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2024 Lithuanian NT

  • Thread starter Thread starter Straight forward2
  • Start date Start date
18yo Nolan Traore is invited to the main camp of Olympic French NT. It only shows again how provincial we are. Serbia would show huge interest in 18yo Topic last summer, now France to 18yo Traore. While we fucking ride with Kariniauskas...Dead end province.

I will only remind you that Jakucionis was more efficient than Traore in ANGT finals with 32eff while Traore had 26. Traore has more explosive first step and is surely better athlete, but I don't treat Traore smarter and more fundamentally sound PG. Jakucionis is superior passer and most likely will be better shooter. Traore just has really great athleticism and ability to get to the rack.

My point is, there's no way LT provincial moron coaches (a la Maksvytis) would ever invite 18yo Topic/Traore/Jakucionis, even if there wouldn't be Jokubaitis. Not even if we talk about first round world class material prospects. And it's a huge problem. Cause it shows how provincial, conservative and narrow-minded we are when it comes to coaching and decision making. With each year I'm shivering with this attitude more and more.

I'm referring to the fact Marciulionis is forced to play with reserve NT second year in a row even if last summer already it was more than obvious that he deserved a ticket to the main camp. The same goes for Tubelis and so on. This summer Jakucionis can just play for U18, it's understood, but I'm talking about how our coaches ignore talent and slows down the development of NT. We are provincials in BB and it's sad. Only our talent always bailed us out. Starting with Rooney/Sabas and so on.

We need personalities as Kazlauslas who would be able to drag us off from provincial quag. The one with balls to take young talent and to properly evaluate our talent pool.
 
Straight forward said:
The problem is not that Dimsa in invited. The problem is that D. Giedraitis is not. Because the latter is the best perimeter defender in the country.
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With that i agree D.Giedraitis should have been invited to camp,not because with his supper passive offensive mindset he would be game changer,but because he is best small guard defender.

Both Dimsa and D.Giedraitis is role players for some matchups not game changers like you imagine and making so much noise like top 6 lithuanian wasnt invited


Picturing that Dimsa have no chance defending Puerturico midgets,but Jokubaitis,Sirvydis,R.Giedraitis will have thats simply nonsense.



If Lithuania will achieve good result like top 8 it must come from Jokubaitis and Grigonis on perimeter. They played in elite euroleague clubs every day.

Other perimeter candidates never shown real leading things on euroleague levels and in winning situations. Jokubaitis and Grigonis atleast had moments of that


Players that never shown before on highest levels and suddenly from nowhere will star showing on highest Olympic stage where best of best worlds perimeter stars will play? thats unrelistic and hoping for some miracle
 
OK, so we agree on most things. Dovis is just a role player, true. But, again, in that particular game against PR, which will be led by 3 super dangerous midgets, he becomes SUPER important. And Maksvytis didn't see this, and that's stupid. Can we agree on that?

There's sill a path to fix that. To take Marciulionis who more or less is one the same tier with D. Giedraitis defensively, but has way more facilitation and pure play making skills. If Maksvytis foreseen this decision, I would say my bad, but knowing his attitude there's very little chance for Marciulionis. And Kazys made just way too many mistakes and some super dum decisions. I lost any belief in him and I think he is simply demoralized and super confused coach ATM.

I don't mention Joku, Sirvuha, R. Giedraitis, Kuzminskas (and even Grigonis is not very good defender) defence cause they are trashy defenders. Everybody knows that they are all about offense. What's to discuss here. My problem is that we have too many offensive wings in this team.

I don't expect miracles and big wins as I said. I just hope that Jokubaitis, Grigonis, Sirvuha will have good tournaments as guards. This would alone be pretty satisfactory and would give us a chance to be competitive even against the best team likely (competitive and being able to win are 2 different things).
 
I agree with for Puerturico game and qualification D.Giedraitis looks needed more than Dimsa or R.Giedraitis or Sirvydis

Maksvytis was asked who will be defenders and he said something like: Arnas,Dimsa and added its not about just defence.


Maybe coach after 2 years coaching this team saw its impossible to have good defensive team when centers is bad defenders,guards is bad defenders ... I dont know what his motives are not including Giedraitis ,but i dont think he is idiot coach at all like you do :)


Seeing what and how coach/federation are talking,seeing they invited 4 huge centers in 15 candidate list for me is clear signs Valanciunas wont play in qualification.



last 10 minutes to go score is close and olympic ticket on the line im going with

Sabonis,Sedekerskis,Arnas,Grigonis,Jokubaitis 6th man Ulanovas (that could take either Arnas or Sedekerskis place in crunch minutes too)

thats my most ready battle tested proffesionals thats shouldnt lose their heads and gives our fans best chances to win and qualife to olympics


Dmo give Sabonis 8minute rest. Lukas gives Jokubaitis 8minute rest and after that im not sure about neither of our players maybe also Kuzminskas that i would trust in olympic deciding game in 15k wild hostile envirenment

But overall 8 max 9 man rotation that what good coaches does in elimination games


Thats who is main players and they will decide 2024 summer.All other are more less role players.Anything we will get from remaining players is a bonus.
 
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OK, I heard your arguments. But Maksvytis putting his ass into trouble thinking he can get away with merely offensive players. Besides I think he took that idea "best players should play" too trivially and primitively. He has to construct winning team and not to take biggest names.

In my opinion, in today's game particular match-ups should never be under-emphasized. Both PR and Italy are small ball teams. So emphasizing lumberjacks for qualification is plain stupid, unless our coaches are even more stupid than I think and didn't learn a dingle thing from Slovenia- LTU game in 2021. The narrative also was we will "smash them inside". Yeah, good luck with that. I think that players as D. Giedraitis and even Marciulionis could be very important in the game against PR. You just have to have pieces that you can throw in front of those midgets. Otherwise they will be dropping 20pts on you. Maksvytis probably doesn't realize that Howard was dropping 19.5ppg in EL, in freakin' EL. Yeah, inefficient 20pts, but, damn, to do that in EL, some business. You overemphasize that emotional factor. Maybe you wouldn't play Marciulionis in the second half of 4th quarter, but against those midgets with his LOCK DOWN defense and reliable handles he can easily be 20mpg player, the same Jokubaitis could play together with him in some stretches and Grigonis to move to 3 (where he is not that bad defender). I do believe Ulanovas should play entirely 4 against PR and Italy and Sedekerskis should face some 5 position time. Thus way we would have pretty good D and pretty good O. So 2 way punch.

Maksvytis should watch this to understand what is waiting for him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD5TO2AxmUk&ab_channel=NBA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGGCbBFLDjE&ab_channel=TOPBASKETBALLHIGHLIGHTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMrXsuw1jyA&ab_channel=FIBA-TheBasketballChannel

PS: One thing shouldn't be overlooked. Sirvydis can bomb the hell out of any team in a good day as well. His mentality is good for it. He doesn't care what kind of game is that. He doesn't have R. Giedraitis mentality. So I wouldn't underrate Sirvydis as well. I think he might surprise. He's getting better and better.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKntHC5DqcI&t=514s

last time we played for olympic ticket in south america arena where everybody was againts our players

I see only experience battle tested dudes that half of them was alphas by character: Kalnietis,Jasikevicius,Kaukenas,Maciulis,Kleiza,Ja nkunas, Songaila and they barely pull that win out.


Its very tough to play in such atmosphere.Forget basketball skills,firstly find players that wont lose their heads there.


Inexperience youngsters didnt help in 2012 and isnt helping in 2024 in hostile arena to win olympic ticket.Young players only will lose their heads and from fear will forget how to do anything.


We are not stopping Pueturico guards they will score because they will attempt more than 50% of peurturico shots .

Puertorico themselfs is wild ,small size and undiscipline team that plays bad and gamble type defence.We will score on them too.


Everything will be decided in 4 querter like in 2012. Which teams players will play smarter and will hold their composure better

Thats why im putting in last 10min only battle tested dudes like Kemzura did in 2012 critical game vs Puerturico
 
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OK, so since today NT season begins (reserve NT) I will make this take on NT to see if our roster should be better compared to 2022. Sign < player improved, > player declined. = remained at the same level

Jokubaitis <
Grigonis =
Ulanovas =
Sedekerskis <
Sabonis <

Lekavicius >
Sirvydis <
Butkevicius >
Kuzminskas =
R. Giedraitis >/=
Dimsa >
Valanciunas >

I think 2024 should be superior team to 2022. Meaning we have some hope to win something even if we still obviously behind best teams. FOA, Sabonis, Jokubaitis, Sedekerskis, Sirvydis will be better that's a big push forward cause that's strong punch of talent. Second very important thing, 2 other key players in Grigonis and Ulanovas remained on the same tier and even Kuzminskas. The biggest decline are visible in Valanciunas, Butkevicius (mainly because of injuries) and Lekavicius.

So the improvement is way bigger than the decline. We also have 2 X factors - Marciulionis and Tubelis who may add to the improvement. Too bad we lost Iggy and his season been like that.

Nevertheless I see 2024>>>2022. And that's good. Our NT improving and we will keep it this way ever since some 2030, IMO.
 
2022 NT

Brazdeikis 2022 what he gave i dont believe Sirvydis/R/Giedraitis will give same production

2024 wont have Valanciunas in qualification

2022 Grigonis at 28 played his best tournament it will be difficutl to repeat.

2022 Butkevicius played his best tournament and was healthy . I dont believe Arnas will be that good and mobile in defence comming from injuries in 2024 being 32 old.



2024 NT pluses

Sedekerskis and Ulanovas will play

Jokubaitis will be better than 2022

Sabonis should play better 2024. History says it should be Sabonis summer at 28.



LTU 2024 qualification team without Valanciunas and Brazdeikis i dont see how they are better roster wise.


Opponnets strenght in 2024 clearly will be stronger than they were in 2022.
 
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Improved (and present) Sedekerskis (who should be even better than 2023), Ulanovas and Sirvydis >>> Brazdeikis, Butkevicius (not to mention that Bukevicius may be in)

Valanciunas miss can be fully compensated by Sabonis if finally will play up to his abilities in FIBA. Truly convincing current sabonis maybe >>> than both JV and Domas in 2022

Opponents will be stronger, even though we almost beat champs in 2022 and what is even more overlooked that we were super close beating Germany, super close. That Germany was legit. Now they will be even better, but they already been very good in 2022.
 
Straight forward said:
Improved (and present) Sedekerskis (who should be even better than 2023), Ulanovas and Sirvydis >>> Brazdeikis, Butkevicius (not to mention that Bukevicius may be in)

Valanciunas miss can be fully compensated by Sabonis if finally will play up to his abilities in FIBA. Truly convincing current sabonis maybe >>> than both JV and Domas in 2022

Opponents will be stronger, even though we almost beat champs in 2022 and what is even more overlooked that we were super close beating Germany, super close. That Germany was legit. Now they will be even better, but they already been very good in 2022.
Click to expand...


Brazdeikis and Butkevicius both was really good in 2022 eurobasket i would pleasantly suprised if Ulanovas and Sirvydis will matched them with =

Saying that Valanciunas+Sabonis from 2022 is worse than one Sabonis in 2024 is ridiculous and not even close. Valanciunas was at his peak at 30 and Sabonis was nba all star at 26 in 2022.

Yes we almost beat Germany yeah because Valanciunas had 35pts and fouled out entire German frontcourt :) You cant say we almost beat Germany and forgetting it was because of Jonas dominant game and Nt wont have him in 2024 qualification


Opponents will be stronger all of them Spain,Germany,France,Serbia and adding Usa,Canada,Australia that dont play in eurobaskets.

2024 Olympics will be strongest basketball tournament ever. More than 50% of top 20 worlds players will play there.
 
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Come on man, the only real loss may be Brazdeikis, but he will be compensated by 3 very good players that we didn't have in 2022 - Sedekerskis, Sirvydis, Ulanovas.. Both JV and Butkevicius will be in the team I think if NT qualifies. Both will be a bit worse, but still there. Lekavicius declined a bit, but he wasn't all that good in 2022 already, having the worst +/- in entire team. I do believe that Marciulionis is a better player overall now.

I think you underrate the moment of Sedekerskis. I think he was 3rd best player overall in 2023 after Rokas and JV if you ask me. His 2 way presence and athleticism was really felt. We were missing such player at 4 badly in 2022. Now this hole is filled with top 20 player of EL efficiency wise.

What I meant about Domas - if he's playing his best, he makes others better offensively and NT playing way harder to predict and plus he's not that ridiculous target as JV defensively, he can step out and even in switch all at times looks playable. JV sometimes dominates with rebounds and scoring in side, but the freezes others and he remains huge target defensively. So if Sabonis playing his ultimate best and playing 30 minutes, I think that's absolutely the best what NT could have. That's my point. But Sabonis yet didn't have such tournament so we'll see.

Jokubaitis, Grigonis, Ulanovas, Sedekerskis, Sabonis > whatever line-up you field from 2022
 
I repeat if Valanciunas dont play all my points was with this in mind.

Yes Sedekerskis+Ulanovas in and only Brazdeikis out its makes our team better in 2024.


But if both Brazdeikis and Valanciunas is out , Sedekerskis+Ulanovas dont compensate that lose and surely dont make 2024 roster better.
 
Shawshank said:
I repeat if Valanciunas dont play all my points was with this in mind.

Yes Sedekerskis+Ulanovas in and only Brazdeikis out its makes our team better in 2024.


But if both Brazdeikis and Valanciunas is out , Sedekerskis+Ulanovas dont compensate that lose and surely dont make 2024 roster better.
Click to expand...

Don't forget Sirvydis. I think he will surprise. Soon he will be better player than Brazdeikis.

You're too preoccupied with JV. This is Sabonis time. He needs to play 25min+ at the center position. If he plays well, JV's impact won't be that important. My point is, Sabonis can fully cover position 5 basically and at the level that no-one can. But he has to do it and I think he will this time. So even if JV out, Sabonis balling - all good.
 
Im talking about tallent on roster and main players.

Without Valanciunas+Brazdeikis no way 2024 roster is more talented.


But it doesnt mean it cant be better team. We saw how 2023 very mediocre roster achieved better results than 2022 way bigger tallent team.


I agree is Sabonis time,but its fantastic luxury to have Valanciunas as backup that could dominate any opponents backups in his 12minute or when Domas will be in faul trouble.


2022 lost game endings and Brazdeikis is best 1v1s lithuanian and had moments in 2022 endings .How exactly that improves our game ending lineups without Brazdeikis?


Loosing 2 players from top 4 leading scorers in 2022 and 2023 would be serious lose for any team​
 
2023 wasn't better team than 2022 (and much less talented). They only exceeded against elite USA, but that game was without pressure and more of fluke of a crazy shooting night. 2022 team played much more serious basketball if you ask me. Not a single top team could prevail against us without last seconds drama. In 2023 Serbia swept us, Latvia swept us. Teams like Montenegro, Greece (2023) wasn't even close to the level of 2022 France, Slovenia, Germany, Spain.

Brazdeikis may be best ISO player, but he's not on the level to close games. Now we might have overall better team which will have more chances to gain some kind lead before crunch time potentially. Sabonis, Jokubaitis, Sedekerskis, Sirvydis being on a sharp rise and Grigonis, Ulanovas, Valanciunas, Kuzminskas, (maybe Butkevicius too) being still good, makes the best team this Olympic cycle.

The main problem remains the same - lack of true FIBA stars/perimeter stars. This problem should be completely solved once we'll have Buzelis, Jakucionis, Indrusaitis playing with LTU jerseys. These three will provide enough ISO talent to make Lithuania legitimate contender again (as we been in 1992-2008 stretch).
 
Sivyha been dropping 2FG in Eurocup 61,4%, in LKL regular season 60% and in LKL playoffs 65,5%. That's elite. Maksvytis should give him the ball a bit and allow him go downhill with it. He also nailing 89% FTs in playoffs. For a player with such % from 2, you give him the ball a little bit, not only use him as spot up shooter.
 
"Dovydas vs Goliath from Darbenai"
"Maksvytis Fan club president Dimsa"
"The Jesus of marginalized players"
"You saw it, Cizauskas played well, just as I said"
"The destroyer of locks"
 
When you compare 2024 roster with previous one you shouldn't count Butkevicius' presence in 2024 roster. That's would be pretty fair looking at current Arnas.

And having this in mind, how about Radzevicius who shoots 50% from three this season?
 
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