who will promoted when no one is being relegated Obviously, this is the end of Division B since now we have 25 nations fighting for 24 EB spots.
I always thought this was a good decision for 2013/2015 tournaments, but how can FIBA decide things so randomly?

[Luíz for 3]

What the hell? Do you really think it's a bad thing that more people will come to Lithuania?

All I can see is empty arenas! I respect your hopes for the competition but, imo, we have to be realistic. Imagine a game between Belgium and Ukraine or Georgia and Macedonia...

[pablonis]

This is the biggest joke all-time of FIBA Europe! 15 teams competing for 5+1 places in EB'11 and now, one week after the end of the qualification, 12 of them are in the EuroBasket. This is totally unfair for the teams that qualified "on the court". Even Latvia, who was supposed to play the Relegation Round next year with Portugal, Hungary and Finland, is in. I'm really concerned about the level of the competition we will see in Lithuania, hope I'm wrong.
And what about the 2nd round of the EuroBasket Division B in August 2011? It's unnecessary because who will promoted when no one is being relegated Obviously, this is the end of Division B since now we have 25 nations fighting for 24 EB spots.
I always thought this was a good decision for 2013/2015 tournaments, but how can FIBA decide things so randomly?

Drama queen...

Stop dissing Latvia. They have more history and tradition in basketball than most of the countries playing in the WC right now.

[Francek]

Stop dissing Latvia. They have more history and tradition in basketball than most of the countries playing in the WC right now.

Yes, and? What is your point? Does tradition wins games?

How will this affect future qualifications for the tournament?
Will the first 16 team of the tournament get automatic qualification for the next event? 20 teams?
What will happen with B division? Will they all be part of qualifications for 2013. EC?
They made this decisions too fast IMO.
It isn't neccesarily a bad decisions but it's coming too fast.

[Srle]

That's what happen when you have amateurs from "Island" who don"t know nothing about basketball running Fiba Europe what a joke. Its important that their Island is going to get blown by most of the teams at Eurobasket Idiots.

[Francek]

Well atleast we will have all ex-yu countries on the championship. Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Macedonia and Croatia would have been there even without this and now with this Bosnia and Hercegovina will be there as well.

edit: After jogging session and shower my brain (what is left of it anyway) tends to work a little better then usually. This decision is good IMO the only thing is bad timing. But the question is, what would have happened if they made the decision before the qualies?
How would they decide about which teams go to EC and which don't?
And besides, expenses of qualies and preparations are the only bad thing of this.
No one can convince me that playing official games didn't help Israelis to build on their team, or Montenegrins, or Belgiums.
They have a firm ground now on which they can built further.
Look how qualifications helped young serbian team to grow together before 2009. EC.
If they would knew before the qualies they are in, would those teams even spend summer together?
Besides, those are all well paid professionals who are making their earnings by doing one thing they love. Do they really need a 2 month vacation during the summer?
Do I feel bad for them not having it? No, I don't.
And noone is actually thinking that some of these teams can actually make the medal round. But they can complicate things a lot to the favorites. Same way like Portugal did to us in 2007. or Poland did to the liths last year or Israel did to the serbs in 2007. etc. etc.
Georgia played it's home games infront of 10 000 people during these qualies, and since they actually have a good team don't they deserve a shot to be there together with the rest? Surely they won't win gold but basketball as a sport can only grow because of that in Georgia.
I welcome this decision and don't see why users whose team weren't a part of qualies have anything against it.
Maybe they are used to getting invitations so they think that would be a better way to pick the teams for the expansion.

And since next EC is a qualifying tournament for the Olympics it will be great to see all the best basketball can offer in Europe with probably all the stars coming to the tournament. And it will demand the seriousness of every team right from the start.
Thumbs up FIBA.

[Basket_]

In those cities, where is not enough hotels, these new teams will have to live in 3* hotels and will have to payfor everything by themselves. Also, EB11 will start 3 days earliers.

http://www.basketnews.lt/news-32539-...e-dalyves.html

[pohani komarac]

All I can see is empty arenas! I respect your hopes for the competition but, imo, we have to be realistic. Imagine a game between Belgium and Ukraine or Georgia and Macedonia...

i'm prety sure those teams will have some suporters

anway i agree with you + i'm prety sure italy had fingers in it

for those who are afraid for hotels and arenas

bring ec to croatia we have lot of new arenas and lot of hotels who are half emptey in this part of year as turistic season i coming to end + all of our neigbhurs (all 6 of them + maccedonia) will be there....just kiding, but we are in almost perfect situation to have 24 teams ec (besides our guverment and bbf, they are crap)

[inaminute23]

Utter disgrace!! Can you imagine the fall out if UEFA had done the same thing.

[sagenas]

Well, cempetition level will be lower than it was...so many teams and some of them isn't good at all...this thing is bad...but there's always a good things too - more tourists and more games for us Lithuania will have a party, especially if our NT could manage to win EuroBasket

[Vlatko.klp]

All I can see is empty arenas! I respect your hopes for the competition but, imo, we have to be realistic. Imagine a game between Belgium and Ukraine or Georgia and Macedonia...

What the hack are you talking about? Macedonia qualified as Montenegro, U.K. and other teams qualified. Macedonia beat U.K. by 20 points or so, so please next time dont post any comments like this.