So this writer isn’t live in Vilnius for today’s surprisingly (somewhat) crucial game in the 2011 FIBA EuroBasket second round between Finland and Georgia, but hey, why should that stop more BallinEurope live blogging? Tuned into the IPTV, BiE is ready to report on the contest … the key point of this matchup? The loser is eliminated and pretty much guaranteed to land dead last in the Group F standings.
Click below the break to follow with BiE!
Because of Poland’s loss to Great Britain, both teams in this game have been assured of a spot in the next round of the EuroBasket tournament. However, since the head-to-head win-loss records will carry over, the match does have some importance going forward.
The key question is, “Who or what can stop Spain?” This team has looked unstoppable through four games, dominating Lithuania last night with 63 points in the first half. Turkey has looked a bit sluggish in its last two and with a loss would bring an 0-2 record to start Group E play. Who wins this battle of NBA- and Euroleague-stocked teams? Read below the break and follow the game with BallinEurope’s live blogging. Enjoy the game!
Who would’ve thought this game would be significant in the EuroBasket 2011 tournament? Yet, here we are, less than 24 hours after Team Poland’s stunning upset of the big-bodied, NBA-stocked Turkey — not to mention a day after Great Britain’s first-ever major tournament win.
While Britain needs an outrageous 58-point margin of victory today (not to mention a Turkey loss later as well) to advance into the next round of the tourney, Poland merely needs a W. BiE thinks they’re good for it. But don’t take this word for it; follow along with BallinEurope live blogging from Panevezys below the break. Enjoy!
Surely this game needs no introduction: It’s the defending European champions against the red-hot, lightning-quick Lithuanians. Lithuania is a player down, but there’s still that 13th man of the crowd and the straight-up willpower of the home team backs by 16,000 volts of tradition, neither of which should be underestimated.
Get ready for a wild one, and follow the BallinEurope live blogging below the break. Enjoy!
All righty, then, time for today’s second of three live blogs, as Turkey prepares to take on Poland. The scenario: Spain and Lithuania have already clinched spots in the next round. To keep their chances alive, Poland must win out in the last two games while Turkey loses both … and that would be one heckuva shocker. Join us to see if it happens below the break, and enjoy the game!
All right, BallinEurope returns with game coverage via live blog, as Team Britain and Team Portugal — playing for the proverbial pride — face off in EuroBasket game four, each side in search of its first win. In the case of Britain, of course, they’ll be chasing their first-ever major tournament win as the national program continues its development toward competing in the 2012 Olympic Games. Join us below the break for a nice test between these two maverick squads, and enjoy the game!
Not only does the first-round EuroBasket match between Turkey and Lithuania represent the first serious test for this potential championship teams, it also has more long-range ramifications than perhaps any game thus far played.
Since win-loss records against advancing teams are held into the next round of pool play, the result of this game will determine seeding into the Eighth-Finals elimination tournament, the winner of this one will surely gain a psychological edge vis-a-vis its upcoming faceoff against Spain. Confidence is at stake for the winner tonight, whereas the loser may be forced to play desperation ball against the defending champs so as to avoid bringing an 0-2 mark into Group E.
But hey, enough with the talking. Within an hour, we’ll be tipping off a marquee matchup here in Panevezys — and here at the BallinEurope live blog starting at 8pm CET (2pm EST). Click below the break to follow; it should be a dandy.
Right, so it’s not the most scintillating of games and will probably be irrelevant when the dust settles on EuroBasket Group A play, but we can say one exciting thing about Poland vs. Portugal: One of these two teams is guaranteed to notch their first win in the tournament.
Follow along with BallinEurope’s live blogging (if you dare) below the break. BiE would say “enjoy the game,” but if you’re watching this one, you must be a basketball fanatic or supporter and thus you’ll be assured to.
BallinEurope is live from Panevezys again today for more EuroBasket action, beginning with Spain vs. Great Britain. As the Brits continue to chase that elusive first-ever major tournament win, Spain seeks to continue its stomping through Group A. After two games, the powers of the group — Spain, Turkey, and Lithuania — all sit on top at 2-0. The heavily-favored defending champions look to be in first going into the off-day on Saturday … they best not be looking ahead, though.
Join the live blogging here, just below the break. Enjoy the game!
All right, the home team hits the court again tonight in Panevezys, presumably in hopes of improving on a somewhat inconsistent opening game against Great Britain; with Spain and Turkey performing as expected to go 2-0, Team Lithuania will need a W to keep up.
Note for the game: Marijonas Petravicius will not be playing tonight due to an unspecified minor injury. Could this mean some time for prospective Toronto Raptor Jonas Valanciunas, who only saw four minutes of action last night…? Find out soon and follow the BallinEurope live blogging below the break. Enjoy!
