Gimme some Raptor news

Raptors fans will be keeping a close eye on Lithuania’s fortunes in London this summer as they find out just how excited they should be about the impending arrival of centre Jonas Valanciunas. The fifth overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft takes to the court in Toronto next season after Lithuania’s campaign for Olympic glory is over.

Toronto’s new acquisition will be welcomed in Canada by his national team mate Linas Kleiza who will be along side Jonas in a forward role for club and country. Kleiza averaged just under ten points a game for the Raptors during the shortened NBA season just ended.

European basketball fans will know full well the threat that the Lithuanian’s pose to those hoping to stand on the top podium next month. Since independence in 1991 they have made six appearances at the Olympics and on fifty per cent of those ocassions they have medalled, taking the Bronze in ’92, ’96 and 2000. Last time out in Beijing they made the bronze medal game agan, but came up short against Argentina.

The Lithuanians secured their place in this year’s tournament only days ago by reaching the semi-finals of a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament held in Caracas. They were joined by near neighbours Russia, and African side Nigeria, with both countries also making it to London from Venezuela.

Small forward Jonas Maciulis and point guard Mantas Kalnietis put their hands up for Lithuania in the tournament with Maciulis pulling down 11 boards in their quarter-final win over Puerto Rico and putting up 19 points in the semi-final destruction of the Dominican Republic. Kalenetis ending the semi-final game with 9 assists on his stat line. Teams didn’t play out a final as three teams were guaranteed a place in London so that just left Nigeria to play against the Dominican side in a fight for the last remaining berth.