TeamUSA are just a stone throw away from winning this year's FIBA world basketball trophy. Standing on their path, however, is team Lithuania, who didn't come all this way to watch their title hopes crushed with every fade away jump shot and every slam dunk Team USA scores. This proverbial David versus Goliath match is slated for 11th September at 3p.m. EDT.
The Lithuanian team booked its ticket to the semis through a 73-61 mauling of Turkey on Tuesday. But how prepared are they to meet Team USA tonight? Contrary to popular belief, their record is quite impressive.
The Lithuanian team finished second at the Eurobasket in 2013, they finished eighth in the Olympic games of 2012, third in the last FIBA tournament of 2010 and fifth in the 2011 Eurobasket. Quite the record, but can they beat the USA? Two years ago when Team USA was packed with superstars at the London Olympics, the two teams met at the preliminary round and after forty grueling minutes, team USA was lucky to escape with a 99-94 win. The Lithuanians clawed at Team USA until the final minute, it was USA's only competitive game besides the final against Spain.
The Lithuanian team will be headed by Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas. Rockets forward Donatas Montiejunas will also play on the team. Big V will be flanked by one or both of the Lavrinovic brothers, two players with a reputation for hard balling. Quite a match up against Anthony Davis or DeMarcus Cousins.
Asked whether they could pull off a US upset, Donatas Motiejunas, the Houston rockets forward, stated it was not impossible. He said: "I just think we have to step it up as a team, and I think we have to play a tough game against them. That's one of the most important things, to match up their physicality. We watched the games that we were able to watch (of Team USA's). They're a tough team to beat. They have a great team, great talent, but we're ready to fight."