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IZMIR (FIBA World Championship) - Unbeaten Lithuania are suspect in transition, France like to give out the physical punishment but not receive it, Spain could still be the best team in the world, and you have to cut the head off New Zealand’s snake.
Who had the nerve to say this? A man who would know, Canada coach Leo Rautins.
After his team failed to qualify in Group D, Rautins knows just how hard it is to beat the four teams who will progress to the knockout rounds from Izmir, and he was full of praise for all four line-ups.
But after Canada ran Lithuania, France and New Zealand right to the wire, he also has a good idea of what their weaknesses are.
“To beat them (Lithuania) you have to have a tremendous defensive game and I think you can get them in transition,” he said. “But I think they’re a team that could be in the semi finals.”
Rautins shared his thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of Izmir’s top four with Paulo Kennedy from www.fiba.com, and also gave an insight into the other team’s he expects to challenge for the gold medal.
You can see the full interview on FIBA TV http://www.fibatv.com/page/Video/0,,12805~1644834,00.html?tabb=&pnumber=1.
FIBA
Paulo Kennedy
