Rimas Kurtinaitis on his work with the national team: "I have become a hostage to FIBA windows and players"
Lithuanian national basketball coach Rimas Kurtinaitis discusses the challenges his team faces in training and performance during the FIBA qualifications.
After a recent victory in the FIBA qualifications, Lithuanian national basketball coach Rimas Kurtinaitis reflected on the team's performance and challenges. He noted that they had only one training session before their game in Iceland and emphasized the importance of structure within the team which has improved despite ongoing concerns about confidence during match endings. Moreover, Kurtinaitis expressed the need for more wins as they transition into the next stage of the qualifications, indicating that their goal of accumulating victories has not been met, which raises questions about their progress towards future rounds. Kurtinaitis highlighted the hard-earned nature of the recent victory, which was won by just a single point against Great Britain in Group D, following two close losses by the same margin to Italy and Iceland. The close nature of these matches underscores the competitive landscape of the qualification rounds and the mounting pressure on players as well as the coaching staff. Kurtinaitis's acknowledgment of the lack of preparation time and training for the team reflects the broader difficulties in international basketball where coaching staff must navigate not only game strategies but also player availability and readiness. In terms of individual performances, Ignas Brazdeikis stood out in the latest match, scoring 27 points and showcasing his potential as a key player for the national team. Kurtinaitis's comments, therefore, reflect a dual focus on both the collective team's performances and individual contributions, suggesting that building confidence and team cohesion will be critical as they progress through the qualification process, which remains fraught with challenges for both players and coaches alike.