2025 Lithuanian NT

[Dreamcatcher2]

To be fair I want Balciunas out. Dude's talking nonsense

He keeps providing you that public communication you missed so much during Sabonis fed

According to Balciunas, he helped Javtokas with getting diploma. LOL. If Javtokas with big, respectful names support can't beat Balciunas then there is smth essentially wrong in Lith basketball.

 

[Straight forward2]

He keeps providing you that public communication you missed so much during Sabonis fed

According to Balciunas, he helped Javtokas with getting diploma. LOL. If Javtokas with big, respectful names support can't beat Balciunas then there is smth essentially wrong in Lith basketball.

Balciunas is not useless. He's active and gets shit done. The problem is he is full of toxic positivity. When you screw with NT you do say that. Now he kinda admits that, but still he lost in terms of values. He values money more than the prestige of NT. When he puts NT into shitty narratives (like playing with some kind of trash NTs or NCAA teams in exhibition) it's red flag to me. He got obsessed with increasing federation's budget, but that's not what LTU basketball needs. LTU BB needs new wins, new role models and new passion for the game. To me it's simple, he hired trashy coach who chocked big time and he didn't bring even decent exhibition opponents and results were trash. That's why I see he screwed. Also federation banned that rule which didn't allow U15 guys to set screens. I think it was good decision of Spokas federation and Balciunas souldn't have touch it.

Javtokas is not a good president though He's lazy and never has any arguments Only same abstract almost cringey comments like "maybe we stuck some-where", but he can't really criticize Balciunas properly.

 

[Hepcat2]

Objectively I have to rate Mindaugas Balčiūnas' tenure at the head of the LKF as a failure. Not only did the men's team fail to make the Olympics twice(!) in a row, but the medals dried up across the board. Therefore a change is due.



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[Shawshank2]

Javtokas+Kazlauskas+Jasikevicius+Motiejunas have very little chances to win in this voting.

If zalgiris have 1 vote and some club of 7 members who created themselfs couple weeks ago and paid 500 euros also will have one vote


Its like 150 voters. All Balciunas needs to do 80x500= 40k invest+ other behind table promises

That dude by himself decided to decreased 2k minimum payment to 500 its clear what he is doing and doesnt matter that no real lithuanian basketball powers supports him, he will be elected


Again gonna sell ltu basketball name to some arabs or asians and play exhibition game series and loudering momey

Balciunas already shown his face in first tenure ,people arent changing. He gonna hold for this golden egg position and wont be move unless biggest ltu faces will declare wont be working or have any communication with this clown


Balciunas dont care about lithuanian NT all he cares how to make more money , like i said from day 1

 

[Straight forward2]

Javtokas+Kazlauskas+Jasikevicius+Motiejunas have very little chances to win in this voting.

None of these are into elections. They just gave a word of support to Javtokas. The problem is that there is no serious opposition to Balciunas. He is super active and gets shit done. Javtokas wasn't even seriously considering to be in election until last months. He's on freakin' vacation now. If some-one wants to seriously challenge Balciunas, the job has to be done. The man has to work on that. The problem with Javtokas/Kazlauskas is that they thought they can do nothing and their names will do the job. Nope. You gotta get to the rednecks and talk with them, hear them, to realize their problems and try to solve them. BB community was tired of Sabonis and Spokas cockiness and unwilingness to talk. Balciunas liberalized and democatized Lithuanian basketball, gave a freedom of speech to rednecks and that basically changed the game. Javtokas looks like lazy elitist and has no chance. BB elite people just want success without any effort like it happened in 2013, but then Sabonis came with serious attempt. Javtokas has no such power.

The only problem with Balciunas that he screwed with hiring coach and he used senior NT too heavily for his money making goals. Just fucking create a rock solid preparation schedule.

Reality is if Javtokas will be selected he won't bring Jasikevicius to coach instantly. He's not gonna take NT this Olympic cycle. So what would be the difference? We will have to take a coach from Zibenas, Kemzura or Adomaitis, Kurtinaitis (if those would somehow agree to work).

I personally would want Adomaitis the most from the list. I think he actually made limited NT look really competitive in 2019 and we were very close to take down France and Australia. With way more talent Adomaitis would be working pretty well, IMO. He is simple, rock solid coach, who has right personality. And he can be tough. Zibenas is too sweet. He has not enough of respect around him. We need a little bit tougher coach now.

The best news would be Jasikevicius + Sabonis, Buzelis, Jakucionis. This would be huge. But now we will have average coach and elite talent in terms of players. We'll see where it will get us.

 

[Shawshank2]

Forget Jasikevicius and Adomaitis they have foreign clubs,they themselfs said basically no chance untill they have clubs.

That with Javtokas is way bigger chances to bring Jasikevicius one day or Kurtinaitis or same Adomaitis 100%.

When Javtokas or Sabonis calling everybody from coaches and players is picking the phones,when Balciunas/Gedvilas calls they will search reasons not to.


With Balciunas everything is wrong. He is talking about centre type systems,but what i see is closer to monopoly control.


Javtokas would be just face of federation like Sabonis was. Ofcourse they will do very little real job,their main job is to be lithuanian basketball face and when they meet other countries presidents they knows who they are and talks with them with respect.

Who the hell is Balciunas Diaw or Garbajose or Danilovic type presidents have no clue. With Javtokas they can go for a drink ,remember good times and agree to organise some exibition games between their NTs

Budget type jobs in federations ofcourse is done no by Sabonis,Javtokas or Garbajosas types.


New NT Coaches pool (if they gonna stay stubborn and nationalists) is Lkl coaches and Songaila.

Knowing Balciunas and that nobody is supporting him from ltu big names,he will go with big name ale Songaila thats my prediction.

Who cares that he never worked as head coach,its famous name to blame and leave him alone that he could do his money loudering inside federation.

 

[Straight forward2]

Kurtinaitis and Adomaitis are not coaches that you would beg. Average coaches. Specially Kurtinaitis, IMO.

The only one to "beg" is Jasikevicius.

If he's out, all our options are meh...That's reality. Javtokas can't bring Jasikevicius this Olympic cycle. No chance and he understands that. So I don't see much difference. Our NT will be coached in mediocre way at best.

 

[Shawshank2]

Balciunas in conference asked did federation managed to get Jasikevicius number? he answered : i didnt promise such things

Balciunas knows the answer and opinion of Saras of him dont even try to call him


Im not sure Jasikevicius can be convinced coaching NT but im very sure no chance until Balciunas is in charge

 

[Shawshank2]

When Miklovas asked about IBU Balciunas reacted rarely to him emotionally

He is hiding there something in that IBU clearly

 

[Straight forward2]

Balciunas in trenches. He feels like attacked animal. Maybe that's his strategy, look "elite" attacks us again. He had to unite BB world, but he united just periphery.

Again, if some-one like Pocius would come, it would be a good move. Javtokas is lazy. He would be doing things now, not in vacation. He was super lazy an naive in previous elections and now remained the same.

But my problem is the same. Jasikevicius said openly in interview that he can't work in club and NT. He works in club. Case closed. To me there's 2 questions - who will coach NT? And what will be the conditions of NT?

I don't see how Javtokas coming can drastically improve situation. Unless Javtokas would go with foreign coach. That's where I draw the line. We can have foreign coach, cause we already had foreigners helping us in this sphere where we suck balls, but that's it. And I have no idea who could be the one? Best coaches have clubs so working with NT is nearly impossible.

We gonna go with out mediocre scrubby coaches. They just have to at least set the roles right. Maksvytis couldn't do even that.

We'll be in trouble when shaky legs Lith coaches will shape biggest roles to veterans and not the best players as happened in 2024. To build against always choking soft ass Grigonis when you have Sabonis and Jokubaitis was the decision of complete mediocre provincial scrub as Maksvytis. There will be moment when the same breed LTU next coach will put the bag on Brazdeikis instead of Buzelis and Jakucionis.

That's my biggest fear. That next LTU redneck coach would totally screw again and would unleash his idiotic provincial mind full force as Maskvytis did.

The only guy who is above that and has balls and BB eye to make proper decisions and define roles properly - Jasikevicius. No other LTU coach is capable to do that.

 

[Shawshank2]

[No message]

 

[Shawshank2]

Balciunas is attacked for the reason. Everybody can see he openly lying again and again

He return to his money loudering business using his own created company and using lithuanian basketball name


Like said from day 1 do not trust person that already was in court with clear coruption charges and put him as head of lithuanian basketball was insanity.

Balciunas comeback way more smarter after those 8 years with way better understanding of lkf system and with more effective stealing plan


Sabonis or Javtokas they are millionairs former players little point for them to try to steal money,

Balciunas stealing money main goal why he comeback to federation​

 

[Straight forward2]

My main issue is that the election system should be different. FOA, voting should be anonymous. That's how democracy works. If it's public, then it's a about "giving and taking back". Second, units that have direct ties with federation, or, say, separate individuals who have direct working ties with federation, can't vote. Voting should come from BB environments that don't have direct working ties with federation.

That's how I see it. I think next elections will be even more interesting cause I believe some-one will want to change this system and unite the BB elite (in a good way, like best people) to claim this position back.

Balciunas lost the support of majority of BB people in Lithuania. That's main problem. Those people will be passive as long as he's in charge. Some new young dude should take federation. Well, not necessary young, but active and who have good ties with best people. OK, I would love to see how Javtokas does. To me, he's lazy and unprepared always, but maybe I'm wrong

Javtokas claims that these people support him:

Arvydas Sabonis, Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Jonas Valančiūnas, Paulius Motiejūnas, Dainius Adomaitis, Ramūnas Butautas, Jonas Mačiulis, Mantas Kalnietis, Martynas Pocius, Tomas Balčėtis, Martynas Purlys, Rimantas Kaukėnas, Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Benas Matkevičius, Justinas Grainys.

What's left for Balciunas? Nickus, Pacesas (?) and such?

 

[Straight forward2]

My way too early 2025 EB roster prediction (we should get a ticket first though):

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

If that's the case, I'm completely satisfied with the improvements of the NT whatever the outcome result wise. I don't ask big things from 2025, it may come, but I don't demand. This roster alone would be huge step forward and intense process that we should trust.

If Kuzminskas and Buzelis out, I would be looking to find place for Murauskas. It's important to get the future key pieces to the NT as soon as possible.

 

[Hepcat2]

My way too early 2025 EB roster prediction (we should get a ticket first though):

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

​If that's the case, I'm completely satisfied with the improvements of the NT whatever the outcome result wise. I don't ask big things from 2025, it may come, but I don't demand. This roster alone would be huge step forward and intense process that we should trust.

If Kuzminskas and Buzelis out, I would be looking to find place for Murauskas. It's important to get the future key pieces to the NT as soon as possible.

I disagree 100%. Once again you're showing yourself to be a fan of certain players as opposed to Team Lietuva as a whole.



The team should be judged by the results it achieves on the court and not on whether the player selection conforms to your personal aesthetic preferences. The quality of a team is determined by its tournament performance not a priori through scouting reports and such. Therefore if the Team Lietuva coach selects precisely the players on your list and the team flops (no medal) at the 2025 Eurobasket, he'll deserve very strong criticism for his player selection.
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[Straight forward2]

I mean I would love to see Lithuania winning something big, but simply France, Serbia, Germany are surely stronger today and Spain most likely too. So there's no objective ground for it.

Then Latvia, Greece, Slovenia and some others on the same tier.

So...

 

[Dirtyh2]

I mean I would love to see Lithuania winning something big, but simply France, Serbia, Germany are surely stronger today and Spain most likely too. So there's no objective ground for it.

Then Latvia, Greece, Slovenia and some others on the same tier.

So...

It's third NT summer in a row. Very few NBA players will play.

 

[Shawshank2]

Eurobasket 2025 rosters will be clearly weaker than 2024 was.

First year on new olympic its time to integrade new tallents and start preparing them for 2028 and dont expect big results in their first summer.


LTU fans need to stop dreaming and see reality. Making top 8 for Lithuania basketball is good result last 10 years.


9th place, 9th place, DNP, 15th place, 6th place, DNP Thats how looked last 6 fiba tournaments.

This is simply strenght of our NT in 2017-2024.


And i dont see new euroleague star or new 10pts nba player comming to change this trajectory in 2025. Without adding such calibre star results wont change drastically

The best scenerio we can expect in 2025 is to have 2023 NTs vibes when tallent was limited,but pieces fit together.

 

[Toruko2]

Looking at the roster I can say its certainly weaker than 2022

 

[Straight forward2]

Dirtyh​, not sure about it. There's a gap in 2026, so why not to play in 2025 when you know you will rest next summer? But some teams as Serbia may not attract Jokic and maybe even Bogi who is not getting younger. Probably no Giannis for Greece too so, yeah, things might get interesting.

SS, you finally got it. Good for you. Besides, I do expect Buzelis to be +10ppg in the rookie season. Something like 9-14ppg with not goof FG % is what I see for Matas in his first year.

Toruko, why do you see that? I don't see it at all if it will be the roster like I said (and who knows maybe Grigonis, Ulanovas, Butkevicius will still play and such, but I think we should spill new blood). If you look at 2022 roster, best 4th and 5th players were Jokubaitis and Brazdeikis. They both will be way better than in 2022, specially Jokubaitis I think who has higher ceiling. Then if Buzelis comes it's a whole another story. Yeah, still young, but still a piece with some amazing abilities. Sabonis should be better than 2022. Let not his injured and not prepared self make you think that he's useless. With full preparation and mesh, he still can be a force. JV won't be as good, that's true and maybe Grigonis out (but both choked in knock out stage so...). IDK, at the very least I don't see that 2025 would be obviously weaker. I would actually be more on the side that this team having higher upside. Specially if younger pieces as Sirvydis, Tubelis, Marciulionis, Rubstavicius will provide something and they can cause it's a players with good upside. Not all of them would off course, but if some Sirvydis and Tubelis provides it's already nice. And Marciulionis can bring D and facilitation at the very least for his grindy 15-18mpg. It's much more tricky than you guys say.