Lithuania's head coach before facing Luka Doncic: 'We are ready' / News - Basketnews.com

Lithuanian head coach Kazys Maksvytis says the coaching staff has learned from last year's game against Slovenia in Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament and thinks they're ready to face Slovenia and Luka Doncic tomorrow.

Credit: LTU Basketball Credit LTU Basketball

The Lithuanian national team will start EuroBasket 2022 by facing the reigning tournament champions in Slovenia.

Lithuanian head coach Kazys Maksvytis has won major tournaments with many Lithuanian youth teams but this will be the first major tournament for him under the helm of the men's team.

"There is some excitement but I wouldn't say it's taken over," he told during the last press conference before EuroBasket 2022. "I've been in a similar situation before but just in a smaller format with youth teams. I was waiting for this summer to be able to work with the best players not only during the windows or few-day practices. It's not that I cannot sleep at night."

Dealing with the threat of Luka Doncic will be the main thing for the Lithuanian national team in its debut in EuroBasket 2022 against Slovenia. Lithuania wasn't able to stop him in the Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament last summer when Luka scored 31 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 13 assists to lead Slovenia to the grandest stage in Tokyo.

"I think we have prepared quite nicely. Of course, it looks like you still want to advise something but on the other side - you don't want to overwhelm players. We are healthy, we are ready. We'll try to make some changes, we've reacted to the last year's game as well. I think we are ready."

Lithuania will face Slovenia tomorrow, September 1st, at 17:15 CET. Both teams are situated in Group B together with Germany, France, Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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