By Giorgos Efkarpidis / info@eurohoops.net
We are currently enjoying the new expanded form of Eurobasket with 24 teams. Back in the day though, four of the 16 top teams would have actually been one, the Soviet Union, and that made us wonder “what could have been”.
Imagine a team in the round of 16 that would include the best players of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Ukraine.
Would a starting five of Strēlnieks, Shved, Kuzminskas, Porzingis, and Valanciunas be the favorite to win the gold and beat Spain? We decided to map this alternative reality and you can be the judge of where this team would end up.
(Photo Credit: FIBA)
Jānis Strēlnieks-Latvia
Team Record: 4-1
Averages: 7,2 ppg, 3,2 rpg, 6apg.
The Latvian sharpshooter definitely deserves a spot due to his superb percentages from beyond the arc as well as his understanding of the game. He is now a member of Euroleague powerhouse Olympiacos and his career is definitely on the rise.