VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - The Lithuanians are good. Very good. Some people dismiss warm-up games for FIBA Basketball World Cups, EuroBaskets and Olympics as irrelevant.

No one should buy into that theory. Watching Jonas Kazlauskas's team trade blows twice this past week with Spain, the team that beat them in the Final of last year's EuroBasket, could only leave one with a sense of admiration.

These guys mean business. Lithuania beat Spain, 87-83, in Kaunas on Monday and then travelled to Malaga and knocked them off again on Thursday, 78-76.

Pau Gasol, the EuroBasket 2015 MVP and NBA superstar, didn't feature in the first game but did play in the second. It didn't matter.

"There were moments, and especially in the second half, of beautiful attacks. Not all of them ended in points, but we have played intelligently. It satisfies me." - Kazlauskas

Warm-up games they were, but just a couple of weeks away from the start of the Olympics and the team from the Baltics looks sharper. It looks focused. It looks like it's had enough of being second best.

The last time Lithuania won a major title was 13 years ago at the EuroBasket in Sweden.

Three years before that, Lithuania very nearly beat the USA in the Semi-Finals of the Sydney Olympics, losing 85-83.

The team that played against Spain this past week and won both times reminded me of the team that played in Australia 16 years ago. Different players but same toughness, same determination, same coach.

"I am happy that we played fairly solidly, made fewer errors," Kazlauskas said after Thursday's win. "There were moments, and especially in the second half, of beautiful attacks. Not all of them ended in points, but we have played intelligently. It satisfies me."

What struck me was the quality of the players that came of the bench.
Marius Grigonis, 22, plays professionally in Spain and looked the part for Lithuania. He's a terrific shooter.

Domas Sabonis, who played for Unicaja Malaga before leaving for Gonzaga (he was selected 11th by Orlando in June and traded to Oklahoma City immediately after) looked the part.

Vaidas Kariniauskas, a combo guard that hasn't made the Olympic squad but played instead of Mantas Kalnietis, looked the part. Kazlauskas would like to have Kariniauskas in the team but the problem is, which player does he take out? Lithuania have 12 good players. Robertas Javtokas didn't play against Spain and could be excluded, yet he has lot of experience and also brings leadership.

Kariniauskas has a bright future. In one sequence, Ricky Rubio drove into the lane and put up a jumper, only to have it rejected by the 22-year-old. At the other end, the 1.98m Kariniauskas got into lane and with Rubio reaching in from behind, made contact with the Minnesota Timberwolves playmaker's jaw and got a foul called on the Spaniard.

Lithuania and Spain are going to meet again in Rio de Janeiro at the Olympics. They will play on 13 August in Group B.

Who will win that game? Spain are likely to be in their rhythm and Gasol will be more influential. Spain coach Sergio Scariolo certainly did not show all of his cards against Lithuania in the two games.

But neither did Kazlauskas.

"Both coaches have tried many new things, hiding things," Kazlauskas said in remarks carried by lrytas.lt.

There are going to be some intriguing games at the Olympics. Be sure to make time to watch when these teams go at it again.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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