2025 Lithuanian NT

[Toruko]

Lol SF has been talking since day one about Eurobasket 25 and how they should compete and now "who cares?" double lol.

 

[Straight forward]

Lol SF has been talking since day one about Eurobasket 25 and how they should compete and now "who cares?" double lol.

I;m talking about big long term goals. That Lithuania will challenge Turkey's level teams it's not even a question. C LTU would still would be a threat for all 6-13 teams. Anyway, you're young, Lithuania always prioritized Olympics, thus our legendary streak from 1992 to 2008.

 

[Toruko]

I;m talking about big long term goals. That Lithuania will challenge Turkey's level teams it's not even a question. C LTU would still would be a threat for all 6-13 teams. Anyway, you're young, Lithuania always prioritized Olympics, thus our legendary streak from 1992 to 2008.

XD XD XD I really love taunting you. I like patriots but this behavior is indeed very worrisome for Lithuania. They all have to come and compete. Father Sabonis played even with damaged hips.

 

[Shawshank]

Toroko

Dont take away his horoscope dreams how very foreign lithuanian is ale playing every summer like biggest patriot

We will have 1 of 2 fiba tournament Buzelis participation rate and thats optimistic prediction. It can easily end up being 1 of 3 participation rate.


But with Jakucionis is tottaly diffrent he real lithuanian who played alot for our youth teams. I can see Jakucionis in NT 3 of 4 fiba tournament participation rate.

Buzelis is spoiled,arrogant american type with big mouth when Jakucionis is very down to earth,respectful young man

 

[Toruko]

Fair enough.

But even Jakucionis looks far from JV level dedication.

 

[Shawshank]

Jakucionis played every youth summer

Why 21old Buzelis dont play in fiba and will play in summer league i dont understand.

This summer neither 19old Jakucionis would make any diffrence in men NT and its way more important for him to get his feet wet in Miami.


Buzelis was in Lithuania this summer for 3 days and refused to give interviews to ltu media and run away from reporters in airport


When Jakucionis gave our main basketball media site very open interviews one day before draft, same day after draft and so on and communicated with our reporters like friend.

With Jakucionis participation i dont think Nt will have any problems.He is our country humble kid like Valanciunas or Jokubaitis was.

 

[Toruko]

Buzelis was in Lithuania this summer for 3 days and refused to give interviews to ltu media and run away from reporters in airport

Wow, this doesnt sound good at all. Sorry to read it.

 

[Straight forward]

LOL, Buzelis arrogant...This place turned into a riff-raff

 

[Straight forward]

So there's the list. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1689644391714992&set=a.735902480422526&type=3&ref=embed_post

No doubt, it's a B LTU NT. Brazdeikis essentially out, even though they kinda agreed on possible participation if Iggy rehab will do well, but I think it's more like a try to give something positive to fans rather than realistic chance.

From locks (who would make it even if all the best players available) we have Jokubaitis, Valanciunas, Sedekerskis, Sirvydis, Tubelis. Five players only. If Jasikevicius or Adomaitis coached NT, they would lock only those 5 players. So we are missing 7 players.

(particularly in my book it would be Jakucionis, Brazdeikis, D. Giedraitis, Buzelis, Sabonis, Butkevicius as locks and Marciulionis as borderline lock)

So it's not even B NT, it's more like - B NT.

 

[Straight forward]

From Kurtinaitis speech I could hear a glimpse of apology and justification already. Like we'll do what we'll do with what we have, but EB is less important than OG. That's 100% true, but previously he was preaching how we are dying to win NOW, not tomorrow, and he was preaching about medals, and yet today no words about medals been spoken Even though he still managed to unleash complete nonsense that this team, he thinks, is not weaker than initially projected team (meaning with Sabonis, Buzelis, Brazdeikis and all). In other words, as always, Kurtinaitis mixes everything into one bumbling incoherent speech.

My biggest concern remains the same that this federation may cost us Buzelis. Jakucionis will survive Kurtinaitis either way. He has deep ties with LTU NT, but Buzelis ties are more fragile. If I was a coach, I give JV auto- ticket 27, 28 even if it would be "Jovaisa 1992" campaign. LTU needs him as Matas guide. We'll never know if Buzelis absence of 2025 is generational moment. If he will show up 27, 28 it will be forgotten, if not, this moment won't be overlooked and this federation will be remembered by screwing ties with one of the generational prospects cause in the mid season Buzelis answer to Urbonas was "busiu" (meaning "Ill be there"). Sure, he could change his mind because of massive end of the season, but I have zero doubts Pacesas and Kurtinaitis played a huge role helping Matas to form negative answer.

To put it short, our federation and coaching staff is far from flexible and attractive one that would ensure the best possible outcomes when it comes to players participation. And we live in situation when flexibility and proper communication is very important. Old school coaches won't provide that. On other hand, at least Buzelis and Jakucionis won't taste the dedovcina from those 2 post soviet oldtimers. From what Kurtinaitis said about Jakucionis and even Buzelis, he's completely clueless. And almost all insights seems like trivial and outdated. It's that bad. So the positive is that in 2027 both Buzelis and KJ will be head and shoulders better than all the rest (except, say, Domas who plays different position anyway) and even our brilliant coahces won't fail to see this.
Probably, the wise thing is to not overly dramatize the absence of Matas and KJ and let them progress. They are concentrated on individual progress, that's for sure. But also our federation and coaching staff sucks and I feel that if Jasikevicius was coaching today, we would see both Matas and KJ in the NT and they would play some meaningful roles.


That's what we have essentially. Iexpect both KJ and Buzelis to lead NT in 2027 already. If also Sabonis and Jokubaitis will be heatlhy, we can realistically speak about reaching semifinals. I was surprised to read that WC 2027 will produce seven directly qualified national teams for LA2028 and the Olympic host nation qualified directly (USA). So all WC teams that will reach 4finals (assuming USA is one of them) will get direct ticket to Olympics? It doesn't sound like a super tough thing to do if we will have A team. The key is to get to WC and to gather A team. In 2027 we should be legitimate semis/bronze medal seekers and in 2028 we will be able realistically fight with any NT in the world.

 

[Dreamcatcher]

So it's not even B NT, it's more like - B NT.

It's repetition.

 

[Straight forward]

It's repetition.

Meaning?

 

[Straight forward]

It's repetition.

Oh, I get it. I meant there it's -B NT.

 

[Shawshank]

PG Jokubaitis,Zemaitis

SG Normantas,Sirvydis,Rubstavicius

SF Radzevicius,R.Giedraitis

PF Sedekerskis,Bendzius

C Valanciunas,Tubelis,Birutis



Best defenders to defend opponnet perimeter leaders will be lkl players Normantas and Zemaitis

From 5 bigs 4 of them cant shoot.


Valanciunas,Jokubaitis,Sedekerskis and 3 deep euroleague bench players + 6 lkl players

Coaching staff is worst NT ever had after only modern coach in staff Sernius left NT


Well done Balciunas !

 

[Serbian_Layup]

From Kurtinaitis speech I could hear a glimpse of apology and justification already. Like we'll do what we'll do with what we have, but EB is less important than OG. That's 100% true, but previously he was preaching how we are dying to win NOW, not tomorrow, and he was preaching about medals, and yet today no words about medals been spoken Even though he still managed to unleash complete nonsense that this team, he thinks, is not weaker than initially projected team (meaning with Sabonis, Buzelis, Brazdeikis and all). In other words, as always, Kurtinaitis mixes everything into one bumbling incoherent speech.

My biggest concern remains the same that this federation may cost us Buzelis. Jakucionis will survive Kurtinaitis either way. He has deep ties with LTU NT, but Buzelis ties are more fragile. If I was a coach, I give JV auto- ticket 27, 28 even if it would be "Jovaisa 1992" campaign. LTU needs him as Matas guide. We'll never know if Buzelis absence of 2025 is generational moment. If he will show up 27, 28 it will be forgotten, if not, this moment won't be overlooked and this federation will be remembered by screwing ties with one of the generational prospects cause in the mid season Buzelis answer to Urbonas was "busiu" (meaning "Ill be there"). Sure, he could change his mind because of massive end of the season, but I have zero doubts Pacesas and Kurtinaitis played a huge role helping Matas to form negative answer.

To put it short, our federation and coaching staff is far from flexible and attractive one that would ensure the best possible outcomes when it comes to players participation. And we live in situation when flexibility and proper communication is very important. Old school coaches won't provide that. On other hand, at least Buzelis and Jakucionis won't taste the dedovcina from those 2 post soviet oldtimers. From what Kurtinaitis said about Jakucionis and even Buzelis, he's completely clueless. And almost all insights seems like trivial and outdated. It's that bad. So the positive is that in 2027 both Buzelis and KJ will be head and shoulders better than all the rest (except, say, Domas who plays different position anyway) and even our brilliant coahces won't fail to see this.
Probably, the wise thing is to not overly dramatize the absence of Matas and KJ and let them progress. They are concentrated on individual progress, that's for sure. But also our federation and coaching staff sucks and I feel that if Jasikevicius was coaching today, we would see both Matas and KJ in the NT and they would play some meaningful roles.


That's what we have essentially. Iexpect both KJ and Buzelis to lead NT in 2027 already. If also Sabonis and Jokubaitis will be heatlhy, we can realistically speak about reaching semifinals. I was surprised to read that WC 2027 will produce seven directly qualified national teams for LA2028 and the Olympic host nation qualified directly (USA). So all WC teams that will reach 4finals (assuming USA is one of them) will get direct ticket to Olympics? It doesn't sound like a super tough thing to do if we will have A team. The key is to get to WC and to gather A team. In 2027 we should be legitimate semis/bronze medal seekers and in 2028 we will be able realistically fight with any NT in the world.

Very unlikely. Rookie players, especially in FIBA environment coming from NBA, are going to need time to adjust to different style of play. This Olympic cycle is all about adjusting and finding their roles in NT, as well as acceptance from their teammates. NT works in entirely different way than club basketball. You can expect their impact, if they prove themselves, in the next Olympic cycle, this one would be too much for them, unless they prove to be NBA stars from day one.

 

[Shawshank]

I was surprised to read that WC 2027 will produce seven directly qualified national teams for LA2028 and the Olympic host nation qualified directly (USA). So all WC teams that will reach 4finals (assuming USA is one of them) will get direct ticket to Olympics? It doesn't sound like a super tough thing to do if we will have A team. The key is to get to WC and to gather A team. In 2027 we should be legitimate semis/bronze medal seekers and in 2028 we will be able realistically fight with any NT in the world.

7 spots overall but europe teams gets only 2 spots from world cup

Didnt you watch 2023 world cup it was same system. Olympics made only Germany and Serbia who played in 2023 finals.

Italy,Lithuania,Latvia,Slovenia who took 5-8th places in 2023 played in 2024 qualifiction tournament

 

[Straight forward]

Very unlikely. Rookie players, especially in FIBA environment coming from NBA, are going to need time to adjust to different style of play. This Olympic cycle is all about adjusting and finding their roles in NT, as well as acceptance from their teammates. NT works in entirely different way than club basketball. You can expect their impact, if they prove themselves, in the next Olympic cycle, this one would be too much for them, unless they prove to be NBA stars from day one.

We'll see, it can go the way you describe, but my projection is that Kasparas will play nearly as a vet as 22yo (LA28). He is a head of time and is kinda prodigy piece rather than elite role player. And he played in all FIBA tournaments, and some EL/ACB even. I don't think for KJ there's any big transition, only mentally, but mentally he's the leader anywhere he goes. I assume you referring to Jovic and all (who did very well BTW as a young player in FIBA), but both KJ and Buzelis are from different tier. It's higher tier of talent and leadership. I won't drop Luka here obviously, but it's more like Schroders kinda of case in KJ and it's Franz Wagner case in Buzelis. Franz unleahed 15,1ppg in his first campaign, Buzelis will go for more or less similar numbers in 2027, IMO. In 2028 both KJ and Buzelis should already show their best essentially, or let's say massive unrestricted impact (cause obviously both will still be far from prime). My take anyway. Maybe optimistic, but I believe they are that kind of tear talent. We are talking about some efficient 16ppg for Buzelis next season, balling for PO Bulls very likely.

 

[Straight forward]

7 spots overall but europe teams gets only 2 spots from world cup

Didnt you watch 2023 world cup it was same system. Olympics made only Germany and Serbia who played in 2023 finals.

Italy,Lithuania,Latvia,Slovenia who took 5-8th place played in 2024 qualifiction tournament

Yup. My bad. Even though it would be fair to give tickets to all best 1-8 WC teams regardless the continent.

 

[Serbian_Layup]

We'll see, it can go the way you describe, but my projection is that Kasparas will play nearly as a vet as 22yo (LA28). He is a head of time and is kinda prodigy piece rather than elite role player. And he played in all FIBA tournaments, and some EL/ACB even. I don't think for KJ there's any big transition, only mentally, but mentally he's the leader anywhere he goes. I assume you referring to Jovic and all (who did very well BTW as a young player in FIBA), but both KJ and Buzelis are from different tier. It's higher tier of talent and leadership. I won't drop Luka here obviously, but it's more like Schroders kinda of case in KJ and it's Franz Wagner case in Buzelis. Franz unleahed 15,1ppg in his first campaign, Buzelis will go for more or less similar numbers in 2027, IMO. In 2024 both KJ and Buzelis should already show their best essentially, or let's say massive unrestricted impact (cause obviously both will still be far from prime). My take anyway. Maybe optimistic, but I believe they are that kind of tear talent. We are talking about some efficient 16ppg for Buzelis next season, balling for PO Bulls very likely.

I wasn't referring to Jovic, just a general remark. And Jovic did have a great rookie campaign in Manilla.

You have Jakucionis playing as a vet in like 2 years, that's possible if he improves his decision making and control of the game. He didn't show that in NCAA (and that's exactly why he fell to 20th pick). I think he skipped some steps on his way to NBA and it's going to hurt him a little bit. As of now, I have him as a capable off the dribble three point shooter and flashy passer. Everything else will have to improve to be a solid NBA player. Buzelis has more realistic chance to become a good NBA player or maybe a star player if he proves to be shot creator.

 

[Straight forward]

I wasn't referring to Jovic, just a general remark. And Jovic did have a great rookie campaign in Manilla.

You have Jakucionis playing as a vet in like 2 years, that's possible if he improves his decision making and control of the game. He didn't show that in NCAA (and that's exactly why he fell to 20th pick). I think he skipped some steps on his way to NBA and it's going to hurt him a little bit. As of now, I have him as a capable off the dribble three point shooter and flashy passer. Everything else will have to improve to be a solid NBA player. Buzelis has more realistic chance to become a good NBA player or maybe a star player if he proves to be shot creator.

You overemphasize that moment of him being a turnover prone and more of a flashy passer rather than consistent decision maker. He's one of the most special game readers in decades. Literally. His processing of the game is at another level. His decision making time is surreal and he tends to be extra creative which leads to TOs sometimes, but even so very often it's teammates inability to see what he sees. He's not inconsistent decision maker, he's one of the best in the game overall. In Heat with NBA space and expressed rolling and lob finishing bigs it will be even simplier KJ. He will be pick and roll machine in those situation, it's either nice pass or a good look for himself. People don't realize how good KJ was majority of NCAA season. He plays under his own rhythm. Whole NBA season will show the most, but I believe even KJ's proponents not yet fully realize what can be KJ's ceiling in the NBA. I expect him to thrive in heat. In 2027 he will come after 2 NBA seasons and in OG after 3. But he's way way ahead of time compared to most rookies in terms of game processing, IQ and leadership. He was literally carrying older players as full time leader in Illini and he was constant memeber of Barca's training, working with jasikevicius, Rubio, Satoransky, Mirotic. May main concern is still with athleticism. Like people my put bigger and yet mobile defenders on him and he would struggle a bit with it in ISO situations. If that's not much of concern for KJ, he can be a star in NBA, IMO. Just people yet don't understand yet, but, IMO, it won't take too long.