[1/8 finals - Day 1] Latvia - Slovenia

[Ashtrusis_dantis2]

This happens literally everytime when Lithuanians are involved in a debate about achievements. It always becomes a measurement of strength and neediness to confirm they are indeed a great nation.

Not that you would be totaly wrong, we have our bugs in the head, you have yours, but it was us who started this "measuring in numbers" this time?

 

[slice me nice2]

OT, I stopped to discuss with Lithuanians some time ago. I also recommend this attitude to you. It is better, at least you keep your nerves fresh. There are few Liths who contribute really good things to discussions and you get joy to discuss with them but most of them don't even listen your words and start to give history lesson. (!)

 

[Mindozas6]

This happens literally everytime when Lithuanians are involved in a debate about achievements. It always becomes a measurement of strength and neediness to confirm they are indeed a great nation. During my 3-week visit to Lithuania @EB2011 it was almost impossible to have a debate where someone wouldn't literally boast about Lithuanian basketball, food, landmarks and so on. Their love for basketball is much less love for the sport, than pathologic patriotism that shows the fears of being a small nation. Basketball is their way of positioning themselves on the world map which sucks a lot, since sport always suffers and it becomes a subject of political debate, national pride and so on. It is very similar in Slovenia, it's just the people react a bit differently. Slovenian mentality is introverted and always results in criticising yourself for not being able to reach the very top, being the best of the best, while Lithuania is very boastful and in your face about their achievements, even if they are more than 20 years old. The 92' game with Russia was for me a curse for Lithuanian basketball, because at that time basketball became a pillar of Lithuanian extreme patriotism. It is nearly impossible for someone from outside to truly be sympathetic with their sport if you know how an average fan perceives basketball.

You are right on lot of things here. It's funny to me when everyone tries to pretend a big fan during tournaments, puts flags on cars, dresses with NT colours, critisises team, coach even tho some knows only Valanciunas, Kalnietis and Kleiza (some thinks that he is in team this year too), but actually it's a reason for some to hit the bar, to drink, party and etc. If NT wins, get drunk, scream "we won", when NT losses it starts "they lost, these bloody amateurs, f*ckers" and so on... Nonetheless I guess there are such fans in every country.
You are wrong on few things here, patriotism didn't start since 1992, Zalgiris-CSKA battles in 80s was the peak of it, it was when Zalgiris was like NT, basketball was our identity and only way to kick soviets ass.
Also what did you expect when you come to Lithuania during Eurobasket? Everyone was living basketball back then, it's like coming to Oktoberfest and wonder why so many people drinking beer

 

[Miškinis2]

This happens literally everytime when Lithuanians are involved in a debate about achievements. It always becomes a measurement of strength and neediness to confirm they are indeed a great nation. During my 3-week visit to Lithuania @EB2011 it was almost impossible to have a debate where someone wouldn't literally boast about Lithuanian basketball, food, landmarks and so on. Their love for basketball is much less love for the sport, than pathologic patriotism that shows the fears of being a small nation. Basketball is their way of positioning themselves on the world map which sucks a lot, since sport always suffers and it becomes a subject of political debate, national pride and so on. It is very similar in Slovenia, it's just the people react a bit differently. Slovenian mentality is introverted and always results in criticising yourself for not being able to reach the very top, being the best of the best, while Lithuania is very boastful and in your face about their achievements, even if they are more than 20 years old.

I'm not sure whether I got the "20 years old" part correctly, but I think you should definitely improve your history knowledge as your remarks sound as an insult to our nation.

The 92' game with Russia was for me a curse for Lithuanian basketball, because at that time basketball became a pillar of Lithuanian extreme patriotism. It is nearly impossible for someone from outside to truly be sympathetic with their sport if you know how an average fan perceives basketball.

Basketball and patriotism was there way before 92'. In a context of basketball check out Žalgiris vs. CSKA games. In general Lithuanians were always patriotic and there's no reason to hide that

 

[Modis2]

Congratulations to our Latvian Brothers

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

it's a pity we lost today, but it was kind of expected for this team. Their major downfall was the inability to adapt to new conditions. Today, we saw a lot of those. Traveling to another country and early hour of match were decisive for the level of energy with which we started the game. Latvian tall players, who are physically much better than our very old and tired talls, were of course able to adapt much quicker to new conditions and that was decisive. It broke our tactical plan and made us play in Latvian rhythm. Also, the guys didn't get the fanatical support they were getting in Zagreb. Most importantly, Latvians were prepared for this match, as they would have been studying us for one month. They knew the tendencies of every our player. It was a very, very good preparation from the Latvian assistant coaches and they deserve to be in quarters.

Many don't know that Zoran Dragić and Zdovc had a small fight after the Netherlands game and it changed team chemistry a lot. This team was the best when Zdovc was pushing them to the limit throughout the match by yelling at them. He stopped doing that after that fight. Zoran got his leadership role that he wanted and this might have influenced our today's inability to rise the level of energy during the match.

It's not a secret, this is a huge blow for Slovenian basketball and it might take quite some time to get back to the TOP8 position. It will also change the dynamic of national's team organization, since we'll have to play qualifying matches, which might be good for our less known and experienced players. An era has now truly finished and although we didn't win a medal, I think we weren't really under-achieving, our results were always very real. It left us some bitter memories, but also some very good ones, especially from the travels to championships, my favourite one still being Serbia 2005.

Wholefully agreed on every single point there.
Didn't notice that fight would've brought the team that far, however seems plausible now that I look at it from this angle.
With the attitude this team have shown, my expectations have rissen, while later at the end, we ended up someplace where we actualy stand with this team in terms of quality. Reality check has struck.

 

[Darknemo20002]

Nice going latvia. Good job and neat effort. Slovenia was certainly outmatched.

 

[Svajunas2]

didnt see the game, but gongratz to latvia.

 

[usagre2]

Wholefully agreed on every single point there.
Didn't notice that fight would've brought the team that far, however seems plausible now that I look at it from this angle.
With the attitude this team have shown, my expectations have rissen, while later at the end, we ended up someplace where we actualy stand with this team in terms of quality. Reality check has struck.

What do you think Slovenias chances are to host one of the qualifying tournaments next summer?

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

What do you think Slovenias chances are to host one of the qualifying tournaments next summer?

I don't think those are really big. If all Slo players would come and would be healthy, we'd have a chance for qualifying as well as coming close to that tournament becoming realistic from financial aspect. However I am not that optimistic regarding that one, also Russia, Germany or 8th team at eurobasket might be more lucrative organising it.

 

[miloje2]

perasović:

Razgovarali smo i gledali Latvija - Slovenija…

- Živcira me Fiba, koja nas je natjerala da putujemo po noći pa smo legli u pet ujutro, a Grcima su dopustili da dođu dan kasnije. Zar smo manje vrijedni? Smeta mi nepravda zbog koje Slovenci nisu imali vremena za oporavak pa promašuju zicere. Na dan utakmice odredili su nam termin u pola osam ujutro. To nije ni za hakl, a kamoli za utakmicu

angry about organization. says no wonder slovenians missed so many easy shots cause they with us had to travel whole night while greeks were permitted to travel day later

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

That situation was the same for Latvia, it shouldn't be an excuse. Not that I like it...

 

[Hepcat2]

Congratulations to Latvia! Big win today. Good luck in the next round!

 

[Hepcat2]

Latvia doesn't have the strength under the basket. Also this time will play without their home side fans. So i give small chances to them. If Strelnieks, Blums and others hit some big threes, then maybe it can be a tough game.

On the offensive end Latvia is pretty much reliant on their 3pointer percentage, they've got good capable frontcourt and since Zdovc's philosophy is to help on D and rotate that inevitably leads to an open man on the 3pointer now and than and that's tougher to defend on a potential Latvian good days.

It wasn't with threes that Latvia won the game though! Latvia shot 63% from two point range while Slovenia only shot 39%.

 

[Hepcat2]

That situation was the same for Latvia, it shouldn't be an excuse. Not that I like it...

Bad, bad organization on the part of FIBA France nonetheless.

 

[Hepcat2]

+1 ...and failing to watch any competitive NT's in football, ice-hockey, handball coming from a bball perspective only, Slovenians might seem to have a weak character to Lithuanians, nevermind that ussualy makes us win most olympic medals per capita or there somewhere among the best with Jamaica or Austria as far as winter olympics go, but hey, I'm already used to most of these discussions anyway

Ignore those comments about Slovenia. Keyboards aren't equipped with sobriety tests.

 

[Hepcat2]

lol i cant believe,how frustrated Lithuanian fans are they are searching in every game something that could prove that their group is not weak,wow just wow

Since I know that keyboards aren't equipped with sobriety tests, I'll ignore your comments. This time.

 

[Hepcat2]

Look at serbians they are like 12 killers in mentality.

You're making the same mistake many people do. You're mistaking swarthy beards for tough-mindedness. They're not the same thing at all.

 

[Hepcat2]

Jeazas... i just said why slovenias looses all the times in playoofs...Didnt wanted to hurt nobody feelings Slovenia last 15 years had top8 always and won only one 1/4 games against who else croatia ...other country that looses all the time in 1/4...If its not mentality problems,i dont get it how its possible more than a decade lose in the same way every year,no matter how much tallent you bring...

Slovenia is a small country. It's very tough for such a small country to field a basketball team that's among the four best in Europe even once a decade. And that's precisely why Slovenia has lost so many quarter finals. They've been among Europe's eight best teams, but not among the top four. And that's sad because I usually like seeing Slovenia beating much bigger countries in basketball.



P.S.: Slovenia has also become surprisingly competitive in hockey, for which I give Slovenia full credit!

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

It wasn't with threes that Latvia won the game though! Latvia shot 63% from two point range while Slovenia only shot 39%.

Nope, they could on a better shooting night though. I have nailed it on their frontcourt, we haven't punished them there (3-4 occasions only) and they're just mobile enough to clear the paint for those backdoor cuts Slovenia has been suffering so much from.

Ignore those comments about Slovenia. Keyboards aren't equipped with sobriety tests.

I know man, sorry, I was sober, however you can imagine that wasn't exactly the calmest hour for me today.