Hoops Habit
Fansided

12 Teams Set For 2016 Olympics; 12 Storylines To Watch For In Rio

By Matthew Medley

Tony Parker playing for France to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images)
Tony Parker playing for France to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 13
Next
Lithuania's center Jonas Valanciunas (C) goes to the basket despite Spain's center Pau Gasol during the final basketball match between Spain and Lithuania at the EuroBasket 2015 in Lille, northern France, on September 20, 2015. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Lithuania’s center Jonas Valanciunas (C) goes to the basket despite Spain’s center Pau Gasol during the final basketball match between Spain and Lithuania at the EuroBasket 2015 in Lille, northern France, on September 20, 2015. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images) /

10. Lithuania: A Dark Horse?

For those who follow international basketball closely, it’s no secret that Lithuania is one of the top teams in the world, but they aren’t the first name that jumps out at casual fans when thinking of basketball.

Lithuania is ranked No. 3 in the world coming into the Rio Games and it would appear that they are in a three-way race to get to the gold medal game, with Spain and Argentina as the other two biggest threats in Group B.

Many would pencil in a third straight championship between the U.S. and Spain for the gold medal in 2016, but don’t be too quick to write off Lithuania.

Jonas Valanciunas is the most well-known player on the team and he is the type of player that in this day and age is practically unguardable.–a versatile big man who can dominate the paint, hog rebounds and has a soft touch.

He will be a mismatch against any opponent, but Lithuania also features another 7-footer, Donatas Motiejunas. That twin tower duo could give opponents fits.

It’s been a long time since Lithuania won a medal, earning the Bronze in three straight Olympic appearances from 1992-2000, but they have a shot to challenge the United States in Rio.

Next: Comeback Kids Look To Make Some Noise