Chapter 904: Male Soldiers
There are four starters left, two forwards are Crezza and Sebutis, and two defenders are Carniertis and Maculis.
Kreza, who is also an NBA player, was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 27th pick in the first round in 2005 and is so powerful that he can play two forward positions.
Since entering the NBA, Kreiza has improved every season, and he has changed from a pure defensive player to a balanced offensive and defensive player, and his three-point and free throw shooting percentage has also increased dramatically.
If Jaftokas is the soul and spiritual leader of the Lithuanian men's basketball team, then Kreza, who is in his playing years, is the tactical core.
Even in the NBA, Kreza is the number one figure, and in the four years he has been in the NBA, he has steadily improved every year, and on the Nuggets bench, Kreiza has gradually established himself in the new season thanks to the soft touch of European players and his own hard work, and he played an average of 28 minutes per game last season, with 10. With 7 points and 4 rebounds, he became the team's first choice for the rotation.
The other forward is Renaldas Sebutis, a young player whose name is already well-known in Lithuania, who used to play for the famous Olympiacos and was selected with the 20th pick in the second round of the NBA Draft in 2007.
Mantas Karnietis is a very talented two-way defender, he is the successor of the famous Lithuanian player and known as the king of Europe, Giaciovis, Lithuania has been lacking a pure playmaker, and now the starting position is in the position of Karnietis.
Of course, Carniertis and Giaciovis' styles are very different, and he is mainly very strong in terms of athleticism, such as being very fast, rather than winning in super good court vision and creative power.
Since 2004, Karnietis has participated in the international competitions of Lithuania U18 and has a lot of experience in this area.
Younas Marculis was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, and has participated in many European Championships and World Championships.
He is characterised by his style of play, his ability to provide the team with tenacious defence and a high level of physicality, and he is an excellent role player for the Lithuanian squad.
The combination of these five players, judging from their reputation, is average, and there is no superstar who can echo in the international basketball world.
But this Lithuanian team, from the beginning of the group stage, has shown its strong nature.
In the first game against New Zealand, although Penny scored 37 points, the Lithuanian team still won the game easily 92-79; In the second match against Canada, the opponent led by as many as 17 points at the most in the game, but the tenacious Lithuanian team turned the tide of the game and finally narrowly won 70-68; Lithuania's comeback was not over, as they trailed by as many as 18 points in the third quarter against defending champions Spain, but they went on a 23-9 run in the fourth quarter to outscore their opponents by as many as 14 points in the first quarter and win 76-73.
In the fourth game of the group stage, Lithuania faced the challenge of France and finally won 69-55.
Previously, France had been a big upset, beating defending champions Spain 72-66 in their opening game, and they averaged 74 points per game against four opponents except Lithuania.
However, it is such a team that looks vulnerable against Lithuania. At the end of the game, France scored a measly 55 points, while Nicolas Batum's 13 points were the team's highest score.
It is worth mentioning that in this game, the Lithuanian team also trailed by as many as 13 points in the first quarter. In the final game, against the weak Lebanese team, Lithuania appeared to be at ease, and finally won 84-66.
Easy victory, consecutive big reversal of the opponent to win, big victory, in addition to the dream team with superior strength, the Lithuanian team is very confident, and in the face of the Chinese men's basketball team, which has not been able to raise the table in the past, it is even more confident.
The jump ball was played between Chamberlain and Jaftokas, the latter was used specifically against Chamberlain, who was big-shouldered and round-waisted, and most importantly had a tough style of play, and was a tough guy.
However, Jaftokas's bounce and speed are average, and the whites of Europe are not good at playing in the hoop.
Chamberlain jumped lightly to win Yaftokas, and threw his hand to give the racket to Sun Yue, although Sun Yue is not as calm as Liu Wei, but he is good at military and dangerous moves, and his body is very good, and he can advance quickly and cooperate with Chamberlain to open the game.
This time this is the case, Sun Yue took off the ball lightly, and rushed to the front court quickly with a short body, Kreiza threw off Yi Jianlian to block, at this time Yi Jianlian responded in the center, Sun Yue passed the ball to him, and Yi Jianlian got the ball and rushed forward non-stop.
Just three or four steps after the half, Yi Jianlian raised his hand and threw the ball to the basket, the Lithuanian fans frowned vigorously, before their eyes were attracted by the confrontation Sun Yue Creza, did not notice that Chamberlain had rushed to the basket quickly!
Jaftokas couldn't catch up with Chamberlain, Sebdis was fast enough, but Chamberlain was more than ten centimeters taller than him, both of them were under the basket, and after Chamberlain got the ball, Sebdis couldn't defend at all.
Chamberlain received the ball and slammed sideways into the basket against Sebdis, who could not be stopped, so he staggered out and seized the gap, Chamberlain twisted his waist and flew into the air like stepping on a spring bed, and dunked the ball into the hoop with a wave of his arm.
The Chinese fans immediately cheered loudly, and China's five-star red flag was waved all over the field, and the scene was as brilliant red as blood.
"Hooray, Dragons!"
Marculis pouted, controlled the ball and ran down, Liu Wei followed him, Marculis hit him, then turned around, and was just about to break through, but a figure blocked in front of him, it was Sun Yue.
Seeing this, Marculis was not flustered, so he sideways resisted Sun Yue and dribbled under his crotch, but Liu Wei directly jumped up and pounced, seizing the opportunity to poke the ball down.
At this time, Maculis was in a hurry, but it was useless to be anxious, Sun Yue grabbed the ball, threw the ball to the front court and began to run, but fortunately, Carniertis was always by the side, so he chased after him.
The Lithuanian team was a little confused, mainly because they didn't expect that the Chinese team, which was weak on the outside, could still force their balls.
But in contrast, the Chinese team is not very good at fast attack, Sun Yue is not fast enough, and there is nothing to do when he is entangled by Carniertis, and the contest between Liu Wei and Marchulis does not prevail.
However, although it was a positional battle, the speed was still very fast, and Chamberlain followed up quickly, so Sun Yue saw him rushing to the front court and passed the ball to him.
Chamberlain received the ball from outside the three-point line, he steadied himself and looked up at the hoop, and threw the ball out with a flick of his arm!
"Huh!" With a crisp sound, the basketball fell into the hoop, and Chamberlain smiled slightly, waving his arms and running down.
5-0, Chamberlain scored five points in a row in the opening game.
The Lithuanian team already attaches great importance to Chamberlain, but Chamberlain's offensive methods are too diverse, these two attacks, one is a dunk in the opening fast break, and the other is an unreasonable three-point, Yaftokas is aggrieved.
Attacking again, Lithuania will be much more cautious, and Marculis does not dare to underestimate Liu Wei and Sun Yue, who are on the outside line, control the ball to the front court, and reverse the ball several times, Kreza came out to catch the ball, and when he got the ball, he hit Yi Jianlian with a tough back, and then turned around and broke through.
Chamberlain was prepared and rushed out to make up for the defense as soon as possible.
Jaftokas followed very tacitly, and he covered Krezza and blocked Chamberlain.
Chamberlain turned and moved sideways past Yaftokas, although the speed was fast enough, but the three-point line was too small, Kreiza was ready when he saw Yaftokas move out, and rushed to the basket as soon as possible, directly into the restricted area.
The inside line is now empty, and Zhu Fangyu followed in time on the flank, but Kreza, who had a big waist and a round waist, completely ignored his defense, rushed to the basket and jumped up, and hit a shot lightly.
Zhu Fangyu picked up the ball and threw it to Liu Wei, and before that, Chamberlain and Yi Jianlian had already rushed to the frontcourt.
After getting the ball, Liu Wei looked up and saw Chamberlain, who had rushed past the halfcourt, with a wave of his arm as if throwing a shot put, he almost made a long pass and threw the ball directly into the three-point line.
Chamberlain and Yi Jianlian followed the ball almost one after the other to drill into the three-point line, Kreza returned quickly enough, Chamberlain saw this and reached out to grab the ball, and then braked suddenly, sideways to block Kreza.
Yi Jianlian stepped in quickly, Chamberlain passed the ball in, at this time only Sebdis of the Lithuanian team followed, Yi Jianlian got the ball and first reduced his speed and shook his shoulders to make a feint, Sebdis hesitated, Yi Jianlian strode in.
Almost cutting Sebdis, Yi Jianlian dunked when he entered the basket!
You must know that although Yi Jianlian's physique is not as good as Chamberlain, he is also known for his perversion, and he is known as the Yellow Demon Beast in New Jersey.
Marculis dribbled the ball to the front court with ease under Liu Wei's pressure, and Karniertis came out to respond, he was the big man on the outside of the Lithuanian team, and he probably scanned the ball when he got the ball, and gave the ball to Kreza in the high position.
The greatest thing about Carliettis is his big-picture vision, as a shooting guard he can pass the ball like a playmaker, and as a point guard, he can score like an attacking guard.
Lithuania played team basketball and did not focus on individual performances, which is why Karnietis did not choose to attack on his own, he passed the ball and then went to run.
Krezza got the ball and slowly pushed inside, Yaftokas and Carnietis tacitly exchanged positions without the ball, the former left Chamberlain to the high post, Kreiza broke inside, attracted the attention of Chamberlain's defense and passed the ball to Yaftokas.
Jaftokas seized the opportunity to stop, jumped up with his feet on the floor, and threw his hand with a flick of his wrist.
'Smack! With a muffled sound, Chamberlain was like a sharp arrow, and his big hand was raised high and slapped the take-off basketball, and he pressed it down.
Lithuanian fans grinned and gasped, this is a human or a grasshopper, why is it jumping so high?
Sebdis reacted quickly, and when he saw Oxlade-Chamberlain accumulating strength, he knew that the situation was not good, and followed Jaftokas, just in time for the ball to be caught after the ball was capped.
Holding the ball for sale, after Sebdis landed, he took the ball and shook two shots, Sun Yue changed his defense in time and stared at him firmly.
Sebdis shook his head, and as soon as he saw that there was not much time, he cut sideways into the inner line, got up sideways and shot an arrow on horseback, and shot at Sun Yue.
Sun Yue's body is very good, with good bounce and fast speed, and he has to be covered when he jumps.
This scared Sebdis, how could these opponents' physiques be so good?
He had to raise the height of his shot, so that although he avoided the bad luck of being blocked, the ball hit the iron.
Chamberlain turned around and jumped, pressed Kreza to grab the rebound in his hand, and after landing, he wanted to pass it, but Lithuania reacted quickly and suppressed all the way, and the three outside were all pressed, and there was no chance to catch the ball.
Chamberlain shook his head and ran forward with his skilful possession.
Lithuanian fans can't help but think of the unlucky little Gasol not long ago, he was shaken down by Chamberlain's breakthrough, Chamberlain's level of ball control is not worse than that of a defender.
Marchuelis chased Liu Wei all the way to the midfield line, Sun Yue was also entangled by Carniertis, so the fast attack could not be played, Chamberlain simply concentrated on dribbling the ball through the half, he waved his hand to signal Yi Jianlian to cover in the high position, and let Sun Yue and Liu Wei help Zhu Fangyu get a vacant opportunity to organize the attack by himself.
In this way, Chamberlain became an organizational guard, he shot the ball outside the three-point line while directing his teammates to land, and the Chinese fans screamed non-stop, and Chamberlain at this moment was handsome and miserable.
The Lithuanian team hurriedly set up defense, and at this moment, Chamberlain suddenly stepped forward with his left foot, and controlled the ball with his right hand to kill forward, as fast as lightning, and passed Kreza who changed the defense in one step, and went directly to the penalty area.
Kreza may be a character in the Lithuanian team, but in front of Chamberlain, he is not a fart, even if the Nuggets have Nene, Martin, and Camby, he Chamberlain is all right, not to mention that now there is only you as a substitute Kreza?