Kleiza Urges “Žalgiris” Reinforcements After EuroLeague Loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv
Kaunas, Lithuania – Following a decisive 83-65 defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, former Lithuanian basketball star Linas Kleiza publicly stated the need for “Žalgiris” Kaunas to bolster its roster. Kleiza’s assessment came during an appearance on the 15min show PIKENROLAS,where he emphasized the team’s struggles in both offense and defense,citing a shooting percentage of just 34.8% from the field and 17.2% from three-point range.
The loss to Maccabi, occurring after a period where “Žalgiris” had ten days with four days lacking training, highlighted vulnerabilities that Kleiza believes require immediate attention. While acknowledging Maccabi’s talent,particularly the performance of Lonnie Walker,Kleiza stressed the higher level of competition in the EuroLeague compared to the Lithuanian Basketball league (LKL),where “Žalgiris” typically enjoys greater success. He noted that consistent 110% effort is crucial for EuroLeague victories.
“It was not the ‘Žalgiris’ we are used to seeing,” Kleiza said. “I think that one should not make drastic decisions and conclusions, just such a match happened. Yes, maybe Maccabi is the worst team in the Euroleague defensively, but they definitely have talent. everyone has seen Lonnie Walker’s shots, and when he hits, it’s hard to beat Maccabi, who have athleticism and talent. In the Euroleague, you need to play well against every opponent. This is not LKL, in which ‘Žalgiris’ can win easily. If you don’t show 110 percent effort, it will be so.”
kleiza also pointed to a near 26-point deficit experienced during the game and acknowledged a missed opportunity to rally in the third quarter. He attributed the team’s difficulties to being “out of rhythm,” despite a recent narrow escape against Vitoria Baskonia, a team currently facing its own challenges.
“They saved themselves against Vitoria Baskonia, but this Spanish team has a lot of problems at the moment. But it wasn’t a good match for ‘Žalgiris’ either,” Kleiza continued. “Žalgiris’ had a chance to come back in the third quarter, but could not hit anything. You can’t do anything, the team is out of rhythm.”
Kleiza concluded by suggesting that “Žalgiris” management is already aware of the need for reinforcements. “I think they see it themselves,” he stated, signaling a potential shift in the team’s strategy as the EuroLeague season progresses.
