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2025 Lithuanian NT

  • Thread starter Thread starter Straight forward2
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Straight forward2

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OK, time to turn the page. I have to unleash my rant after some time.

I think we should be more eager to match contemporary basketball traits. We overlooked this moment a bit and pushed our selves to extremely dangerous situation. I would go back to 2022 EB qualification when we barely survived it and it showed that teams who have stronger, faster, more physical guards really punish us. We have to make a switch and move on closer to Spanish and USA basketball schools. It's good that we have good emigrant players coming as Sabonis, Buzelis, Indrusaitis, Brazdeikis coming and the same Jakucionis is basically Spanish product now cause he moved from Lithuania to Spain being 16yo and had very intense development phase there and he really blossomed as a player (now we can only speculate if he could do the same playing in NKL). Our basketball is too academical, too slow and too selfless. We need more ISO skills, physicality and quickness which is the key at both ends today. So I'm really happy that we have this 2006 golden generation coming cause they are playing exactly that fast, decision making and ISO skills based basketball, with less positions, but more flexibility and adjustments. That's contemporary basketball. Big part of it. My main concerned with Jakucionis as the key player of the future (along with Buzelis) is that he now will move from Spain (were they run as crazy and that's good), to NCAA and it's always a risk. The game there is slower usually and different. I hope Jakucionis will spend there only one year and will move directly to NBA environment or even NBA/G League environment. Jakucionis is great playing uptempo basketball and I don't want anything less than that. If NCAA will screw that it will be a problem. We need players who knows how to play with the tempo. Jokubaitis does that pretty well cause he played tons in ACB, Sirvydis is doing it pretty well so he's spot on, Rubstavicius feels very well on open court, so that's a nice core. But most importantly those "emigrant" pieces as Jakucionis, Buzelis, Indrusaitis are mainly the product of this more open and faster basketball. They thrive with this and they can completely change the face of our basketball. We need a shift and I think we have all needed pieces. Even at the 5 with such pieces as Tubelis, Krivas, Raupelis, Butajevas we can play really mobile basketball. We will have more defense than previously. So I'm really optimistic for next gen, but long term, we have to change our attitude and develop players differently. We have to emphasize feet work, handles, physicality, ISO skills, quickness, explosiveness.

Now about the coaches. I'm OK with Kurtinaitis coming back. He deserves a chance. I'm OK with Zibenas getting a chance cause emotionally he gathered Rytas nicely. Kurtinaitis would be harder on players, Zibedas would provide positive inspiration. I think both are OK options. I wouldn't be against Trinchieri or that kind of level foreigner, but only absolutely elite coaches like I mention. Any mediocre scrub can get the fuck off and there should be zero talk about naturalizing players. Those who say that are clueless idiots who can't see the whole talent pool, have no eye on BB (and there's tons of that breed, even basketball portals in Lithuania are run by semi-blind BB wise people which is sad, fortunately some of them have good analysts or some PRO players who help) and overall always blind as some posters here who realize what's happening only when things knock into their doors literally. Naturalizing some random shit, and spitting on our BB culture and purity would be nasty stupid shit and most moronic thing you could do once players as Jakucionis, Buzelis are very close to suit up with the NT jerseys and completely change our upside and capabilities.

Coaching question will remain difficult cause only Jasikevcius is truly proper coach to do it and he would minimize the mistakes that often occurs doing such a difficult job. Jasikevcius would evaluate the talent optimally, would define the roles almost 100% optimally, would give proper chance to younger talent and would set proper hierarchy in all spheres. Can anyone from others Liths do it? No. But I'm almost 100% sure than no-one can make more mistakes and do the worse job than Maksvytis did. Impossible. Literally. Forget it, not gonna happen. We won't see Cizauskases, Maldunases, Dimsas in the NT anymore. Gone. The past.

Now what I want from 2025? First, let's qualify. Let's take it seriously cause Maskvytis managed to make a harm even here. Let's do it and finish it. It's not gonna be so easy as we seen against Estonia.

Second, let's ask our selves whenever we need vets. Should be invite Butkevicius, Kuzminskas, Grigonis, Lekavicius and so on. Valanciunas has to be there cause he's Buzelis guy and he will guide him and integrate him to the team. I would actually consider saying thank you, but no thank you to all vets except Valanciunas. I don't think our vets can bring anything positive to the NT, or to put it other ways they are not in position to truly impact the winning. I'm also OK with them coming and just trying to make a mix which is OK and most likely will be the case, but also I wouldn't mind to completely re-new NT and look at this as a project. Specially if Buzelis conforms early, somewhere at the mid season, that he's coming, I think I would consider just going without vets, except JV.

One of the key decisions next summer will be - should Jakucionis already be in NT? Most likely he will have a chance to play at U19 WC which is also big stage and good chance to increase his NBA upside if he's not drafted at that point. If he would get drafter as a lottery pick or even first round, it's likely that NBA team would skip any of his NT appearances, be it U19 or senior NT. ATM NT is about the question - when Jakucionis and Buzelis will start making the difference? It's literally the main question. I'm navigating those 2 player integration to the NT very closely and those 2 generational talents should be integrated as soon as possible and will give huge benefits very fast. If both will get their feet vet by a great scenario in 2025, we will be in very good situation to fight for medals in 2027 already.

Next key, how Jokubaitis season will evolve with (hopefully) Zalgiris. If he will come up with some kind of brake out season it can be a big push forward. To a lesser extent, but also very important, I'm looking how Sirvydis is doing in EL, can Brazdeikis have bigger role with Oly, how is Rubstavicius doing (Eurocup or G league?) and how D. Giedraitis, A. Marciulionis develops further.

Tons of upcoming and developing players, but I don't see medals in 2025. We can be nice, maybe even sneak into semis which would be great, but I don't see medals. Serbia, France, Spain, Germany are at another level. Our real chances will start when Jakcuionis/Buzelis will play as a beasts with the NT jerseys. That is coming not sooner than 2027/2028 and maybe even later. So that's that. A bit pity, but today you can't win without true standouts, world class players.

Most realistic scenario (~):

Jokubaitis, Marciulionis
Brazdeikis, Grigonis, D. Giedraitis
Buzelis, Sirvydis
Sedekerskis, Tubelis, Kuzminskas
Sabonis, Valanciunas

Meaning the mix of vets and younger players.

If Buzelis comes, I would actually try to build the team with younger, higher upside players and would skip vets. It would be something like this. I would look at it as a project, maybe a bit less chances to win something in 2025 (which is debatable), but great building block for entire Olympic cycle where huge hopes would be put on 2027 and 2028

Jokubaitis, Jakucionis, Marciulionis
Brazdeikis, D. Giedraitis, Rubstavicius
Buzelis, Srivydis
Sedekerskis, Tubelis
Sabonis, Valanciunas (if either of them out, bring Mr. Krivas in :D)

I would really favor the latter scenario. If we have both Jakucionis/Buzelis in, already huge win. Means we already re-writing history. The integration of players as Marciulionis, Rubstavicius, D. Giedraitis also a big push forward. I'm not even sure, this team would be worse, than the first team. I see a scenario when it is actually better. Specially if players as Buzelis and Rubstavicius would actually deliver and Jakucionis is that good that he may be balling some already as 19yo.

The future is bright and if we unleash something like that second line-up, it would be massive, incredible push FORWARD. Huge stride towards making NT strong again (and in 2027 there also would come Murauskas, Indusaitis for even further nasty improvement of the NT).

I'm most pissed on coaching and failing federation (again crappy exhibition stage as whole Olympic cycle). But the talent is going off charts and we better do not screw with integration.
 
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Nauseda's constant butt licking of different groups of society is really annoying. Dude's just opportunist and wanna be popular. This naturalization shit ain't no happening. It would be a big spit into our tradition, the whole idea of LTU basketball, the whole idea of NT, the whole idea of being proud about it, the whole idea of having meaningful representation and winning. The worst thing is - we are losing the game of basketball intelligence. Illinous and USA overall already understood what kind of player Jakucionis is. They know he's special. Lithuanian basketball community saw Jakucionis or could see from all angles for 2 great years and they still don't get it :) OMG...Evans is just a trashy no-body compared to what he can be and will be. Jesus, LTU BB community can be so clueless. Illinous needed like 3 weeks to understand they got something special? Lithuanian still dreaming about Evans (well some of them). Like what would he bring? Another knee injury or chucking from thee in every possession? Well we got enough of that from Grigonis :D I just hope that as BB community LTU wouldn't fuck with one thing that we are good at (being proud about BB traditions) - wouldn't open up the butt hole and let us fuck hard in the ass. That's the only message I have.
 
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So are we to understand that the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda​, said something about naturalizing perhaps Keenan Evans?

:confused:
 
They know he's special. Lithuanian basketball community saw Jakucionis or could see from all angles for 2 great years and they still don't get it :)

Two "great" years? Oh?!

:confused:

I think I'll be happy if he delivers two great weeks at the U18 tournament this year.

;)
 
So are we to understand that the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda​, said something about naturalizing perhaps Keenan Evans?

:confused:

Nauseda said nothing about Evans. Nobody is going to naturalize Evans or anybody else in the nearest future. Just this anti-redneck guy without any reason insulted one of the best EL players :)
 
"I would generally look liberally at the naturalization of players, but it should not be a completely artificial naturalization of a person who is in no way emotionally connected to Lithuania. There should still be some kind of emotional connection. The world is moving in that direction and it is viewed a bit more simply than it was 10 or 20 years ago. But I repeat once again - I would not like to do it in an artificial way", answered the President.​

As always Naudeda gives ambivalent, vague answers and tries manipulate somewhere at the middle that the majority of society would kinda be neutral towards him. Just like he does with LGBT+ right, yeah, I support, but no way we will call them family blah blah blah. Always tries to sit on two toilets at the same time.

I didn't insult Evans. I simply state that people have no idea what kinda of players Buzelis/Jakucionis will be or can be and that still second rate American players as Evans are just not that kind of material and naturalizing some-one like him would make zero sense even in terms of empowering NT. He wouldn't be complete game changer, he can't even pass properly. But I'm generally against naturalization and that's not changing. Want your fucking stupid money talk and all that market, go be a fanboy of Zalgirs or whatever, couldn't care less, just fuck off from national team.
 
Brazdeikis has taken the only one place of a naturalized player, so it's anyway meaningful to talk about one more naturalized player while Ignas is still there.



 
Brazdeikis has taken the only one place of a naturalized player, so it's anyway meaningful to talk about one more naturalized player while Ignas is still there.




There shouldn't be any talks about it. People should talk how the hell to bring Jakucionis and Buzelis asses to the NT ASAP.

LOL, Baciunas saying Maksvytis brought NT back to elite :D Quote of the year...Would be funny if not sad.
 
LOL, Baciunas saying Maksvytis brought NT back to elite :D Quote of the year...Would be funny if not sad.
You were waiting for this communication so long desperately desiring this federation instead of a previous one. So, honestly you deserve this to see and read.
 
If Lithuania basketball federation is serious about winning medal in 2025-2028 they better search for skilled American scorer .

Evans type elite euroleague guard would be clear game changer offensively for our mediocre role players team that cant create offence for themselfs faced with physical FIBA defence.

We saw how leading uleb scorer sucked in fiba and couldn't fix even a little bit creation problem from perimeter.

NT need elite euroleague scorer or nba level guard or those problems won't disappear by miracle playing multiple one sided.

We can change coach or centers every tournament until NT will have elite perimeter leader max is 1/4 stage in 2020s basketball
 
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If Lithuania basketball federation is serious about winning medal in 2025-2028 they better search for skilled American scorer .

Federation won't do a single thing to which BB community harshly oppose. +70% people are against naturalization of a player (non- Lithuanian). That's huge %.

It appears you're not only clueless as always (not being able to determine players capabilities and so on), but also just a dude who doesn't respect NT traditions. I would quite LTU NT once some random guy naturalized. Not a NT anymore, not interested.

Those who want random Americans in NT are just silly grown up fanboys. Like those club money talk fans. Oh, look, how nice we are, we payed ten million or whatever money and this makes us so special now. LOL...That players doesn't give a fuck about your club, get it? He's doing his job, making money. That's all.

If you don't get the idea of pride, voluntarism, cultural, emotional connection representing NATIONAL TEAM, go be pathetic fanboy else where please...this is NT thread. Go play your money games of Neptunas or Zalgiris or whatever the club else where. And if LTU will naturalize random dude who is not Lithuanian, you will have to create International team thread.
 
keep that pride nonsense to yourself to your 50+ old timers mindset.


Younger generation people have diffrent opinions,if such rule in fiba exist and other bigger countries is using that


Without elite guard from euroleague or nba perimeter leader no chance in medals in 2025-2028 that is reality of 2020s fiba strenght


I want my NT to win,not go by ridiculous pride nonsense and end up in 9-12th places like last 10 years.


More and more people accepting reality that ltu basketball becoming just average 9-14 best NT and team needs real perimeter star if they wont to have fighting chance vs elite fiba teams.

Stubborn one is still singing patriotic songs but more and more people seeing what is happening and what fierce competion is in fiba.


Canada have 10 nba players, Australia have 8 nba players, Germany have 5, France have 5 and so on.

or Federation is accepting reality and stop dreaming and using fiba rule


or with 15min euroleague one sided roles player goodluck fighting for 9-14th places next 10 years too.
 
It wouldn't be your NT, it would be your fanboy's international team, that's one.

Second, Evans is not elite EL player. Elite players balling in top teams as one of the keys. Evans never did it and most likely never will.

Then, you're clueless not gettting that Evans is nobody compared to Jakucionis/Buzelis. Undrafted dude with ability to run Zalgiris will take down all Schroders, Bogdanovic, Mills and such? Good luck bro :D Only your narrow mind and cluelessness let you speak about how NT won't have studs in upcoming 10 years. I'm telling you, those two are studs. Knee and preach it, that's the best you can do.

Oh, yeah, and what would you naturalize? The OLY bench piece Evans. Not a game changer at all. He's not even an elite player, dream on. You have no eye on basketball. Watch him becoming a role player of Olympiacos.

Listen, I will let you know better since you completely lost. The tier of Buzelis and Jakucionis is absolutely top tier. They are bigger prospects than Bogdan Bogdanovic was f.e. Get your head out of the butt, how about that? What would you naturalize silly? Some kind of Durant? :D Dude, you're nuts. You wouldn't achieve a shit with naturalization. Look at Turkey, Croatia and 90% of teams that naturalize. They win nothing, zero. Top 6 teams of WC 2023 didn't have naturalized players.
 
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I don't want any naturalized foreigners on Team Lietuva either. If that means the team doesn't rise above being just "very competitive", so be it.

The root cause of Lithuania's dearth of medals in basketball is a declining population of basketball playing youth. I'm still suggesting baby bonus cheques for any Lithuanian women who gives birth to children sired by professional basketball players. Sneak cheerleaders into teams hotels if need be. Let the chattering classes and the Bible thumpers condemn Lithuania for selective breeding. Who cares?

:(
 
Leksas unleashed his 2028 projection and mostly I agree, but I would move some players positions wise and maybe even roles wise.

That's mine.

Jakucionis, Jokubaitis, Marciulionis
Indrusaitis, Rubstavicius, D. Giedraitis
Buzelis, Sirvydis, Lelevicius/Brazdeikis
Murauskas, Sedekerskis (*Matas)
Sabonis, Tubelis, Krivas, Valanciunas

To me, this starting 5 is needed for a serious chance to sneak into contenders territory. I have almost no doubt that Jakucionis will be the best guard at the time if his development will be smooth. Indrusaitis may not yet be the main SG at 22, but I would hope for it. He is nearly as talented as Macijauskas. Less shooting, but much more versatility inside. People don't get that Indrusaitis versatility is super rare and that's the top talent (some people I mean). He's at the tier of Siska, Macas essentially talent wise. His essentiality is overlooked by mediocre LKL BB figure. If we pack our SG position with him as top piece, it's fantastic. Buzelis is the key off course (a long with Jakucionis). No need to say anything else, just look what Franz doing. Murauskas has to stretch the floor (essential) and here and there add his ISO talent. Sabonis will have more freedom too if all these pieces will pan out.

What might be an issues of this potential starting 5? Depends how 1-4 positions shooting develops. That's the main question. All guys have very promising shooting profiles, but none of them are at Kurtinaitis/Karnisovas/Macijauskas/Stombergas soil shooting wise. I think all will be solid shooters, but it shouldn't be anything less if we want success. If say all these guys will be shooting only 32%, that's not gonna be good enough. Sure, all are extremely versatile and they will punish people with their driving and mid range game. Like literally all 1-4 guys have driving/midrange game and that's a big plus, but for this line-up to mesh, their shooting should be developing well in upcoming 4 years. Defensively this team would be pretty OK.

Why I don't put Jokubaitis and Rubstavicius as a starting line-up? Simple. Jakucionis is better than Jokubaitis. Rubstavicius maybe...but he's not as versatile and much worse defender than Indrusaitis. Off course, in 2028 Jokubaitis and Rubstavicius may still be starters, but for LTU BB is the key to wait my starting line-up to pan out. Then we have ENOUGH scoring power, versatility and talent to match any opponent (I mean truly compete and even win). Lithuania can't expect to have more talent that this line-up (assuming panning out) cause it is simply impossible. That line-up essentially means 3 NBA players (Jakucionis, Buzelis, Sabonis) and 2 boderline NBA players (Indrusaitis, Murauskas). I actually still think that Indrusaitis may sneak into NBA and we will have 4 legitimate NBA players into starting line-up.

Back-ups are great for back-ups. The problem only is that most of them as Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius, Sirvydis, Lelevicius, Brazdeikis are poor defenders. That will limited their upside. But prime Jokubaitis and Rubstavicius can be that good offensively that they would still be huge addition to success with their roles. Here it's important to fill the gaps with grindy guards as D. Giedraitis and A. Marciulionus. You have to have those hard workers who would bight the floor literally.

NT coach will have tons of options how to manage the rotation. Hope he won't screw as much as Maksvytis who completely mishandled this Olympic cycle. Completely. We need more grip defensively and that's why I think some of offensive talents that could thrive in 10s, like (I'm guessing) Brazdeikis, Sirvydis, Lelevicius, will have to be a bit sidelined for the sake of result.

For my tastes, I play that starting line-up a lot and throw some gutsy players defensively from the bench like Marciulionis, D. Giedraitis, Sedekerskis. This way we can have very spot on 2 way presence. And NBA scrubs as Alvarado wouldn't make a joke of us. And I play only true offensive standouts as my rotation pieces - Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius (maybe Sirvydis depending how consisten he'll become).

It's funny, but I even see the scenario when players as Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius, Sirvydis, Brazdeikis, Lelevicius (one way offensive players) will be barely needed for the NT in 2028 or 2029. If that starting 5 is ready and I have great defenders (who can play quality offense too) as my bench, I have a team, and for former offensive players I can see only little roles.

We'll have way more talent compared to 10's. The key however is that Jakucionis, Indrusaitis, Buzelis would turn out into standouts. NBA players. Only this way we can build contending NT in 20s. Talent level is crazy in FIBA competition. But if these 3 players pan out - We're good. Cause we will have even superior bench to most NTs (yes, maybe even including big players as Serbia, Germany, France, Spain). Having pieces like Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius, Sirvydis, Sedekerskis, Tubelis, Krivas off bench....Not every NT can field that.
 
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Not a great defensive starting five. I think much will depend on the developments of Jakucionis and Buzelis. Buzelis looks good. I like him but I need to see his commitment to the NT. Both must be difference making players and I can see it in Buzelis but Jakucionis needs to prove it first.

Next point is how much Murauskas shot comes around. And there is no way Krivas will be behind Tubelis in 2028.
 
Not a great defensive starting five.

Not great for sure, but for Lithuanian standards pretty good or even good. Except Sabonis every player has capability to stand one's ground defensively. And even Sabonis is improvement compared to Valanciunas. Slight one, but still. The problem is that both Jakucionis and Indrusaitis have a bit inconsistent defensive motor. When they fully engaged they can do it. But specially Indrusaitis has inconsistent defensive motor and for him the key is to fix that. But he has tools - IQ, awaraness, length. The same with Jakucionis. Not a lock down defenders, but solid defenders. The glue guy and most versatile defender Buzelis. He can be great with his size and great blocking time. Murauskas can stand his ground. Solid defender in post positions, and if he will play 4, he won't have issues with his pretty bad lateral quickness. Match this starting line-up with Krivas, and this this becomes even better. But again, overall I see this line-up as potentially great offensively and potentially decent/solid defensively which would be very attractive combination.


I think much will depend on the developments of Jakucionis and Buzelis. Buzelis looks good. I like him but I need to see his commitment to the NT. Both must be difference making players and I can see it in Buzelis but Jakucionis needs to prove it first.

Both needs to prove that, but understand what you mean. Buzelis athleticism and size are just different and it makes him surer case for big things. On other hand, Kasparas feel for the game and IQ is special and he also has plus size for his position, and he's a guard. Pure guards today is more deadly. See Curry > Lebron/Durant in this Olympics.


​ Next point is how much Murauskas shot comes around.

True. But also the same Buzelis can easily play 4 with his 6'10 or 6'11 whatever. Defensively he's a bit of Kirilenko. Offensively he can play 2-4, but mainly 3-4 I think. So I can see him playing some 4, making extremely versatile line-ups like - Jakucionis, Indrusaitis, Rubstavicius (203cm), Buzelis (209cm), Sabonis (211cm). So it's not only to Murauskas to cover 4. But, yeah, it would be great if Murauskas pans out. He's a monster rebounder, can shoot, play some face to the basket and even post up. Complete 4.



​​ And there is no way Krivas will be behind Tubelis in 2028.

As a player (most likely NBA) yes. But as NT piece not necessary. I want to see up tempo and Tubelis may be offering a bit of stretching the floor at 5. When you have that starting 5 of 1-4 positions, what do you want? More driving paths. Kaspa, Nojus, Matas (1-3) can slash the hell out of you. Krivas camping in the paint area offensively is not very attractive idea.
 
Jakucionis and Indrusaitis have a bit inconsistent defensive motor

A bit? Indrusaitis does not defend at all and Jakucionis is just bad although he has the attributes. Your starting five has 3 bad defenders, so it seems. Well, its a way to play the game. As long as you score more than others everything is all right. But this is not the problem. Your main objective is to find your Dennis Schr
 
Another point is that both of those guys but especially Indrusaitis cares only about scoring. Never saw that kid creating for others. Jakucionis is very ball dominant himself and the U18 tournament showed what kind of problem it could lead.
 
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