[Round 1 - Day 3 - Group D] Lithuania - Belgium

[MZT Skopje2]

What a suprise. And thriller ending.

So if Macedonia beat Georgia, we will have wired situation between MKD and SLO. Both will try to lose that game haha..

 

[Athens Hardcore2]

Kalnietis and Lekavicius stupidity knows no bounds.And even if we invent some excuse about Kalnietis because he played a solid game overall,what exactly did the midget think at the previous Lith possesion?''Yeah,I got the size,I got the skill,I got the experience,it's definitely a good idea to finish at the rim''.LMAO.

Still,this maybe is a moot point,because the tip in by Lojeski(who dominated all game long) looked late to me.Not 100% sure because my goddamn stream was far from HD quality tho.

 

[Obina2]

Congrats to Belgium.

This result is not a big surprise imo. This Lit team is mediocre for their standards.

 

[Picek2]

Still,this maybe is a moot point,because the tip in by Lojeski looked late to me.Not 100% sure because my goddamn stream was far from HD quality tho.

I watched it on TV (serbian RTS) and their commentator also called it good, before the refs called it in.
I would say the same but it was a tough call.

 

[Ashtrusis_dantis2]

congrats to Belgium . They actually have a decent team and i think they are gonna be the Cinderella of this eurobasket. Great game by Lojeski

I don't think so, no disrespect to Belgium, our players started to think game is over after first quater and Belgium used it. They made some really hard shots and we couldn't make anything more then 3 meters away from the basket. It is long turnament and they won't be able to repeat it again.

 

[christodoulou762]

I don't think so, no disrespect to Belgium, our players started to think game is over after first quater and Belgium used it. They made some really hard shots and we couldn't make anything more then 3 meters away from the basket. It is long turnament and they won't be able to repeat it again.

Very gracious of you.

 

[Straight forward2]

Congrats to Belgium. They had luck on their side today. I mean some difficult shots went in and they played like they don't give a damn about the result. Lithuania stopped playing viable game when Belgium cut the early lead and since than it was very robotic strategy to go only through the bigs. It could easily be good, but Kazlauskas once again could not control the team in the end. At least 4 stupid plays instead going for JV in the post, Lekavicius' few mistakes and that's it. Last call - well it was 50/50% from what I've seen, but refs saw that 100 times so I trust them.

However, Lithuania has all chances to grab 1rst place, but needs to win last 2 games. I liked that Sabonis Jr. was used today and he delivered, he's quicker on his feet than Jankunas so might be very useful defensively against some opponents. Another problem, Lithuania should find balance between bigs and guards, we can't just go through inside. Milaknis had to have more chances, IMO, or Gailius. When our guards can't hit even 1 three, you have a problem even with great performance by bigs. Overall the situation is normal.

 

[Mindozas6]

I watched it on TV (serbian RTS) and their commentator also called it good, before the refs called it in.
I would say the same but it was a tough call.

https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=0fce1c779b2c207fa49d5116afc17868&oe=566E812D

from this look it seems that call was definitely wrong, so maybe we didn't deserve a win, but atleast deserved an OT anyways, now we should move forward, nothing will change, while 1st place is still up for grabs, even tho not everything depends on us from now on

 

[Ashtrusis_dantis2]

The Lithuanian motto this tournament should be 'nothing is ever easy'

Nah, we have our moto for years (actually from Zalgiris time when Sabonis, Chomicius and Kurtinaitis were playing): "We create problems for ourselves and when heroically overcome it". Something like that

 

[Italian Pride2]

Amazing game and amazing group:actually three team can finish 1st in the group stage!

 

[INTEGRAL2]

The team with better PG won. Congrats Belgium.

Any full match link that can be watched abroad?

 

[Ashtrusis_dantis2]

from this look it seems that call was definitely wrong, so maybe we didn't deserve a win, but atleast deserved an OT anyways, now we should move forward, nothing will change, while 1st place is still up for grabs, even tho not everything depends on us from now on

Everything depends on us - we need to win other 2 games (against Czechs with good margin) and we are in the 1 place.

 

[Picek2]

https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=0fce1c779b2c207fa49d5116afc17868&oe=566E812D

from this look it seems that call was definitely wrong, so maybe we didn't deserve a win, but atleast deserved an OT anyways, now we should move forward, nothing will change, while 1st place is still up for grabs, even tho not everything depends on us from now on

but you didn't lose the game with this anyway.. 74-68 in front and two threes in 10 seconds?
and after that the young kid trying to win the game, reminded me on Hezonja yesterday.

 

[blicknest2]

 

[Ashtrusis_dantis2]

Very gracious of you.

No, its logical - Belgium showed iron balls, they were figting to the end, big respect them for that, but if you think luck wasn't on they side today, you are very wrong.

 

[Mindozas6]

Everything depends on us - we need to win other 2 games (against Czechs with good margin) and we are in the 1 place.

If only Latvia will win both too, if not and will be left with Belgium with 4 wins each - we are 2nd

but you didn't lose the game with this anyway.. 74-68 in front and two threes in 10 seconds?
and after that the young kid trying to win the game, reminded me on Hezonja yesterday.

Of course we didn't. I wrote in my previous post, in last page that Kalnietis and Lekavicius mistakes were more crucial than this. That JV inbound pass, followed by another Belgian triple of course didn't help either, but there's nothing we can do about it now. Btw, Lekavicius decision was really weird, guy usually doesn't risk even in regular situation like that, let alone last minute in tied game

 

[christodoulou762]

Everything depends on us - we need to win other 2 games (against Czechs with good margin) and we are in the 1 place.

Not quite. If BEL wins all its games and LAT loses one or more of its games, then you would be tied with BEL at the top with 4-1 and BEL would win the group.

 

[Hepcat2]

When our guards can't hit even 1 three, you have a problem even with great performance by bigs.

Yes. Just 1 of 13 by Lithuania from three point range when the Belgians drained 11 of 26 three pointers? Team Lithuania's weakness seems to be the lack of gunners. Artūras Milaknis is the only player on the team whose strong suit is outside shooting.

Even though they couldn't shoot the three, overall I can't find much wrong with the first 58 minutes Lithuania played today. Blowing a six point lead with two minutes to play with execrable decision making and execution is tough to understand though. What were they thinking?

Still, I'd put Belgium's victory down to the Belgians playing really well as opposed to Lithuania playing poorly.

 

[Italian Pride2]

Kalnietis is out of shape maybe 50-60 % not more!

 

[Ashtrusis_dantis2]

Even if that is a mistake, I have no problem with it - I watched it few times and i'm still not sure, referies are human.