2024-08-02 00:32:39
It has already been reported that on Thursday Latvian 3×3 basketball players Raimo, Francis Lācis, Kārlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis celebrated their third victory in three games of the Paris Olympic Games tournament, beating China with 8:22.
“It’s nice to start the tournament with three wins in three games. If we throw shots and play defense like this, it will be difficult for any team to play against us. We were well prepared, we were able to maintain the level we were preparing for the whole game, it’s a pleasure to be able to play the matches like this,” admitted Raimo.
A day earlier, China defeated one of the favorites Serbia with 21:15, making five long shots, while today the Latvians also managed to show an appreciable shooting percentage, hitting seven out of 13 long shots.
“The way the Serbs played in defense and the way we play in defense are two different things. We had studied the Chinese more and the shots we got were mostly very free and we were able to take them,” said the basketball player.
He pointed out that after the Chinese match against the Serbians, the Latvian basketball players changed their defense in order to limit the activities of the leader of the Chinese team on the field.
“We played aggressively on the shooters and tried to change more so that they don’t have so many free throws. If we give something back in defense, it’s passes and more difficult shots. We also succeeded because we were focused the whole game. We did everything as the coach said ,” Raimo explained.
In the next match, the Latvians will meet the USA at 00:05 Friday night Latvian time.
“The team is built around one basketball player who is a former NBA player. They have been playing together for a long time and are one of the best teams in the world,” the basketball player described the next opponents.
“Now let’s trust physiotherapist Oskar Urbanovic 100%. We just have to do what he tells us. Until about six or seven in the evening, we’ll turn off our heads and rest our bodies, but then we’ll already watch the Americans’ first game and analyze ours to prepare,” the following days the plans were revealed by Raimo.
At the Paris Games, Latvia will be represented by 29 athletes in 14 sports: 3×3 basketball, BMX supercross and freestyle, show jumping, equestrian sports, mountain biking, shooting, modern pentathlon, swimming, beach volleyball, weightlifting, road cycling, tennis and athletics.
2024-08-02 00:32:39