Quarter-finals: Russia vs Lithuania

[Straight forward]

So the neighbours in fight! Fellas D. Blatt and Kemzūra against each other. As Jasikevičius said, "Russia is probably happy that they got us and we are happy as well"

Russia is a big favourite this time, but Lithuania can play strong 40 minutes one given night (games against Venezuela and USA). After the groups stages I think Lithuania will have less pressure than Russia. Russia has two big atvantages against Lithuania: superior frontline and great transition offense. If Lithuania will stop contratacks and will slow down Russia's offense (just like they did against USA) and will fight as lions for rebounds, Baltic Giants will be in semifinals 6th time in a row. That's a lot of if.

Unfortunetely it might be a sweep as well. This Lithuania is that "up and down"...

PS: How vital would be Javtokas and Motiejūnas before this game...

[Shawshank]

Russia is playing better basketball last 2 summers no doubt.They look stronger and playing well all time.Lithuania is up and down team this summer and rebouding game can be critical,can we smaller team give fight in rebounding game? Im not sure.Russians are clear favourites here,but this game depends will Lithuania show what they can and capable of doing (we Know Russia will) If not it will be easy win for Russia.But if Lithuania gonna show up and play as we can this 1/4 can become interesting...And Lietuva has to have good night from 3point line to be suxessfull.I just hope we will give Russia real fight.

[Marty]

4final is very specific, only one game and everything can happen. Psichology and luck means a lot in these kind of games, especially in derbies. Lithuania will be motivated as hell, so i predict an nervous and equal game. My logic says 65% Russia - 35% LT.

[Dtown]

Pretty much every quarter final is going to be interesting, Russia's certainly the favorite but in a one game elimination between rivals anything can happen. I personally think Russia will take this, but it wouldn't shock me if Lithuania went to their 6th straight semi-final.

[Hepcat]

I like the hint of frustration and dissension that emerged on the Russian team in today's game against Australia.

loved what just happened during TO, when Shved and Monya didn't listen/tried to argue with Blatt. Blatt said "ok, you too are out."

[Darknemo2000]

I think such five could work out.

C. Valanciunas
PF. Jankunas
Sf. Kleiza
SG. Seibutis.
Pg. kalnietis

the main advantage of such five would be height. The average height would be pretty nice to battle Russia's better frontline.

Valanciunas is broken and I dont think they will be able to fix him but as broken as he is he is still a better rebounder than Kavaliauskas and Songaila and that might prove to be more essential than the actual all around better game than Songaila and Kavaliauskas. As long as we dont ask from him to score as he is in a terrible mindset but still good for rebounding.

Jankunas is very solid Pf, better than Kleiza in many things other than scoring and rebounding.

Kleiza as a Sf could be a good idea. Not because Pacesas suggested when he commented tha game but because we really need to somehow counter russians frontline with Mozgow, Kaun and Kirilenko.

Seibutis isntead of Pocius and Kaukenas because of Fridzon. Kaukenas looked horrible against Fridzon, Pocius was better but still could not stop Fridzon. Maybe Seibutis additional cm's will help, especially since Seibutis proved what a capable defender he can be.

Kalnietis instead of Saras because of the rebounding, height and speed. Saras seems to make our game better but maybe Kalnietis can improve with that five.

Then go with Kavaliauskas, Songaila, Jasaitis, Pocius and Saras as main substitutes. Maciulis isnt exactly ready for the olympics and Kaukenas defensive woes against Fridzon might be too devastating for us.

[madmax]

sorry to my fellow lith posters here, but I'm not holding my breath in this matchup...if we will manage to make the game competitive, that will already be a big win for us. That said, I expect russians to cruise and win by 10+ at least. I also hope and wish to hear Kemzura resigning after this game, thank you very much

[auris1]

My money is on Russia.
But this is a game we can win either.
it all depends if we can start to compete from the very first ball.
We take too much time to establish our leaders in the game.Like today,Songaila got in only after 25 minutes.Crazy.
So if we are lucky to get it right from the very beginning ,get to a good start....
We need perfect game ,and we need for them to play badly.
Russians having some dodgy shrimp would help us as well.
But for me,since we already have gold medal as a nation,it makes things so much better to digest.5th or even 7th place doesn't look so bad.
So even one win in remaining games would make me satisfied .
And Max,honestly,hoping for someone's demise like this.Sometimes i get a feeling you are rooting for Lithuania to loose just so you can your leg over result regardless.

[Raze Lupin]

This game is 50% each way to me.

[auris1]

This game is 50% each way to me.

So that means that you do not have an opinion,or rather that you do not really know the game here

[madmax]

My money is on Russia.
But this is a game we can win either.
it all depends if we can start to compete from the very first ball.
We take too much time to establish our leaders in the game.Like today,Songaila got in only after 25 minutes.Crazy.
So if we are lucky to get it right from the very beginning ,get to a good start....
We need perfect game ,and we need for them to play badly.
Russians having some dodgy shrimp would help us as well.
But for me,since we already have gold medal as a nation,it makes things so much better to digest.5th or even 7th place doesn't look so bad.
So even one win in remaining games would make me satisfied .
And Max,honestly,hoping for someone's demise like this.Sometimes i get a feeling you are rooting for Lithuania to loose just so you can your leg over result regardless.

no, I just want our NT to be coached by a qualified proper coach, who is not rotating his players in the best ice hockey style. Is that too much to ask, my dear friend?

[Hepcat]

I also hope and wish to hear Kemzura resigning after this game, thank you very much.

Hopefully that's not what you would most like to see from this tournament....

[Hepcat]

But for me,since we already have gold medal as a nation,it makes things so much better to digest.5th or even 7th place doesn't look so bad.

Gold medal as a nation? Do you mean the reestablishment of independence?

[auris1]

no, I just want our NT to be coached by a qualified proper coach, who is not rotating his players in the best ice hockey style. Is that too much to ask, my dear friend?

Well.Max,here we go - you compare basketball with ice hockey now?
it is question for Hepcat here,but i think rotations are marginal now in the end of the game,compared of how they used to be.
If anything,we know that it is necessary to rotate players more than ever in basketball game.
Years ago 4 players would go for like 38 minutes each(like Zalgiris in 80 ).
Let me just leave you with a famous english joke

I can play all the right notes—but not necessarily in the right order

Just change word "notes " to " players"

[Hepcat]

In hockey a coach hopes to have his very best players still fresh after 59 1/2 minutes so he can put them out on the ice for the last thirty seconds or so if and when the game is still on the line. As a result, every coach cycles through four lines of forwards and three pairs of defencemen throughout the game. The very best players may log 25 minutes of ice time with the demands imposed by power plays and penalty killing.

Playoff games can be brutal though. No ties allowed, and no shootouts. They literally have to play until they drop and someone scores.