2025 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward2]

I really dont know where to start tbh. JV looks like a prestage of Boban Marjanovic. He cant move a bit. Sabonis is also "not a great defender" and when I look at the potential back court with Jokubaitis and Grigonis I dont really see how LTU could defend even mid level teams. Scoring wise your best option would be Grigonis or Brazdeikis. Brazdeikis failed in Greece and Grigonis is the third option in Athens.

I would say you need an upgrade of quality especially for your back court.

That's super artificial take. But it's OK for Turkish, the outside observer.

JV declined, but Sabas has a chance to shine. Will he, it's another question. Bet I don't see much decline at C when Domas reached ALL NBA level, while previously was just ALL STAR.

Jokubaitis will be much better than 2022, at least he already was in 2023. Grigonis whateever...he was irrelevant in all knock out stage games so far, so basically not impactful player at all. If he will struggle it will be status quo. But you overlook that Sirvydis and D.Giedraitis are already better players than Brazdeikis, or at least not worse (cause Iggy will look better in second phase of season than he looks now). You also overlook that some 2022 EB team didn't have such athletic tough forward as Sedekerskis who is efficiency freak and if Buzelis comes (seems so) we will have athletic edge that we didn't have for a long years. Matas won't be big factor yet, but still nice piece for rotation.

Marciulionius not mentioned here, but if he added instead of Lekavicius, he is upgrade. He's tough, athletic for Euro standards and can knife the air with his passes and he can get to the basket for buckets. Knowing his size and defensive presence, surely improvement compared to Lekavicius. Speaking about slight improvements, Radzevicius can score buckets compared to Butkevicius.

Maybe one could miss Kuzminksas scoring tough maybe, but that should come from guys as Sirvydis, Buzelis and even Sedekerskis, Radzevicius.

So I don't see any declines. Actually if some Jokubaitis wakes up, it's can be RADICALLY stronger team. Not radically in terms of becoming A tier team internationally (not yet, it should happen when such pieces as KJ, Indrusaitis, Buzelis, Murauskas will be READY), but there's no doubt the team on strong growing path.

 

[Toruko2]

V declined, but Sabas has a chance to shine. Will he, it's another question. Bet I don't see much decline at C when Domas reached ALL NBA level, while previously was just ALL STAR.

I have watched Sabonis enough and he couldnt deliver in any of those tournaments. Either he does not work or his father forces him to come and play. So I dont see Sabonis to be a force in FIBA competitions.

Jokubaitis will be much better than 2022, at least he already was in 2023. Grigonis whateever...he was irrelevant in all knock out stage games so far, so basically not impactful player at all.

"much better" is definitely an exaggeration. He is a 10-15 minutes player in a borderline playoff EL team. After Saben Lee even this is questionable. I might be an outsider and you guys know surely more than me but I wont praise anything before I see definite improvements.

But you overlook that Sirvydis and D.Giedraitis are already better players than Brazdeikis, or at least not worse (cause Iggy will look better in second phase of season than he looks now).

Giedraitis is surely a good defender but doesnt offer much more so it is a trade-off again.

You also overlook that some 2022 EB team didn't have such athletic tough forward as Sedekerskis who is efficiency freak and if Buzelis comes (seems so) we will have athletic edge that we didn't have for a long years. Matas won't be big factor yet, but still nice piece for rotation.

Your main force was all the time JV and I expect him to be in decline and he weights more than anything else or anyone else you mentioned above.

 

[Straight forward2]

2025 will have the same problem as ever since 2017. We will be lacking true leader, true go to guy, true lead figure. In 2015 and 2016 it was still prime Kalnietis. After this all collapsed. JV as a center can't be true leader unless it's some kind of Pau, but he never was even close. So can't Sabonis, I agree, but he can still have some very impactful (yet not leader's) performances. Grigonis tried and always faild. So we don't have leaders and it seems that this will only be solved with KJ and Buzelis. BTW I trust KJ much more. I believe he will be huge and his path to becoming great will be much smoother and quicker than Buzelis, IMO.

In 2025 I hope more confident and better shaped Jokubaitis to lead the team, but unfortunately he hasn't been developing so amazingly after first Barca's season. So, no, we won't have true answers for leader's positions and that remains main problem of our NT. Buzelis will still be too raw for it. KJ most likely will spend his summer in Summer League and wouldn't yet be that good to lead anyway. When Siska and Jasikevicius stepped down as lead players of NT in 2008, after 2 years we had leading piece Kleiza in 2010. After 2016 this continuity stopped and we never found the leading pieces. It seems that we will be looking for this exactly one decade. I expect both Buzelis and KJ to be at another level compared to others in 2027 already. Even if KJ will be only 21yo. I think he will be already a baller at that time. He's that good.

 

[Shawshank2]

It not given Lithuania NT will have a world class leader not just for 2025 even for entire cycle 2025-2028

I dont see who will be euroleague star in his peak years in next few years from lithuanians is way more chances neither will be

Lithuania dont have euroleague star since 2012...its already 12 years..Its not given at all that suddenly ltu will have in next 2 years...


Buzelis and Jakucionis will be clearly too young in 2025-2028 to be leaders its simply not their winning cycle looking at their age

Their real mature players years will start only from 2029 if they will become great players and even thats with big IF...



Not suprising that for foreigner like Toruko LTU NT rosters looks very meh compared what elite NT rosters have in 2020s fiba ... and thats without knowing our new army type coaching staff

 

[Straight forward2]

The timing is off course not very handy, in the perfect world we would love KJ and Buzelis being at least +24yo in 2027-2028 stretch as WC and OG will be culmination of whole Olympic cycle. But Buzelis will be 24yo in Olympics and that's old enough if you're really good. Again, if both will be legitimate NBA players, we can look at some examples like Schroder who was 21ppg and efficient one (18,6eff) as 22yo. Teodosic as 22yo in EB with 14.1ppg and 15.9eff. And well we shouldn't look too far as Franz Wagner was putting 16,8ppg as 22yo. There's even more examples when future FIBA stars at this age are still not there as Parker, Dragic, Mills and so on. But we can remember our Macijauskas, as 23yo he was the best scorer in super stacked and talented Lithuania. I bet he could be among the leaders as 22yo also. Yeah, it's tricky, but at least we will have true talents, those dudes who can be leaders and have that level of talent, and we won't try to squeeze the shit of mediocre players as we recently been doing.

Another moment, NT will have such players as Jokubaitis, Sirvydis in their prime. Super impressive roster, cause not only Buzelis will be 24yo in Olympics, but also Murauskas, one of the most versatile and ISO gifted forwards we witnessed in long years. So you have prime Jokubaitis, Sirvydis (and some others like D. Giedraitis), you have 24yo studs Buzelis, Murauskas, upcoming and already good prodigy guard Jakucionis, great bigs as Sabonis, Krivas, Tubelis...That might be good enough to compete with the best. Off course, It also may be still an issue of super dominant leader, true world class material, but if Buzelis won't be panning out at that time, he probably never will. I agree that we can't ask miracles from 21-22yo KJ, even though I expect him to be the best guard of ours by that time nevertheless, but 24yo Buzelis should be legit and ready to go if he's good.

The timing is tricky, but there definitely will be huge growth of the NT and at least that should be satisfactory. That LTU may need super big things from both KJ and Buzelis (and that's coming only when both will be +24 mos likely) to realistically fight for medals with big teams is another topic. At least 2027 and 2028 should be fun to watch and witness how NT is becoming stronger and stronger cause 2024 was one big joke, my god...we never been more pathetic. Average EL dude chucking and being our leader :I We will never be in such situation ever again and I'm 100% sure about it. Maksvytis Olympic team was old time most pathetic, he also handled it in most horrific way possible, saw it right from first exhibition games. To certain extent even Maskoliunas 2021 NT was way more competitive. We were attacking elite Slovenia with force and even had an edge in the first half. Later Slovenia prevailed, but it felt like we are worth something. Slovenia was legitimate top 4 team in the world that season. Now we just were pathetic really...

 

[Straight forward2]

Buzelis really has to work a tons on his shots. With his size he can get plenty of open looks pretty much, but ATM his shooting is really raw. Gotta work on that excessively. Kleiza wasn't a good shooter early as well.

 

[Shawshank2]

Not very handy? its more like impossible horoscope dream that 21-22 old Jakucionis and 23-24 Buzelis will be leaders playing best fiba men in 2025-2028 olympic cycle.

Those 2 students are more 2030s players thats when their realistic winning can happen if they become great player not in 2020s.


in 2028 olympic summer when entire basketball elite top top nba players will play those 24 old Buzelis and 22 Jakucionis will be just no names in those foreigners eyes, so imagine that those youngsters will be leaders is laughable on that stage


in ale that 2024 pathetic team also Sabonis,Sedekerskis,Jokubaitis,Sirvydis sucked too. It wasnt just Grigonis or Ulanovas why you dont remember that?


Biggest choker in 2024 summer was nba all star ,all nba team player at peak of his powers 28 old age .Most ltu fans never was so down on Sabonis how they are now.

Sabonis scored 20pts in nba game half of the comments still is about his bad play in 2024 summer wearing ltu jersey. Thats what bad taste Domas left in ltu fans mouths ... way way bigger than Grigonis who clearly help NT more than Sabonis in 2024.

 

[Straight forward2]

Dude, KJ and Buzelis are not random good prospects. They are world class prospects. None other prospect is from that tier. Actually, while Buzelis is a long term prospect, KJ is greeted as way beyond his age BB mind. In U18 he didn't show his best, cause he had no screeners and, IMO, wasn't at his physical best, but the dude is really sensational with the ball. I believe even in 2 months after U18 he made another huge leap forward. We are talking about early bloomer. I think he will be heck of a player in Olympics if you ask me. He'll be a problem already. He's not even Kalnietis, Jokubaitis, hell not even Jasikevicius breed. For Saras it took tons of years to get there. The hype is insane, but he has it and in my opinion even 21yo KJ will be look super dynamic and already a problem. He can be a guy who can score 30 on you as a 21yo. I have that sense. He will be a bit up and down likely, but already dynamic, electric and sharp. I have that trajectory with him, I see it.

Yes, he won't be in his prime, yes, there will be much more dominant guards and stars in competition, but he will be better and more ready than you think now. Mark my words.

And, no, I did talk about Domas stuggling, I talked about Sirvuha, I talked Sedekerskis being meh. True. But my biggest problem how Maksvytis set the game style. It was all centred around Grigonis and it was so stupid,. No pick and rolls from Jokubaitis and Sabonis, just everything set for Grigionis. It was shallow, predictable and so primitive and zero upside.

Anyeay, this is history, I hope to see much more dynamic, faster, sharper, fun team in 2025.

 

[Shawshank2]

Dude what im seeing with buzelis right now....meh.... nothing even close to todays fiba stars and their nba rookie seasons... If he would show Wagner,Wemby,Doncic, type rookie seasons i will believe that he can be ready for 2027-2028.

But if Buzelis wont make top 10 rookies this season in really weak draft class ,we can forget he will be ready be leader in fiba 2027-2028.

Right now he looks super raw but maybe im wrong next few months will show.


Much more star power in every single top 8 NT in 2028.

So how such youngsters 22-24 old age can lead our NT men anywhere in 2028 in this competion ? thats pipe dream they are 2030s players.



Game plan was built on best euroleague lithuanian Grigonis and best nba lithuanian Sabonis. From those 2 Sabonis sucked more thats what im saying.

Thats why most ltu fans have bad taste when talking about Sabonis.

 

[Straight forward2]

The fact that he looks now, doesn't mean he won't be good after 4 years or even 3 years. Yes, Buzelis looks raw and he will need time, but he is not that bad as he looked in opener Only time will tell how good he will be, but it's more or less about three seasons. After than he should be good.

No, I'm not saying we will necessary be on the same page with top teams. I actually think we won't cause our world class players will be a bit too young and even some Indrusaitis (I have him as best SG prospect in the country) will also be too young. I'm just claiming that these 2 dudes can be already dynamic and lift us to another level. That doesn't mean we are snatching medals instantly with those guys instantly. The way I see it, we will have a bit worse roster than top teams, but the gap between top team and us will be much thinner than now, much thinner. And knowing LTU basketball, who knows, maybe we just need to be really close top teams to win something. It will depend on many things. Take some Serbia - Bogi out, Jokic out, and no-one knows if their new pieces as Jovic, Topic will be as good. Will 35yo Schroder be still good cause Wagner won't win it all alone. I mean, yeah, we have a problem that our world class players will be young, but we'll have a good team that may challenge best teams. But off course I agree that we are more about the times when both KJ and Buzelis (Indrusaitis, Murauskas) will be truly ready and it's more about 2029 and further.

Sabonis was involved strangely, we didn't find him deeper, we didn't run pick and rolls. Jokubaitis was playing OFF BALL Lol...Anyway, I'm sick tired with Kazys, I'm done. He's gone. Let's drink and celebrate, shall we

 

[Shawshank2]

You giving super rare examples of special tallents playing well in fiba.

So i compare Buzelis to special tallents nba rookie seasons.If he wont manage to do similair things what fiba stars did in their rookie seasons,that good indication he wont be ready to do things what those other special tallents did at 22 or 23 old age in fiba.


Maybe because Sabonis left the camp for 4 days in short 2 week prepration and missed 1 of 2 friendly games ? thats why there were time problems to include him even more?


Thats why im saying nation fans blame Sabonis alot for taking 2024 summer not seriuosly and looked like fake nba all star on the floor


Jokubaitis sucks last 2 years in euroleague.Sucked in 2024 fiba. He need to stop celebration behind the scenes


when sum up all that federation hired army type coaches that have no clue about modern basketball but ale will stop other shit in Nt camp.

No i wont celebrate when federation hired even worse basketball coaches sorry


Maksvytis+Zibenas >> Kurtinaitis+Pacesas for coaching 2020s basketball.


Those people who imagine ltu nt already cant go worse than Maskoliunas year .Oh yeah with granpa coach that loosing every game in 2024 season with baku americans we can go even worse easily in that very competitive 2020s fiba

 

[Straight forward2]

Sabonis didn't play well, what to do? He also got injured. Grigonis was playmaking. What do you expect when freakin' average SG is running the team? I'm not trying to justify Sabonis, he sucked, but also no-one really dished him properly. Somehow NBA coaches know how to use him, and I'm sure he would be much better even in FIBA under some Trinchieri or other high level coach.

Jokubaitis delivered in 2023. And even if he struggled this summer, he delivered in the key game. So far he delivered in all knock out games essentially. Yes, he has been on slump or stagnation club wise, but not everything was bad last 2 years.

Maybe Sernius will do the scouting, will make the spot on emphasis on game plans, and Kurtinaitis personality + Sernius BB instincts (and Pacesas getting the fuck out from the path ) will be pretty spot on, who knows. Sernius is a pretty good coach, IMO, just doesn't have personality to work at the highest level.

I really don't see scenario how can we be as toothless in 2028 as we been this summer. Really impossible unless some major injuries of key players.

 

[Shawshank2]

Doesnt matter who will do scouting ... desicions in game progress will be made by Kurtinaitis and Pacesas

I dont see grandpa Kurtinaitis+Pacesas making top 8 in fiba tournament in very competitive 2020s fiba


If you dont see scenerio so it means you didnt follow Kurtinaitis coached teams last 5-7 years. Dont worry he will show you his total chaos game plans very soon

 

[Straight forward2]

Doesnt matter who will do scouting desicions in game progress will be made by Kurtinaitis and Pacesas

I dont see grandpa Kurtinaitis+Pacesas making top 8 in fiba tournament in 2020s fiba .


If you dont see scenerio so it means you didnt follow Kurtinaitis coached teams last 5-7 years

Definetly not Pacesas Pacesas won't make any live game decisions.

And, yes, it's the key who does the scouting and how the game plan will be prepared. The key. Off course, Kurtis is not a top decision maker during live games, I agree, but at least there is some BB brain in the staff since there Sernius. I personally like him way better than Brazys and probably even Benas who is OK, but I feel he's overrated. He looked like a stud under Kazlauskas, but when Kazlauskas retired...nothing well came from his job essentially.

Top 8 is not my goal. I don't care about top 8. I want Lithuania to be legit top 4 team again in the world, that's the aim. ATM, for 2025 I just want to see sharp improvements and our ball game becoming much more modern and having way higher upside. That's why I preach that KJ and Buzelis (even Murauskas in the perfect world) would get their feet vet and taste NT BB already. Be it 5-10mpg kinda roles whatever. And off course we need to build more on Jokubaitis, Sirvydis, D. Giedraitis, Marciulionis, Brazdeikis more.

To put it short, to me 2025 is not about results, it's about more how we are setting the tone for the whole Olympic cycle. Yes, we should be competitive, but obvious attempt to make some changes should be visible. The way Kazys build 2024NT it had zero upside. Total disaster and that's what you get with mediocre provincial coaches. I'm sceptical cause Kurtis is also not a top coach, but maybe he will have some brains and realize changes should be made. You really have to be blind not to see that. We're in stinky shit for 10 years and something differently must be done. The idea to ride with "the best mediocre talent we have" failed big time. I was preaching here do this and that and all coaches just went with mediocre established talent. You advocated this shit and still do, so be happy with current results. I say spill the fucking true talent already in 2025, give KJ, Buzelis, Murauskas some taste of NT ball, and you will have WAY BIGGER PICTURE to compete in 2027-2028 already. But, no, mediocre coaches will go the same losing path and will take mediocre scrubs (making Grigonis a go to guy, taking Normantases and such and that's probably not the worst we'll hear) like they can lead us to anything against REAL TALENT, LOL...

 

[Shawshank2]

You can dream of top 4 sure in your fantasy world . But reality our NT cant make top 8 anymore in 2017-2024



Kurtinaitis and Pacesas is clearly worse coaches than Maksvytis and ZIbenas for 2020s and dont think its even close.

Those 2 atleast was working not stop and achieving results and had real feel about 2020s basketball.

I think even Maskoliunas have more recent 2020s basketball arguments on his side before coaching NT than those 2 oldschoolers have now.
​


Look at Kurtinaitis last 5-7 years coaching one in Baku loosing like every game now . Other Pacesas simply didnt even coach last 7 years.


Go to youtube and listen how Pacesas talks about Radzevicius,Normantas,Pauliukenas,Lekaviicus in last week interview and NT candidates

He repeat he and Rimas see things very similiary that why he hired me as his main help


And you are talking about some radical changes with these oldschoolers coaches ? oh you are naive and cant even hear what they are saying

 

[Straight forward2]

And you are talking about some radical changes with these oldschoolers coaches ? oh you are naive and cant even hear what they are saying

I don't care what Pacesas preaching I preach the right message.

When shit will come, I will criticize them. Now I can't do it apriori. I'm super sceptical, but maybe Sernius will says few good words to Kurtinaitis? Pacesas is a lunatic it's been known for decades, I don't care. Give him alcotester and allow him to be an idiot in the locker rooms and corridors...That's all what it has to be said about him. Off course it's pathetic and it says about Kurtinaitis a lot. He brought this pathetic provicial thug scum loser to the freakin' NT...He should be kicked from any BB environments after those pathetic podcasts...Complete idiot.

It's a mess. And Balciunas has to go. The only hope is that Kurtinaitis will listen to Sernius. When I hear what Pacesas talking I just feel mad and sad that we got to this level...I mean we had Kazlauskas working with NT in 2016...what an amazing decline...like WOW...I mean...holly SHIT.

 

[Shawshank2]

Nobody cares what messages you preach in your fantasy world... what is important what message today NT coaches preaches

They will make desicions on everything and thats why im laughing about your radical changes when NT men heads will be Kurtinaitis and Pacesas )


What do you mean Balciunas must go? he just won the election,he will hold for this position till last moment

That moment what Balciunas could have been send home its gone.


It will be disaster for LTU NT thats my prediction if those 2 old timers will ale do coaching for entire olympic cyle 2025-2028 in modern era basketball

 

[Straight forward2]

Kleiza said correctly - it's Kurtinaitis show. I have some minor hope he won't screw much with the roster. I remember when he threw young Srivydis to the game pretty eagerly, he was 17yo or so. I remember when he made 22yo Gecevicius a leader of Rytas team in EL. I wouldn't say Kurtis is ultimate mediocre mind. He has balls, that's for sure. If he will decide that he has to run 19yo Jakucionis he will do it. The problem is what is happening in his head. Guts are there, but BB instincts? I don't know. That's why I would love the connection of Sernius BB IQ and Kurtinaitis guts. I hope that Pacesas is just there for discipline, maybe Kurtinaitis wants to have less pain being tough on players and will allow Paces to be that, and he will occupy himself on tactics and will speak with Sernius while Pacesas will run around with alcotester and scales, LOL.

I mean generally. Now I see we just have to rid him. He is making a joke of the NT. Next Olympic cycle it's a must to have a young, contemporary head of federation, be it Javtokas, Pocius, Valanciunas, Kleiza or anyone like that.

I first have to see what's happening in Kurtinaitis head. That's the key. After 2025 we'll know everything.

 

[Shawshank2]

Go and look at last 5-7 seasons of Kurtinaitis.

He sucks as coach most of last decade. He got old and dont get nuances about modern basketball


You really believe miracles will happen in 2025 eurobasket playing vs nba and eurolegaue opponnets?

When he cant beat Sweden Dolphins litlle club players in 2024? Im sorry i dont need 2025 eurobasket i saw enough last 5-7 years of total chaos in his teams

 

[Straight forward2]

Our glorious head coach, "EL level coach" Maksvytis jobless...Who knew.