Quarter-finals: Russia vs Lithuania

[Hepcat]

most probably because he's an opinionated dude with strong leadership skills - complete opposite to soft and clueless Kemzura.... He also knows that basketball teams have centers too, not only undersized PF's, pretending to be them. In other words, he can trully coach a team, while Kemzura just makes excuses and pretends to know how to do it...

I said objective. None of those things are negative qualities. What are his negatives?

there is no way he would tolerate Jasikevicius and Kleiza's effort which they displayed today in the most crucial game of the last 4 years.

Actually Kemzūra didn't. He replaced Kleiza. Kalnietis though didn't start playing well until sometime in the second half so there was not much that could be done abut Jasikevičius.

[Warped]

I think it is safe to say that Russia is now the biggest threat to the USA for the gold. I know Spain is still in the competition but they seem a bit off so far in this tournament (I am posting this during Q3 of France and Spain and am not impressed).

[Darknemo2000]

I take it you mean Gecevičius played very well in a game that eliminated Žalgiris' from a Euroleague competition?

But why does Kurtinaitis arouse antipathy in some quarters? Please be objective. I just don't know.

He alsways makes comments agaisnt Zalgiris. When Zalgiris was close to being bancrupt he said that they should nail down the windows of the sports hall and call it an end. He also never misses chance to make cheap shots at Zalgirius like "Everyone expects us to win in every game. If we loose one game its a tragedy. Zalgiris for exmple can go 0-6 and everyone are still happy."

Comments like these are uncalled for. But other than him bashing Zal;giris from time to time he is a very good coach. He was assistant coach to Butautas in poland but he was only an asstant coach so I dont think he should be the one to blame for the head-coaches decisions.

[Straight forward]

But why does Kurtinaitis arouse antipathy in some quarters? Please be objective. I just don't know.

First of all, he said some harsh words about Žalgiris - it might be Žalgiris' fans Also he coached Rytas two seasons recently and did well.. Maybe they have other reasons, but they have to argument...In my account Kurtinaitis is already proven and the coach with a future. Not some Obradovič yet, but really improving every year and has some nice results.

I was refering to LKL finals.

And Kemzura didn't have a single title before he was hired. Not to mention being anywhere near to such things as Eurocup trophy.

[madmax]

I take it you mean Gecevičius played very well in a game that eliminated Žalgiris' from a Euroleague competition?

But why does Kurtinaitis arouse antipathy in some quarters? Please be objective. I just don't know.

most probably because he's an opinionated dude with strong leadership skills - complete opposite to soft and clueless Kemzura...there is no way he would tolerate Jasikevicius and Kleiza's effort which they displayed today in the most crucial game of the last 4 years. He also knows that basketball teams have centers too, not only undersized PF's, pretending to be them. In other words, he can trully coach a team, while Kemzura just makes excuses and pretends to know how to do it...

[Hepcat]

Kurtinaitis made a star from Gecevičius who killed all Žalgiris' team - the core of current NT.

I take it you mean Gecevičius played very well in a game that eliminated Žalgiris' from a Euroleague competition?

But why does Kurtinaitis arouse antipathy in some quarters? Please be objective. I just don't know.

[Hepcat]

Who are Dick Stockton and Rick Nash? Are they by chance relatives to John Stockton and Steve Nash?

Dick Stockton is a sports announcer and Rick Nash is a very good hockey player with both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Team Canada. While Rick Nash would be a very useful fellow to clone as well given his athletic skills, I was indeed referring to Steve Nash and John Stockton. Sorry. It's bad enough when I don't know what I'm taking about but it's worse still when I don't know who I'm talking about.

[Straight forward]

Other posters though say Kurtinaitis is a clown. I just don't know. All I know is that a coach should be hired with a four year contract to build for the next Olympic games.

Kurtinaitis won two Eurocup's trophies in recent years. He's coaching high quality team and wasn't fired contrary to Kemzura (whatever reasons there was). Kurtinaitis made a star from Gecevičius who killed all Žalgiris' team - the core of current NT. I agree there should be a discussion - for example why shouldn't Kazlauskas be on radar? But I also 100% sure, new coach should start new Olympic cycle.

[Darknemo2000]

Other posters though say Kurtinaitis is a clown. I just don't know. All I know is that a coach should be hired with a four year contract to build for the next Olympic games.

And the Lithuanian basketball program must somehow develop centers and PGs, even if it means genetically cloning Arvydas Sabonis, Dick Stockton and Rick Nash. Does Šarūnas Marčiulionis have any children?

Who are Dick Stockton and Rick Nash? Are they by chance relatives to John Stockton and Steve Nash?

[Hepcat]

I'll put it straight forward - bring Kurtinaitis on the stage!

Other posters though say Kurtinaitis is a clown. I just don't know. All I know is that a coach should be hired with a four year contract to build for the next Olympic games.

And the Lithuanian basketball program must somehow develop centers and PGs, even if it means genetically cloning Arvydas Sabonis, John Stockton and Steve Nash. Any ideas on how these latter two fellows could be lured to Lithuania? And how about Šarūnas Marčiulionis? Does he have any children?

[Hepcat]

Songaila, Valanciunas, Kaukenas and Kalnietis (in the second half) were our best players today. Our leaders Kleiza and Saras stank up big time.

Precisely correct. Until Kalnietis came to life later in the second half, neither Šarūnas Jasikevičius nor Kalnietis was doing the job at PG leaving coach Kemzūra in a bind. There was a gap the size of the ocean today in the efficiency ratings of Kaukėnas, Songaila, Kalnietis and Valančiūnas and that of the rest of the team. The other players just didn't get it done at all today and you can't beat the Russian team with just four players.

After this championship i understood how much Javtokas big body mean for us inside in defence...Right now we have huge hole in defence,i just hope robertas will not retire atleast 2-3 years from now,until JOnas will learn positioning inside and get some muscles.Today our most two important players Kleiza and Jasikevicius let us down....

Ok Russia was stronger and good luck in semifinal.You can beat us,but you can kill lithuanians love for game of basketball...We gonna comeback....

All true.

[Gytaz]

Ok, we lost. It's not a problem. The problem is, we don't have a coach and pg.

R.I.P. our National Team?

We managed to rebuild a few times already. The PG problem is real, but we managed to win bronze in 2010 with only Kalnietis. And in a few years who knows... I'm actually excited because next year we'll truly start rebuilding and have a totally new team. And young teams are hungrier. It will be time for JV and D-Mo to dominate. Hopefully...

For me this was one of the most frustrating games to watch this year. So many stupid turnovers... Well, at least Jonas had a good game.

[Straight forward]

I'll just quote Kvederavičius words after the game that i think is exactly spot on:

"Life goes on. These Olympics is history already. We should make conclusions, to make right decisions and to start new Olympic cycle with clean and calm conscience. We didn't prepare that well this time"

If our current never "losing" and "never having a bad result" federation will keep Kemzūra as a head coach, I'll have a very hard time following my favourite team in the world.

Fuck it. I'll put it straight forward - bring Kurtinaitis on the stage!

[Hepcat]

Still for a team that is rebuilding they managed to qualify for their 6th straight Olympics something unheard of in Europe outside of the two old powers Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, so a lot to be proud of.

Still very, very disappointing for Lithuanian fans. Team Lietuva did not beat a single contender these games and the streak of semis has come to an end. Where the game was lost today was shooting. Making only fourteen of forty from two point range was simply too low.

In hockey they say that if you want to win in the playoffs, your best players have to be your best players. Well today Rimantas Kaukėnas and Darius Songaila, two old veterans, were Team Lietuva's best. But Linas Kleiza or somebody else had to step up and at least match their performance. But it didn't happen.

[macleopard13]

Ok Russia was stronger and good luck in semifinal.You can beat us,but you can kill lithuanians love for game of basketball...We gonna comeback...

Yes, I think next year, we're gonna rule. That is, if we get ourselves a new coach (Kurtinaitis, preferably), retire Jasikevicius (thanks for your efforts, but we don't need slow turnover machines anymore) and Kaukenas (thanks for your efforts too, but we need better defenders at your position), and include young, fast players (Motiejunas, Dulkys, etc). It's up to the Federation to remove Kemzura, or for Kemzura to honorably retire.