Kaunas – Champion of Spain: “Žalgiris” – “Baskonia” | Euroleague

As usual, you can follow the progress of the match on our portal.

Before the game, during halftime and after the duel, we invite you to watch the special “Hot Feet” program.

Match progress:

I half. Žalgiris – Baskonia

The people of Žalgiris start with the following five: Thomas Walkup, Artūras Milaknis, Marius Grigonis, Nigel Hayes, Joffrey Lauvergne.

Lithuanians Tadas Sedekerskis and Rokas Giedraitis are also among the top five in the Basque Country.

Donatas URBONAS, journalist 15min

Hello friends! This time from home, from the kitchen table, not from the “Žalgiris” arena. Žalgiris Club is reacting to the strict quarantine in Lithuania and from now on it will hold post-match press conferences not in its own press conference room (in too narrow circumstances of COVID-19, so the decision to cancel the conference is very logical), but remotely via Zoom. I hope the people of Žalgiris are closer to victory than we and our colleagues. And to win, they will have to somehow endure the speed and physicality of the Baskonia. The Basques are the best team in the Euroleague in at least a few different categories, in terms of rebounds and interceptions, blocking shots, as well as second in terms of defensive ranking, so it will be a very strong test for “Žalgiris”. Frankly, I would have been pleasantly surprised if the people from Žalgiris had won, because Baskonia have shown good form recently. I see an opportunity in a shorter Basque rotation. Especially with the back pain that constricts Luca Vildoza, who tried to play with the Sevillian team during the weekend but did not attack the basket in 9 minutes and did not play after the break. There is a lack of reliable defenders behind the unmistakable wizard Pierria Henry. This should be one of the accents of Žalgiris.

The champion of Spain “Baskonia” with six wins and the same number of defeats is in the tenth so far.

“Žalgiris” also has six victories, but suffered one more defeat and is eleventh.

Recently, the performance of one of the leaders of Baskonia, Rokas Giedraitis, has declined significantly. He has scored 5.7 points in the last three games. The lightweight forward’s average fell to 11.8 points. Lithuania’s three-point hit also declined, now reaching 36.2 percent. R.Giedraitis accumulates 11.7 utility points.

Spanish striker Tadas Sedekerski, who recently appears in the top five, scores 1.8 points and grabs 3.4 balls.

The most destabilizing player at the Basque Club is the American Pierria Henry. For his part: 11.3 points, 6.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 16.5 utility points.

Basketball players from Vitoria occupy second place in the tournament in terms of rebounds (average 35.5). The inhabitants of Žalgiris are only third from the bottom in this statistical category (30.1).

According to the coach of the Kaunas team, Martin Schiller, “Baskonia” is a very tall team, defending solidly, taking hold of a lot of balls and thus putting opponents out of rhythm.

In the modern Euroleague, the result of the matches between “Žalgiris” and “Baskonia” is 13-9 in favor of the Vitorian club.