HoopsHype.com Rumors

Linas Kleiza was named in the 15-strong Lithuanian national team preliminary squad for EuroBasket 2013 that head coach Jonas Kazlauskas announced in Vilnius on Tuesday. He was doubtful because of health issues. Eurobasket 2013

Toronto Raptors, Linas Kleiza, FIBA, Lithuania, Eurobasket 

Center Jonas Valanciunas, who has just completed a very promising rookie NBA season with the Toronto Raptors will join national team preparations at a later stage as he will take part with his team in the Las Vegas summer league. Another center who had his first season in the NBA this year, Donatas Motiejunas, is also on the team after reaching the western conference play-offs with the Houston Rockets. Eurobasket 2013

Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, FIBA, Summer League, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas, Donatas Motiejunas, Eurobasket 

Arvydas Sabonis will not run for president of Lithuania in the upcoming 2014 election. Sport Express

Arvydas Sabonis, Lithuania 

Arvydas Sabonis‘ last season in the NBA was in 2003, after taking a year off from the NBA to play in Europe. During his career he became one of the game’s consummate big men, and even won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics while competing on behalf of the Soviet Union. Last year, the former Trail Blazer suffered a heart attack playing basketball and was advised by doctors not to engage in such rigorous activity — by the looks of things, Sabonis may have let himself go a bit in his post-playing days. As if doctors could stop him. Last week Sabonis suited up for his hometown Lithuanian team Žalgiris Kaunas as part of a legends game in which they took on a club from Moscow. There are any numbers of reasons that the below highlights are hilarious, among them are Sabonis’ size advantage and apparent lack of conviction on defense. NESN.com

Arvydas Sabonis, Lithuania, Zalgiris Kaunas 

There was one — and only one — Dream Team. So that is the American view. But not everyone is American. As all knowledgable American basketball fans know, Lithuania is the country that has competed at a high level most consistently over the past six Olympics. Lithuania produced Arvydas Sabonis, Sarunas Marciulionis, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Linas Kleiza, Jonas Valenciunas, and Egle, among others. And now a film has been made about the 1992 Lithuanian national team, entitled “The Other Dream Team.” SheridanHoops

Linas Kleiza, Arvydas Sabonis, Olympics, Lithuania, Sarunas Jasikevicius 

Jeff Foote is set to replace Robertas Javtokas in Zalgiris' roster, Kauno Diena daily reports. The club needed to add a center as Lithuanian national team captain will be out of action for at least 4-6 months. The 25-year-old American center comes from NBDL team Springfield Armor where he averaged 14.6 points and 9 rebounds per game. TalkBasket

Lithuania, Zalgiris Kaunas, Jeff Foote 

But the American Dream Team may not have been the best story from that Olympic basketball tournament in Barcelona. A new documentary — “The Other Dream Team” — looks back at the 1992 Lithuanian team — a country that had just split off from Russia, a country that had no money to help its basketball program until the Greatfull Dead stepped in with money and tie-dye shirts. A country that had some good players still in Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis. A country that had to play Russia during the Olympics in maybe the most meaningful game in Barcelona. NBCSports.com

FIBA, Arvydas Sabonis, Olympics, Lithuania 

Soon enough, James came back to make it all safe, first with a hammer dunk that opened up thanks to all the attention Durant was attracting, then with a 3-pointer inside the final two minutes over an isolated Marc Gasol that made it 102-93. "Big thanks to Lithuania for that tough game they gave us," Paul said, crediting a 99-94 scare in pool play for ensuring that Team USA could handle the tension of a tight game when it mattered most. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, USA Basketball, Olympics, Lithuania 

John Hobbs: Confirmed earlier this morning that Lithuania's Sarunas Jasikevicius has retired from international basketball following the Olympics. Twitter

Olympics, Lithuania, Sarunas Jasikevicius 

John Hobbs: Lithuania's Darius Songaila has announced his retirement from international basketball, following his side's 83-74 defeat to Russia. Twitter

Darius Songaila, Lithuania 

"We went to the qualification in Venezuela on the first of June, and some of our players came straight after they finished (professional) seasons,” (Lithuanian head coach Kestutis) Kemzura said. “ Of course (the Olympics) matters. We were fighting for this place. I don’t understand this idea of sending younger players, not sending our best to the Olympics. I do not understand it. If we leave everything on money, and money runs the show, where’s the sport? Where’s national team idea?” Yahoo! Sports

Olympics, Lithuania, Ketsutis Kemzura 

The play sums up where Valanciunas is as a player — eager and talented, but operating without know-how. I brought the play up to coach Kestutis Kemzura, and he nodded. “There you go, this is the thing with Jonas,” Kemzura told Sporting News. “Sometimes, he wants to come in and do everything right away. In his head, he is working too fast. He is young, that happens. But he needs to slow down.” Sporting News

Olympics, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

Valanciunas has not made much of an impact for Lithuania so far at these Games. This is a far cry from what he did in Eurobasket, when he played 15.7 minutes, averaged 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds, and had 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting in a stellar game against Serbia. Sporting News

Olympics, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

Coming off the bench, and without the prospect of beginning his NBA career in less than two months, Valanciunas seemed to put less pressure on himself to produce last year. Now, he is pressing. Beyond that, Kemzura said, Valanciunas still needs a lot of work. “It is like with most big men who have no experience,” Kemzura said. “First he must get bigger and stronger. He must be able to hold his position and he needs strength for this. Second, he needs better post moves. He is still learning basics. He will play with his back to the basket when he is older. But now, he must learn. He needs to learn these things, and he will, but he will need time. He has a lot of work to do.” Sporting News

Olympics, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

But old-timer Sarunas Jasikevicius is still seeing some bending of the rules. Saras was quoted over at Talk Basket after the Lithuania-USA game as saying, “I don’t get it. There are FIBA rules [that say that] if a player takes the ball and runs two meters, travelling must be called,” he said. “Maybe the rules will be changed in the future, but at the moment that’s travelling. Ball In Europe

FIBA, USA Basketball, Lithuania, Referees, Sarunas Jasikevicius 

“I’m not saying that [the referees] were indulgent towards Americans, or that we lost due to the referees’ fault. Absolutely not. Simply there are rules according to which the play must be whistled; it doesn’t matter if it’s [an everyday player] or Kobe Bryant.” Ball In Europe

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, FIBA, USA Basketball, Lithuania, Referees, Sarunas Jasikevicius 

It takes good fortune for Lithuania to stay with Team USA, and that comes with open 3-pointers that clank away and missed free throws. Lithuania coach Kestutis Kemzura confessed that his staff made hard decisions on the U.S. players they were willing to let shoot (Chris Paul, Deron Williams) and those who always had to be contested (Durant and Anthony). Sometimes, it worked. Sometimes, there was a price to be paid. "You have to pick your poison," Kemzura said, "and decide how you want to die." Yahoo! Sports

USA Basketball, Team USA, Lithuania, Kestutis Kemzura 

Marc Stein: Lithuania's Darius Songaila told me postgame he hopes to sign back in NBA ASAP. Definitely had his moments vs. Team USA: 11 pts in 17 mins Twitter

Free Agency, Darius Songaila, Olympics, Lithuania 

The USA, which hasn't lost in Olympic play since 2004, faced its toughest opponent and held off fearless Lithuania 99-94 Saturday. U.S. forwards LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony each scored a team-high 20 points. USA Today

LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics, Lithuania 

USA head coach Mike Kryzewski was also genuine in his praise for Lithuania. "They were quick as a unit, they played as one seemlessly. I thought their veterans led the way," he said. "Kleiza was particularly outstanding and Pocius played great. We had to make big plays to win." FIBA.com

Linas Kleiza, USA Basketball, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski, Olympics, Lithuania, Martynas Pocius