Kurtinaitis before clash with Turks: 'Not being the favorite isn't so bad'

Lithuanian national basketball team head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis recognizes the strength of the Turkish team, even without star player Alperen Şengün, for their upcoming World Cup qualifier. Kurtinaitis noted that Turkey, despite being slightly weakened, still possesses many good players who compete at a high level. He specifically praised coach Ergin Ataman, calling him one of Europe's best, and stated that his influence is evident in the team's play.

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It doesn't matter that they are a little weakened, Şengün is not there, but they are good. Many players play at the highest level. I was just watching them play Croatia today. Well, good players, I would say, everything is fine with them according to that order. I think Ataman is one of the best coaches in Europe. This is reflected in the play of his teams.

A significant threat for Turkey, according to Kurtinaitis, is naturalized American player Malachi Flynn. "Yes, he is one of the leaders. A really good shooter, so you need to guard him very closely. He plays a lot of pick-and-rolls. He might not be a very good passer – he shoots more himself, but he can also pass the ball, averaging about four assists," Kurtinaitis observed, adding that Flynn becomes dangerous if allowed open three-point shots.

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Yes, he is one of the leaders. A really good shooter, so you need to guard him very closely. He plays a lot of pick-and-rolls. He might not be a very good passer – he shoots more himself, but he can also pass the ball, averages about four assists. If we let him shoot threes freely, he will definitely be dangerous.

The 66-year-old strategist emphasized that winning the battle for rebounds and reducing turnovers will be crucial for Lithuania's success. "This is one of the main points for tomorrow's national team – turnovers and rebounds. And I think that height doesn't always decide it. There is fighting spirit, there is desire. And I think we have clarified these things during the video session and we saw it. I hope we will fix these things tomorrow," he stated.

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This is one of the main points for tomorrow's national team – turnovers and rebounds. And I think that height doesn't always decide it. There is fighting spirit, there is desire. And I think we have clarified these things during the video session and we saw it. I hope we will fix these things tomorrow.

While Turkey is considered the favorite for the upcoming match, Kurtinaitis sees an advantage in Lithuania's underdog status. "I think one of the reasons is that they are already one foot in the World Cup, and we still have to prove our worth. Sometimes not being the favorite is not so bad," the coach added. He also mentioned that prior to departing for Turkey, he thanked Karolis Lukošiūnas and Laurynas Beliauskas for their contributions to the national team, acknowledging the difficult decisions coaches must make when selecting a roster.

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I think one of the reasons is that they are already one foot in the World Cup, and we still have to prove our worth. Sometimes not being the favorite is not so bad.