Without the holidays: the towers of the returning NBA team spoke of running against time / News

Due to lack of time, the Lithuanian team entered the first friendly match against the Dominican Republic basketball players just after two training sessions and for the first time had the opportunity to feel in the atmosphere of the match.

Our team demonstrated a hurricane attack and crushed the guests from South America (95:62), and one of the main reasons for the victory was Jonas Valančiūnas, who dominated under the baskets and put one after another into the opponents basket.

Memphis Grizzlies, who had a great season in the NBA, scored 17 points (8/9 double, 0/1 trit., 1/1 penalty) in the Dominican basket, bounced 6 balls, made 1 assists, made a mistake and blocking. the opponent’s throw.

After the game, John admitted at a press conference that due to lack of time he had to try to understand each other during the game.

“The first game is always more difficult. Still, with that routine, we had very little time to play. A 2-3 practice is nothing, we use the game as a period of play. Everything is going according to plan, there is still margin of improvement, but we are working and trying to get the best form ”, said the tall man.

– The pre-camp conditions are extraordinary, there is not much time to play. How much do they try to remind each other of the past while playing together, or do they still need to re-shred everything within the time allotted to them? – we asked Valančiūnas.
– We have really played with many players before and have known each other for a long time. We have to remember, it takes some time, but we are still professionals and we have to overcome that barrier. Perhaps a small advantage is that they have all recently finished the seasons, so it does not take long to get in shape. Here’s a big plus and everything is going according to plan so far.

– How was your vacation? Did you manage to do something in your spare time or did you still need to maintain an intense form of sport?
– Is it a vacation here? 10 days (laughs). Here’s a break. After 10 days I rested, that flight from one part of the world to another, adaptation, meeting with family, friends and already a team.

Another Lithuanian tower, Domantas Sabonis, who had a career year and entered the NBA All-Star game, also made a significant contribution to the victory.

The 211cm tall pivot entered the game after the substitution and scored a quick 6 points, then one after another handed out jewel passes to his teammates, who were left with only thrown out of comfortable positions.

The high one scored 9 points (4/6 dvit., 1/1 penalty) in 17 minutes, bounced 4 and took 1 ball, made 4 assists, made a mistake and blocked the opponent’s shot.

“There were good emotions, the first game,” Sabonis said after the game. “We only had two training sessions before, so in this game we went to the field to get fit and play.”

– What was the game plan for today? We asked Sabonis.
– We wanted to feel each other, we also had to look at different defense systems, different combinations of what we do best.

– How does the Lithuanian game look in your eyes?
– The first half was hard for everyone, we had to get used to it, the game itself, and in the second half the defense was more aggressive and we slowed them down much more.

– You missed 41 points in the first half and 21 in the second. What happened?
– At first we took the bomb (laughs). Those first few races are tough: a few don’t play for a week, others more. These matches were meant to come at a pace.

– You haven’t played in Europe in two years, how difficult was it to adapt to a smaller field?
– Basketball is basketball, the rules are a little different, but you play your own basketball, etc.

– This year it was a very short vacation. How did you manage to spend your free time yourself?
– I didn’t do anything for a week, I rested, but then I had to start doing sports. He didn’t want to lose his shape.

– I had to move in with Jonas Valančiūnas during training. How does it feel to play against him?
– Hard, very hard. John is very tall, big, I try to do what I can. Very good player.

– You left the bank today, does that make a significant difference to you?
– As the coach said, we try to see what is best for the team and we try five different ones. We only had two practice sessions, so we haven’t had time to see it all yet.

– You have made good passes to your teammates on several occasions. Is it the sense of teammates or natural instincts?
– I think everything comes out naturally, I tried to find partners and I succeeded. The more we are playing with each other, the better I will know where to put the transfer for everyone.