Euroleague 2007-2008 - Lietuvos Rytas - The Preview

Author : Christophe Ney from BallinEurope

Overall Record Prediction : 8-6

So in the end no Lithuanian wanted to write a preview of Lietuvos Rytas. How does that come? Are they afraid of telling hat the team sucks? Or what is the problem?
In fact, the team does not suck at all and it is a dominant force at ome in Vilnius. The roster did not change on the main positions so we an say Hello again to Matt Nielsen, the curly Australian with the sweet shooting touch, Arturas Jomantas, the talented multi-tasking Lithuanian prospect, Martynas Gecevicius, the sharpshooter, and of course JP Batista, the largest brasilian inside player that ever played in Europe. Of course their PG Roberts Stelmahers is still with the team, but the brain of the squad will miss the first games due to a severe injury and down low, Marijonas Petravicius is still causing a lot of dammage.

Looking at the new guys, you have to check of course Kenan Bajramovic, the Bosnian inside player who is actually dominating the Baltic league and he should have quite some impact in his Euroleague debut. Another interesting addition is Chuck Eidson, who comes from ULEB Cup participant Strasbourg and brings his famous left hand to the Lithuanian
cold. Hollis Price will have to play the replacement role for Stelmahers during his absence together with the rookie Darrel Mitchell.

The schedule in Group B looks doable for Lietuvos Rytas, especially the beginning can be used for a good start. Coach Alexander Trifunovic will certainely be at the head of a motivated team that wants to go again for the Top16 qualification this year. For the moment, the team looks rather good, as shows also their perfect record after 6 games in the Baltic league so far.
Final 4 predictions : CSKA; Panathinaikos; Efes Pilsen, Real Madrid

Winner : Efes Pilsen