Jānis Gailītis | Photo: “VEF Riga”
The head coach of the Latvian champion team “VEF Rīga” and the assistant coach of the Latvian national basketball team Jānis Gailītis commented on the health problems of the players of the national team, the situation in the defensive line, as well as evaluated the next season of “VEF Rīga” in a conversation on the “William Hill TV” channel.
“There was no information, it wasn’t like we knew they wouldn’t be,” Gailītis said about the health problems of Kristaps Porzingis, Dāvjas Bertāns and Jānis Timmas. “With Kristaps – he came to training, and although the loads were dosed, he started to feel the old injury. Then the tests began, each injury has a protocol that requires recovery time.”
“We hoped that we would make it, but on Tuesday it was the point that we couldn’t do it anymore. Until that day, Kristaps worked all the time, as much as possible in a team, as well as individually. Exactly the same with Jānis Timma [kurš iedzīvojās ikra savainojumā] – completed three training sessions at full capacity, everything was fine, he was full of determination. For Dave, meanwhile, it was a chronic injury. Although he didn’t play a single game before, he is now in normal form,” admitted the specialist.
Zorik on the absence of Porzingis: “Next man up” – everyone has a greater responsibility
It should be reminded that Jānis Strēlnieks will not help the national team in the World Cup. In his absence, the creation of the game was entrusted to Krister Zorik and Artūrs Žagar. “There is a risk. The personalities of both of them are already OK, but the question is about experience, about the fact that they are really new players. The style of play that is now in Europe and in the world in general is very aggressive, also in covering the ball. The most important thing will be how we react as a team – we will not leave them and say that this is their job. Do not forget that we also have second numbers that are capable enough to create something. There are many worries, many doubts about many things. There are also solutions, but looking at everything, of course, we will miss Strēlnieks,” concluded Gailītis.
At the club level, Gailītis has been the captain of the 10-time Latvian champion team “VEF Rīga” since 2015. As usual, the people of Riga have made significant changes in the composition. The loudest deal was the return of national team captain Daire Bertans to the capital after a 10-year break. “Many young guys left in the off-season, but I believe that Dairis will be not only a key player, but also his culture, his name will help a lot,” Gailītis commented on the changes in the composition of the Riga club. “This year, we will focus a lot on the Champions League, so we are also trying to collect the squad so that we can play well there. If we lose those cups in Latvia, then those “bodies” may be worth suffering.”
“Currently, the image of the Latvian-Estonian league is not very good. Why? Because there are too many teams fooling around,” continued Gailītis. “Agents say to me – I will not send a player to you, because the local championship is very weak. They say that the strongest teams are normal, but they need to work on their daily games and quality. If you go to the last team in Lithuania, you play four times in the season against the Euroleague team “Žalgiris”, four times with the Eurocup team [“Lietkabelis”] and four times with the Champions League team “Rytas”. The level is over there.”
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