Lithuania 200
Kleiza: "No problems with Raptors medical staff"
Well, that was defused relatively quickly. A report from Sport24.gr regarding some strong words Linas Kleiza had for Toronto Raptors medical staff has been refuted by the source himself. Kleiza reportedly told writer Chris Tomasson of the NBA Fanhouse in a phone interview that “I have no problems with Toronto’s medical staff,” and “I don’t […]
How many Americans (and foreigners) play in Europe, anyway?
Estonia-based newspaper Õhtuleht yesterday posted results from its number-crunching survey of European basketball, vis-à-vis the number of foreigners – and specifically those carrying US passports – in most Continental domestic leagues. The home country itself is one of the more sparsely-foreigner populated, with just 14 foreign players on eight EMKL rosters or just over 1½ […]
Siauliai upsets Lietuvos Rytas, 96-95; David Weaver becomes one-man highlight reel
The big news from Lithuania this weekend? That would be Šiauliai’s 96-95 squeaker of an upset of traditional powerhouse Lietuvos Rytas in LKL play; L.Rytas is now “only” 10-2 in the domestic league, a full two games behind Žalgiris Kaunas. Additionally, the defending back-to-back champs are just 1½ games (or one point) ahead of 9-3 […]
Christmas greetings, the Zalgiris Kaunas way
For Christmas this year, Žalgiris Kaunas is offering Christmas greetings in the best fashion Lithuanians know: With basketball, electronic card-style. Head on over to the official website by clicking here to a page that merrily welcomes you with “Žalgiris Kaunas welcomes the approaching winter holidays and gives good cheer!” (“Kauno Žalgiris sveikina su artéjančiomis Žiemos […]
Hungary’s first NBA player/current Phoenix Suns scout Kornel David visits Lithuania
The Pride of Hungarian Basketball was recently spotted in Lithuania, where he was doing scouting work for the Phoenix Suns. Former Žalgiris Kaunas big man/Hungary’s first-ever NBA player Kornél Dávid sat in on the Caja Laboral Baskonia game in Kaunas last week and afterwards granted an interview to Žalgiris radio. (Naturally, Dávid doesn’t give name […]
Secrets to Žalgiris’ early success in 2010-11
BallinEurope’s man from Lithuania, known on these pages as “Y,” was apparently so hyped up by Žalgiris Kaunas’ marvelous win over Caja Laboral Baskonia that he was inspired to assess the Green-and-Whites’ early success in 2010-11. For Y., it’s all about the coach and the bench… Unlike their arch-rivals from Vilnius, Lithuanian side Žalgiris Kaunas […]
Vainauskas: Lietuvos Rytas (still) good enough to get into EL Final Four
Proving once again that, even when no games are being played, there’s never a dull moment in Lithuanian basketball, BallinEurope’s man in Lithuania (whom we know simply as “Y”) reports that a team executive there seems to have a bit of a slippery grasp on hard reality – and it’s not even Vladimir Romanov! Lietuvos […]
Slovenia to host 2013 Eurobasket by default?
Congratulations, BallinEurope supposes, should go out to the Slovenian Basketball Federation, which seemingly has won the bid to host the 2013 Eurobasket tournament. This slightly bizarre news was run via Slovenian news service this morning: Slovenia is the only candidate to host the 2013 European Basketball Championship. The European basketball championships will expand to 24 […]
The Eurocentric 2010-11 NBA Preview (or How the Hoops World revolves around Europe)
With the 2010-11 NBA season tipping off tonight, BallinEurope marks the occasion in the best way possible: By overrating the league’s Continental players and making a few offhand Fearless Predictions™ in the guise of a preview column. Brief notes and snarky remarks on all 25 NBA teams follow. (Yes, BiE said “all 25.” Since the […]
Media blackout: Zalgiris Kaunas refuses Lietuvos Rytas reporters accreditation
Here’s one way to address biased media coverage, though BallinEurope wonders if it might not also be labeled “akin to censorship.” In what appears to be an effort to take away some of the newspaper’s power to report on their age-old rivals, Žalgiris Kaunas has this morning announced the extreme measure of refusing to speak […]
Zalgiris Kaunas supersizes McDonald’s, presents big scarf
It does make one nostalgic for simpler times … you know, times before the multinational business machines swarmed into Central and Eastern Europe … times when Sarunas Marciulionis was selling tie dyes to folks who thought “pick and roll” was something you did on your buddy’s hemp farm in Humboldt. (Cue Grumpy Old Man: Yeah, […]
Eurocup 2010-11 teams announced: Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain place three each
The list of teams that will make up the 2010-11 Eurocup regular seasons is all but complete – 93.75% complete, to be exact, with 30 of the 32 teams now set. The finish of the Eurocup Qualifying Round promoted eight more clubs into the regular season, leaving two more spots open, which will be determined […]