PRAGUE (EuroBasket 2015) - Take one look at Group D of EuroBasket 2015 and you know it's going to have plenty of drama.

Not only does it have the three Baltic teams of Lithuania, Estonia and hosts Latvia, but also in Riga will be Ukraine, Belgium and the Czech Republic.

The teams from the region will have a clear and distinct advantage with plenty of fans at games, but the Ukrainians, Belgians and Czechs have a lot of reasons to believe their teams can survive and advance.

A top-four finish will be needed to move on to the next phase.

Ronen Ginzburg, the coach of the Czech Republic, knows the atmosphere is going to be hostile when the Czechs face the Baltic sides.

Having a full gym against Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will not make things any easier for us. - Ginzburg

He spoke to FIBA.com on Friday and said: "It's a country (Latvia) for the whole region and basketball is like a religion there." 

As the Czechs showed a couple of years ago at the EuroBasket in Slovenia, when they took on the hosts in Celje, playing in front of an enemy crowd can be exciting and actually help the team play well.

The Czechs were very unlucky not to beat Slovenia in 2013, a game they lost 62-60 in the final seconds.

Despite the absence of athletic center Jan Vesely last summer, the Czechs had success in the 2nd Qualification Round for EuroBasket 2015.

Ginzburg, who had coached in the Czech league for many years before being put in charge of the national team after EuroBasket 2013, liked a lot of things about the players who showed up to compete last year.

"I know all the players because I coached Nymburk before," he said. "In the national team, I really like the attitude of the players.

"I think there was a good mix of youth and veterans.

"I was very happy with what we got and I hope it will be good this year."

The most important player of all for the Czechs may be Tomas Satoransky.

He led the team in three important statistical categories last summer, averaging 14.4 points, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

The 32nd pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, Satoransky has been one of the biggest talents in Spain the past several years.

He decided to leave Cajasol Sevilla after last season and joined Barcelona, where he is now getting his first taste of Euroleague action.

Aside from all of his commitments on the court, Satoransky has enjoyed the responsibilities that go with being a member of one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

The addition of high-flying, athletic Vesely, who is having a solid season with Fenerbahce Ulker after a stint in the NBA, would help.

He is a tremendous talent, one that comes up with eye-popping plays in every game that he plays.

"Vesely can give us a lot and can change us," Ginzburg said. 

"He’s a Euroleague player and an NBA player. 

"Last summer, we got some new players, though, and also had players with experience. 

"(Ondrej) Balvin, Satoranksy and (Pavel) Pumprla did well."

If Vesely does play, the Czechs will have an uptempo, high-octane attack that is second to none in Riga and maybe the entire EuroBasket.

"This is in the DNA of the players, to play fast and attractive," Ginzburg said. 

We brought in some new things last year, but the DNA of the Czech Republic is to run. - Ginzburg

While the Baltic sides will be dangerous, Belgium and Ukraine will be as well.

Ukraine were unlucky not to advance from the Group Phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

They, too, may have good crowd support.

"I think Ukraine also will bring some fans and Belgium have an experienced team," Ginzburg said. 

"I think this group is very equal, though. 

"If you put this group in a neutral place, it's equal." 

Rather than set aims and targets, the approach of the Czech Republic this summer is going to be simple and straightforward.

"We don't look too far ahead," Ginzburg said. 

"We are not one of the best teams in Europe, not like Spain or Croatia, and can't say we expect to get to the Semi-Finals.

"First of all, we will go step by step and advance."

Ginzburg is very enthusiastic, however, about the possibilities.

"The sky is the limit," he said.

Some of the Czech players that have been big names in Europe over the years are nearing the end of their national team careers.

Petr Benda, Jiri Welsch and Lubos Barton have all given a lot to the Czech national side and have also had success with their club careers.

"I hope they will contribute but for how long, how minutes, I don't know," the coach said. 

"Their knowledge of basketball and experience, their level of playing, they can still contribute a lot to the national team, especially since this is the last chance for them to make something to be remembered in the Czech Republic."

FIBA