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Lauri Markkanen Hype & Appreciation Thread




FIBA World Cup draw for the group phase was held today. Lauri will have a full run for the money next autumn carrying Team Finland ("the Wolfpack"), as Finland was drawn to the toughest group (eight groups, each with four countries) of the competition, with medal favourites Germany and Australia together with the fanatically supported home-crowd favourite Japan. Jazz missed the play-offs, but Lauri sure will get to play at least three tough as nails "do-or-die" games in preparation right before the season starts (especially if he by some miracle would carry Team Finland to the play-offs). Only two teams go through to from each group (there are eight groups) to the single elimination play-offs (and this is the first time ever Team Finland made it through the qualifiers to take part in the actual World Cup).

For the reference, USA was drawn to play in same group with Greece, Jordan and New Zealand. Greece sure will put up a fight, but matches vs Jordan and New Zealand will be snooze-fests (two of the weakest teams taking part in the competition).

EDIT: The groups https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/groups

EDIT 2: The coach for Team Finland expects the Army to command Lauri to join the Team Finland practices by the end of July, so he should be available for the practice matches in early August. I for one believe him to be quite stiff during those still, due to the physical training in the Army, so his training camp with Team Finland will be pretty much perfectly timed for Jazz needs :).
 
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Swuul said:
FIBA World Cup draw for the group phase was held today. Lauri will have a full run for the money next autumn carrying Team Finland ("the Wolfpack"), as Finland was drawn to the toughest group (eight groups, each with four countries) of the competition, with medal favourites Germany and Australia together with the fanatically supported home-crowd favourite Japan. Jazz missed the play-offs, but Lauri sure will get to play at least three tough as nails "do-or-die" games in preparation right before the season starts (especially if he by some miracle would carry Team Finland to the play-offs). Only two teams go through to from each group (there are eight groups) to the single elimination play-offs (and this is the first time ever Team Finland made it through the qualifiers to take part in the actual World Cup).

For the reference, USA was drawn to play in same group with Greece, Jordan and New Zealand. Greece sure will put up a fight, but matches vs Jordan and New Zealand will be snooze-fests (two of the weakest teams taking part in the competition).

EDIT: The groups https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/groups
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On one hand I love what Eurobasket did for Lauri’s confidence last year. On the other hand I hate the idea of him getting hurt or worn down before the NBA season.
 
SoberasHotRod said:
On one hand I love what Eurobasket did for Lauri’s confidence last year. On the other hand I hate the idea of him getting hurt or worn down before the NBA season.
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While legit fear, I don't think that fear is fair or much warranted. At least 3 hard games against NBA dotted teams - that must be taken like playoffs games - as The Wolfpack's undisputed go-to-guy, and de facto in a role of kind of on-court coach, who will also take heaviest load of media pressure acting as the face of whole team, cannot be too far from an optimal primer for the next NBA Season, where he'll act in similar roles anyway, while there are no particular risk for not training enough or to be physically not repaired enough when the season starts.

Besides, his participation is military command, the command that can be considered coming from the top brass, the command, that is certain ways already initiated and ensured by Mr. President himself even Lauri's service had barely begun, thus it's not like there would be much other options.

So, take it easy, don't worry too much, and root for the Wolfpack and Lauri. To him it has been, is, and will be an enormous honor to play for His country.
 
SoberasHotRod said:
On one hand I love what Eurobasket did for Lauri’s confidence last year. On the other hand I hate the idea of him getting hurt or worn down before the NBA season.
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That's the main point. Or getting tired even if Lauri still young. Have seen it with Rudy this year. He never never skip the competition wiht National Team but this year it was a mistake. He came tired, not working enough with new teammates. But I can understand the fact that playing for his country is an honor that you want to do.
 
Just to want dispel unnecessary fears on overloading Lauri (to make him more injury-prone): Already before his military service began, Coaching Director of Finnish Basketball Federation, Henrik Dettman publicly pointed out the need to ensure enough rest for Lauri as a sport specific requirement to maintain good conditioning. The Army probably took the hint seriously, considering enormous PR-value of him. When Lauri's National Team command starts, there is ZERO chance they would do what they warned for in the first place: over-encumbering their brightest star during training and pre-tournament matches. Lauri's NT duty is probably supervised in this respect very closely by the coaching staff of Team Finland.

Of course, random odd injuries can happen to anybody, any time, including NBA Training camp and NBA itself, but nothing in the Wolfpack's tournament preparations or tournament itself scream someway particularly high risk environment for injuries.
 
Few recent clarifying news articles on the topic (In Finnish):

www.is.fi

Lauri Markkanen paljasti Hanno Möttölälle yllättävän asian armeija-arjestaan

Susijengin valmennusjohto uskoo Markkasen pystyvän kehittymään armeijassa.
www.is.fi www.is.fi
www.iltalehti.fi

Susijengin askelmerkit MM-turnaukseen selvillä: Lauri Markkasen varusmiespalvelus ei tuota ongelmaa

Susijengi pääsee Okinawan saarelle MM-kisoihin.
www.iltalehti.fi www.iltalehti.fi
www.is.fi

Lauri Markkanen paljasti, miten on käyttänyt vapaa-aikaansa kasarmilla

Koripallotähti on seurattu mies.
www.is.fi www.is.fi

Google translation probably give a glimpse, of sort. :p
These are articles from 2 leading "yellow press" newspapers, but the tone is serious, and there is no way they would fabricate interviews of Tuovi, Markkanen, Möttölä, etc. in this matter for easy clicks and BS sensationalism. Lauri is above that level.

Note that the level of co-ordination between the army and NT Head Coach Lassi Tuovi is such deep that it's up to Tuovi, when exactly Lauri's NT command starts.

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39-100411863178ccf92944

Photo courtesy: EPA-EFE / All Over Press (via YLE: https://yle.fi/a/74-20029613)
 
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Jingled said:
No All-NBA for Lauri...I thought for sure he'd make 3rd team. I'm pretty surprised Randle made it over him.


View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1656435113176047624


View: https://twitter.com/BensHoops/status/1656439839645106176
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Boooooo NBA!!!!

Randle's raw numbers are fine but really thought Lauri would be in there... but then again Randle plays for the Knicks so...

Mildly surprised Lebron made it with only 54 games played. Not complaining... just surprised. 5 dudes would not have met the minimum games played requirement going forward.
 
Also wondered if voters would punish Dame for playing 58... especially since he was shut down... but apparently no worries.
 
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