Top Players at Olympic Qualifying Tournament

[Straight forward]

Al Horford

No freaking way. Struggling and lost Valančiūnas outplayed this NBA star. He also completely sucked against Macedonia for the biggest time of the game and only later took some rebounds. Horford is nowhere near being here. Sasha Kaun takes this and laughs him in the face I'm afraid

[Hepcat]

Interesting tha lithuanian who finished 2nd dont even have their player in your list.But on the other hand you may be right,we didnt have one very bright star in all 4games,but we had 10players who were bring their own part to teams winning table...This is lithuanian team basketball at their best!

That is correct! It was a total team effort, and you could even add Tomas Delininkaitis to the ten to make it eleven.

[Olympiacos]

McCalebb
Spanoulis
Kirilenko
Diogu*
Kaun


Diogu gets an asterisk though, because he wouldn't be in consideration without all the help he and his team got from the refs in every game.

[jiggawhat]

Kirilenko is probably the single best player in this tournament (skill wise)

[Olympiacos]

Kirilenko is probably the single best player in this tournament (skill wise)

Skill wise? I don't think so. His skill is nothing more than average.

[JGX]

I don't understand how anyone could have Diogu on their list.

Certainly came up big today.

[sixama23]

Certainly came up big today.

Not just today...
He did brilliant during the whole tournament. Four double-doubles in five games...

He will probably find a good contract after these performances.

[Southpaw]

Not just today...
He did brilliant during the whole tournament. Four double-doubles in five games...

He will probably find a good contract after these performances.

Really, doing well in this kind of tourney does not mean anything. Maybe in Europe but in NBA, just another scrub.

[Mojado]

My five:

Kalnietis
Fridzon
Spanoulis
Martinez
Diogu

[sixama23]

Really, doing well in this kind of tourney does not mean anything. Maybe in Europe but in NBA, just another scrub.

I know that he is undersized and average athlete for the NBA. But in Europe he can be a top PF/C at Euroleague level and earn some good money.

[Buzissa]

McCalebb - He dominated again and it was such a pity that 2nd half of FYROM against DR. I was already picturing him playing against Team USA in London.
Fridzon - Great fit in the well oiled Russian machine with his accurate 3pt shooting.
Kirilenko - Led Russia to a trouble-free OQT with his all-around game.
Diogu - Showed good offense, finishing effectively with either hand and providing some outside shooting. Pleasant surprise.
Martínez - While Horford struggled in the knockout stage, this guy continued to bother the opponents with his energetic play. Excellent rebounding skills.

[Olympiacos]

Really, doing well in this kind of tourney does not mean anything. Maybe in Europe but in NBA, just another scrub.

Stop the flame baiting please.

I know that he is undersized and average athlete for the NBA. But in Europe he can be a top PF/C at Euroleague level and earn some good money.

In the Euroleague, he would be playing 5 on 5 and not 8 on 5, like he was at this tournament.

[jiggawhat]

You are ridiculous. There is no player at this tournament better than Kirilenko. He is the most skilled player in this tournament, hands down. He was Euroleague MVP too

[Olympiacos]

You are ridiculous. There is no player at this tournament better than Kirilenko. He is the most skilled player in this tournament, hands down. He was Euroleague MVP too

There is absolutely no way in the world that Kirilenko is even remotely in the discussion of being the "most skilled" player at this tournament.

Average shooter
Average ball handler
Average free throw shooter
Average or below average at creating his own shot
Very good passer
Above average at creating for others
Very good rebounder
Excellent dunker
Good 3 point shooter, when left open, but otherwise no

His greatness is in his athletic ability, his versatility on defense, his length, and his shot blocking. Those are all 100% based on his physical attributes, and not his "skills".

It's absolutely laughable to even suggest he was the most skilled player at that tournament.

[jiggawhat]

Whatever. Defense and shot blocking is a skillset. He is the best player in the tournament. Certainly better than any Greek NT scrub