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<b>SteemSports Presenter:</b>@writingamigo
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<b>SteemSports Editor:</b>@scottybuckets
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So, let's talk about LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball a little bit more. I have already written in a previous article that Prienai Vytautas is the real winner in this deal because of the marketing opportunities and mass American media coverage. However, do people actually care about the Ball family coming to play for Prienai in Lithuania?
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Obviously, not that much. And there is a reason for that. Yes, Prienai already won the best Lithuanian marketing campaign of the year award, but will they get anything from LiAngelo and LaMelo on the court? I have serious doubts about that. First of all, American media spread some bizarre facts about Prienai Vytautas team, calling it a financial disaster and claiming that players don't even practice properly. That is all complete bullshit. Prienai Vytautas is a perfectly functioning team with a full squad and professional players who train twice every day. If LiAngelo and LaMelo expect to come to Prienai and become superstars instantly, I must assure you that it won't happen.
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At the moment, Prienai Vytautas is floating somewhere in the bottom of the Lithuanian Basketball Association with a poor 4/11 record. However, they are getting back to the form and won 3 out of their last 5 games. The team has some decent Lithuanian players such as Justinas Sinica, Egidijus Dimsa and Edvinas Seskus, the son of the head coach Virginijus Seskus. Do you smell nepotism here? Well, you shouldn't because Edvinas Seskus is proving himself on the court with over 10 points and 2 assists average this season. Also, Denys Lukashov, the player of Ukraine International basketball team, is also leading Prienai Vytautas to the victories... or to less disappointing loses. Anyway, LiAngelo and LaMelo won't be playing with some random guys who come to play basketball after their office job is over. LiAngelo and LaMelo will face real professional basketball players who will be bigger, stronger and much more physical. And I feel that those boys are not yet ready for this challenge. I mean, they will have to face Kaunas Zalgiris, the top 10 European team, which has some world-class players who are constantly competing at the highest level.
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That is why I was not surprised to hear Virginijus Seskus telling that LaMelo and LiAngelo will only be playing and the Baltic League, which is a joint competition among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It sounds like a serious league, but all the best clubs have left it many years ago, and now it is just a forgotten league which no one (except for Estonians maybe) cares about. And still, I doubt that LaMelo and LiAngelo will be useful there.
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American media has this tendency to underrate European basketball and all the talent that it has. However, we can already see in the international competitions that the gap between the USA and European basketball is narrowing. Yes, there are no better players than LeBron or Curry in Europe, but to think that European stars like Spanoulis, Jankunas or Rodriguez cannot compete would be ridiculous. I agree that Prienai Vytautas is nowhere close to the top European clubs but believe me, the level is there.
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The only good thing is that LaMelo and LiAngelo will be living in Vytautas Spa Center which is a neat place. I mean, it is the top-notch spa which would do justice even in places like Beverly Hills, Dubai, or any other fancy spot where people are spoiled by excellent services and gold. So, the boys will be able to have some relaxing time in nature and practice their basketball skills with real professionals while Prienai Vytautas will use the boys for marketing and maybe even earn some money. But when it will come to numbers, LiAngelo and LaMelo should have poor statistics and play only when the outcome of the match is already obvious. I wish they could prove me wrong. But I can bet you that they won't.
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We will stay on this story with LOCAL coverage and keep you updated as it progresses. Thank you for following @steemsports and you can follow me @writingamigo
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