I have to admit It's a pleasure for eyes to see Brazdeikis messing around with his beefy + size body at guard position. My goodness, specially after watching soft NT in the summer with soft Grigonis as our key player. We need physicality. Damn even Giedraitis is playing with intensity that has been missed. He's hustling, he's getting to the cup with contact. Off course, offensively he won't overdo and has limitations, but again 3 steals per game kinda dude instantly and I think he will make another step forward as a player this season. There's no way Sirvydis will me missing shots in all tournaments with NT. He's streaky and likely will remain so in terms of shooting, but he will be on a good shooting streak in some tournaments, I have no doubt. He's 24yo, in upcoming 2-3 years he still can be come more consistent and dominant player by all means. So far he looks great under Trinchieri and doesn't seem that he's backing off from competition from anybody. Lekavicius is probably done, at least for EL more or less, and I'm eagerly waiting for physical, athletic Marciulionis taking Lekavicius role. Another bulldog who can have 3 steals per game, can pass the ball and can SLASH IN and facilitate.
The addition of Brazdeikis, Marciulionis, Buzelis and better Jokubaitis can be huge step forward in terms of offensive creation. The fact the we been carried by a guy who can't slash against physical defense as lead guard is really pathetic. If those 4 guys what I mention will come, we will already be playing different basketball. Plus, I think Sirvydis will deliver. He won't be missing all the shots again and that's not the only way how he can score. He will show this season in EL, at least in some stretches. Also D. Giedraitis should be in the team and Rubstavicius as well (I think he will be huge in Eurocup this season).
This Trinch Zalgiris will reflect well what we will be season in 2025 in the NT also. A lot solid options, a lot of guys who can create with the ball (not on elite level yet maybe, but on a solid level). I want in the NT to see the same intense deep rotation that Zalgiris will show this season, something like that with the backcourt:
Jokubaitis 24min, Marciulionis 16
Brazdeikis 18, D. Giedraitis 14, Rubstavicius 8
Buzelis 22, Sirvydis 18
I expect something like that, and if that's the key, we are WAY more physical, stronger, versatile and incomparably more dangerous than in 2024 with Grigonis chucking against real D.
Jokubaitis, Brazdeikis, Buzelis taking key offensive roles of the backcourt in 2025 would be a nice step forward. All can get in, all are physical slashers. Not what we need to win big yet most likely, but still very nice improvements.
It's no-where near complete. Your most talented SG player Biberovic is at least yet inconsistent. At forwards you don't have a single game changer. At 5 you have prodigy Sengun, but he alone is unlikely to carry Turkey to big things as potential game changer. But I like him a lot.
