All time NT

[Straight forward2]

Grigonis is a stud. However, has kind if weak body, lots of injuries. Maybe he should work on his body a bit more, either way his game relies more on technical drives and not speed, so adding some muscle shouldn't hurt.

Good point. That has been a problem. I remember he even had serious injury while being 18yo, later performing clutch for U18 EC. He had health problems in all three NT season so far - 2016, 2017, 2019. It's pretty crazy. In 2019 it wasn't exactly injury, but he found his way not to be 100% ready anyway Now Zalgiris tasted this as well. Hopefully it won't influence his career all that much, still very consistent and ever growing career.

Lekavicius is my favourite from day one.

Mr. Underrated. Silently snatched six solid EL seasons, assuming he utilized well his fragmental chances with PAO. He was so huge in WC 2019. And than very solid season with Zalgiris, sinking some game winners and being NO.1 guy for couple of months basically. Let's see what those 2 studs can bring in 2021 and 2022 because they will be absolute bosses of the backourt in these 2 tournaments.

 

[Shawshank2]

basketnews drafted all time NT team players and picks in order looked like this:

1.S.Marciulionis
2.A.Sabonis
3.S.Jasikevicius
4.L.Kleiza
5.M.Kalnietis
6.A.Karnisovas
7.J.Valanciunas
8.A.Macijauskas
9.R.Siskauskas
10.S.Stombergas

obviuosly Kalnietis was taken too high because 3 teams needed pg to choose early,but still what he did in last decade i believe he deserves spot in all time NT top 10 players list.

I think they nail it well with top 10 only you can rank them diffrently.

For me this is 10 best players by what they brought to our NT over all those 28 years history.

There are 3-4 other players that would have their case to be also in top10,but those 10 first chosen with a seriuos reason stuck in fans minds.

 

[ZaliaBalta2]

Okay, so krepsinisNET started a rubric "TOP 50 lithuanian basketball players". (Currently playing, judging by 19/20 season only, so no past results and no future expectations)

Obviously the competence of people that are behind this rating is (very) questionable, but at least we get a room for discussions. I can already see them putting Tomas Dimša in some 10th place, cause they are somehow super mega excited about him

Let's see how they allocated the bottom 10 places (50-41)

50. Laurynas Beliauskas
49. Gytis Radzevičius
48. Vytenis Lipkevičius
47. Martynas Sajus
46. Osvaldas Olisevičius
45. Karolis Lukošiūnas
44. Marek Blaževič
43. Rokas Gustys
42. Arnas Velička
41. Edgaras Želionis


Full article, where some honorable mentions are displayed:

https://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/...sininku-penkiasdesimtukas-50-41-vietos/303945


Thoughts and opinions? (if there is any)

 

[LuDux2]

Can't see how Lukosiunas and Sirydis could be above some lower ranked players without future expectations

 

[ZaliaBalta2]

Can't see how Lukosiunas and Sirydis could be above some lower ranked players without future expectations

That's what I thought. It will be interesting to see, where they place Sirvydis with his 4.2EFF and 5.7PTS at LKL. Lukošiūnas at top 50 is also quite surprising. I guess they are just going to contradict themselves and look at the potential of a player a bit.

On the other hand, 50 players is a pretty big number for our nation. Well, we will have more cases to discuss about when they release next 10 places.

 

[Straight forward2]

I think top 50 is interesting, but I don't have time to go as deep at the moment and I'm not so super sharp-sighted LKL follower, but I found it interesting to take my shot at top 20 prior krepsinis.net shot. I think they will put Rokas Giedraitis way higher than I will put, some of them have him as top 5 Lith today. Here's my take:

1. Sabonis
2. Valanciunas
3. Grigonis
4. Gudaitis
5. Kuzminskas
6. Ulanovas
7. Lekavicius
8. Giedraitis
9. Kalnietis
10. Kulboka
11. Jankunas
12. Jokubaitis
13. Butkevicius
14. Echodas
15. Sedekerskis
16. G. Masiulis
17. Brazdeikis.
18. Motiejunas
19. Milaknis
20. Bendzius
21. Geben
22. A. Juskevicius
23. Birutis.
24. Maciulis
25. T. Dimsa
26. Seibutis

I hope I didn't miss some-one, but that's about top 25 players in the country, IMO.

PS: I marked guards. So backourt/frontline relation is 8/18 in this list and that's no OK. Only three guards in top 10. We need more.

 

[madmax2]

Kulboka much higher than Motiejunas on your list?
What this kid has actually proven so far lmao...you never fail to dissapoint with your homerism SF, never change

 

[Straight forward2]

Kulboka much higher than Motiejunas on your list?
What this kid has actually proven so far lmao...you never fail to dissapoint with your homerism SF, never change

It's not homerism, it's opinion. Motiejunas today is the guy who walks in the D. He would be in trouble in any real PRO league. He also playing within certain energy level, protecting his back. D-Mo was my favourite prospect back in the day, I followed him closely, now he's galaxes away from what he was in 2014/2015 season for the Rockets.

When traditional lanky center Birutis looks 2 times better defensive player than you, you're in trouble as far as serious PRO career goes. I would even have wonders whenever Birtutis and Geben are better players overall already. D-Mo has more offence obviously, but other 2 are way better defensively already and gives much more hustle.

 

[Straight forward2]

nah, bruh, the criterion of that ranking is out of hand. F.e. how Tarolis can be higher than Sedekerskis while the first never even had such season as Sedekerskis provided this season (stats wise)? Not to mention that Sedekerskis is way more all around, team orientated and much more intelligent player. Bickauskas and Tarolis are better...serious stuff...

 

[ZaliaBalta2]

Well, as we can see the competence about basketball of knet journalists is very superficial. Obviously it's not a surprise. If they judge only by this season, how can they put Sedekerskis lower than Sirvydis, which has not shown up in the list yet (36 places have been disclosed). We'll definitely see a lot of illogical rankings in the near future.

40. Eigirdas Žukauskas
39. Žygimantas Janavičius
38. Tadas Sedekerskis
37. Donatas Tarolis
36. Dovis Bičkauskis

 

[Shawshank2]

current best 10 players for me is more less is 2019 NT players+Gudaitis .I thought that team collected all our best players right now.More less all of them were/could be euroleague calibre players in one or other role.

Interesting would be to see how they gonna rank 10-20 places is where you could rank in diffrent ways and all of them would have their cases .Thats were ltu eurocup material players is now and trying to make jump to higher level and making more seriuos knocks on NT door too+ some declining veterans.

My ranking of second ltu team today would look like that:

11.J.Maciulis
12.P.Jankunas
13.A.Milaknis
14.A.Juskevicius
15.R.Jokubaitis
16.A.Kulboka
17.E.Bendzius
18.G.Masiulis
19.T.Dimsa
20.I.Brazdeikis (but just speculation i have no idea how he would look in normal basketball game)

this is players i see having chance getting invite in 2021 olympic camp atleats how things is looking now.But alot will depend what season they will have in 2020/2021.


when we will bring one the best entire europes frontcourts that is set to play together till 2024 Olympics in Valanciunas,Sabonis,Gudaitis

such players like Geben,Birutis,Motiejunas,Echodas im very skeptical about their chances and cant rank them high ,unless one of them could play PF and make some long shots.We dont need 4th bruiser who plays only inside.Even 3 is too much for todays game.

 

[Straight forward2]

ShSh, I think not only Maciulis, but surely also Seibutis falls out from top 10. God knows what's left from Seibutis, but surely not much. While we actually saw how much left from Maciulis in windows. He's done and all that "dragging" and mumbling out of respect got out of hand. He's ain't 2021 NT material. I actually think at the end of the day Jankunas still showed most life out of veterans. He had like three solid EL games before virus broke out. He was putting some shit together. Not saying that he's 2021 NT material, no, but hierarchy would go like this, IM0 - Jankunas>Maciulis>Seibutis

 

[Straight forward2]

I have a feeling Sedekerskis gets underrated. The conception that there's something substantially wrong with him stuck a little in some people's minds. He got a solid season, efficiency wise huge season, he has physicality, has D, has all around game and he seen levels of basketball, be it small stretches with Baskonia. He was balling for top LKL team and ended up 7 most valuable player of the league, third most efficient from top clubs (after Sakic and Leday). As a matter of fact, I would have Jokubaitis, Kulboka, Sedekerskis, Brazdeikis as most ready and nearest to the NT youngsters overall (assuming Echodas doesn't stand a chance because of completely filled position). Really would love to see him in Rytas next season, playing in Eurocup.

 

[Shawshank2]

Maskoliunas used Maciulis as pf in those 2 games and played him not some limited minutes either.I gues coach liked his change everything in defence with him againts Czechs .He was playing in 4th querter of that game when game turned around with Jokubaitis,Birutis,Butkevicius,Maciulis those were main faces in 4 querter that defensively stopped Czechs finally .Only Bendzius offensive show let NT stay close in first 3 querters when team defence with Dmo+Bendzius was horrible.

WC 2019 neither of them played well.But Maciulis was playing way more over Jankunas because from both of them Jonas is more mobile at this old age at that matter alot in defence when NT have limited team to prepare.

Seibutis I always loved how that men competed, but after very seriuos back injury at this age it's very unlikely we gonna see him on high level again.I don't see him in top 20 ltu anymore.

Health wise Maciulis is by far most stable from those 3 veterans is not even close.Health means alot at their age.

I give Maciulis best chance to still go strong enough to called by Maskoliunas after one year.When other 2 could even retire in 2021 summer if you ask me.

But it's possibly that neither of those 3 veterans will be in.Maciulis in podcast said he don't see himself finishing his career in some random lkl team like lavro bros did.

 

[LuDux2]

Competence or not, they overrate Rytas a lot (and Zalgiris in case of Lukosiunas). Strengh of Lietkabelis and Rytas very similar. Bickauskis and Normantas have similar roles and stats in similar minutes, Bickauskis #37, Normantas 0 points. Lipkevicius stats almost twice better than Sirvydis, one #48 other top 35

 

[Straight forward2]

But it's possibly that neither of those 3 veterans will be in.Maciulis in podcast said he don't see himself finishing his career in some random lkl team like lavro bros did.

It's absolutely most realistic possibility. I even stick to my position that our NT staff already this season (windows) underrated Kulboka, Sedekerskis (Did Maciulis and Bendzius played well? No. Maciulis was bleak and irrelevant in both games, Bendzius scored in one game, but sucked at D for good in both games). First has put better numbers at 10 times better ACB league than Maciulis' in A1 Greek. Other has put 14,2eff rating which is huge for a 21/22yo. In comparison, Maciulis at this age (nor even in Nevezis) never put such efficiency in LKL and his best is 15,4eff in his prime. Ulanovas never had such rating, nor even in Pieno Zvaigzdes or Neptunas. Kuz never got even close to this in Zalgiris. Let alone Bendzius, he's not putting such efficiency in his prime. Stats are not everything, but the fact is that the studs are growing and with this upcoming season I can basically see all Kulboka, Sedekerskis and probably Masiulis prevailing and pushing out washed out veterans. Even if they wouldn't, our veterans simply can't bring what NT team needs any more. So it's meaningless. Take up and coming studs, at least you'll seed for the nearest future at worst. We are in that kind of situation. It's really not the case of Saras, Kaukenas, Songaila in 2012. Those still had much more game left. 2021 would be more of funeral for current vets than realistic campaign of competition.

 

[Shawshank2]

Comon Bendzius played well against Czech when you score 25pts its impossible to ignore that I hate his defence,but men can give NT that is needed badly and not that one game all previuos windows also.Maskoliunas talks highly about him.

Maciulis defensive is still good defender at PF position even at this age.Way better than Bendzius,Kulbokas or Masiulis kinds way better.Simply he is alot stronger and smarter.

reading your comment it seems Maciulis is playing in some greek 3rd league Maciulis last season played for 2nd best Greek team in standings ,that won greek cup ,made top 8 in champions league before it was cancelled and Jonas was playing in starting 5 all season long without no injuries at all.

That AEK team roster wise is not worse than Bilboa team.Kulboka himself said nobody believed in them before season that they ended in 5th spot in acb was huge suprise even for themselfs and cinderella storys hard to repeat 2 years.Roster wise Kulbokas team wasnt 5th best acb team,just everything clicked for them this season chemistry wise.

Put even todays Maciulis in lkl in any other team not called zalgiris we would average 10+pts no doubt in my mind.He simply would overpower inside those lkl players not counting centers like he did his entire career.

Ulanovas was asked recently where did you learn those back your smaller opponenet that no small forwards playing like that anymore.Answer was Jonas Maciulis that half season they played in Baltai together and had guard Maciulis inside over and over again.

Health wise Maciulis,Kalnietis,Milaknis are still in good health so i dont erase them yet from next summer Olympics and we will see how they gonna look in 2020-2021.Those 3 veterans can plays positions where NT need help.

But i dont believe in Jankunas and Seibutis health anymore.

there are players that finishes career because body is saying no more.Maciulis had such body that most likely he will decide not to play anymore in Lietkabelis type teams for nothing "ale Jasaitis" by his standarts and will retire because of his own desicion,not because his body would say no more... atleast i got such idea listening to his interview in 2020.

Sedekerskis kid is not seriuos talks.He has no chance in 2021 olympic summer.I dont need his numbers i saw his passive body language all season long.He needs coach that gonna demand for him badly,he reminds young Kuzminskas with unique body and very low self-confidence.Such players usually take off after 25th birthday ,because of intraverted type character it takes longer for them to finally show true strenght they have.

Btw Maciulis at Kulbokas and Sedekerkis age 22 was leader on universiada 2007 winner team and made loaded big time Ltu nt in 2007.So your comparisons just in number that kulboka and sedekerskis is doing something very special at age of 22 is not correct.

They are promissing players yes, but not more. Ltu history have seen better 21-22 old youngsters.

NT right now 2021-2023 is ready for winning with peaking 1992-1994 players,coach needs to add pieces that can give best help in limited minutes for main group,no experiments in olympic summer.

 

[Straight forward2]

To me Bendzius simply sucks too much at D. And his shooting is still streaky.

Maciulis may have still an edge over Kulboka, Sedekerskis defensively wise, but it's really not that much if any. His agility, ability to cover wide areas as he used to do in 2015 is all gone. His fundamentals still here, defensive IQ and shit, but his physicality and agility declined. Bilboa uses unique D with help defense from strong side, and Kulboka provided impressive help defence, flexibility and motor. I hope you seen him playing and not just speculating from your impressions from Youth level. Overall I think Kulboka is already more interesting and stronger piece than Maciulis.

You're too harsh on Sedekerskis. He has problems with offensive swagger, but he does tons of hard work which you overlooked. He always hustle, that's how he garbs 5,4 rebs (in comparison to taller Masiulis 4.1), he can defend multiple positions from 1-4. Comparison with Kuz is out of hand because Sedekerskis already has a tough body, not only athletic. Kuz had athletic, but soft body, while Sedekerskis doesn't mind contact. Also, Kuz never had defensive motor, while Sedekerskis has great defensive motor. Sure, lack of swagger overall is here, but he does so many and is able to score +8 points with only 5 shots, that's very nice. To say that he doesn't stand a chance to make NT in 2021 is out of hand. IMO, he is growing into most universal defensive player of the country. There's no other who would have such a decent shot at 1-4 positions as Sedekerskis. Butkevicius and Ulanovas are too small for 4 position.

Universiada? Wasn't that a bunch of youngsters? I mean, Maciulis never even was a standout as Sedekerskis was in Youth level. As well as Kulboka who was actually drafted. Both Sedekerskis and Kulboka have much higher upside as a prospects than Maciulis. That's not even a question. I mean Maciulis reached everything with blood, sweet and swagger. He never was treated as some big prospect, but managed to reach real high in his career. Sedekerskis and Kuboka were projected as late first rounders for quite few years, Tadas had funny numbers in all stages of youth tournaments, specially U16 21/8/5. Kluboka also was droppoing 16ppg at U18. Maciulis never had such numbers. If you think that Maciulis was better prospect (ever) than Sedekerskis or Kulboka you are lost. Maciulis was more of a Kozys type of prospect, even their Youth numbers are similar. Hard nose, tough, hard worker, fighter who tends to compensate the lack of talent and skill with huge swagger.
Shaw, you're not very good at evaluating the perspective of young players. You badly missed on Marciulionis, calling him a bust this summer and tend to make tons of mistakes, usually overrating some established players a bit and missing out on potential some prospects possess (conservative swagger, tendency to think that everything was better in the past and future changes for the worst). In terms of a prospects, Maciulis career is upper floor for both Kulboka and Sedekerskis. Both have higher ceiling than Maciulis.

 

[LuDux2]

Kozys 13.0 pt for 5th u20 team
Maciulis 14.6 pt for 2nd u20 team

 

[Straight forward2]

Kozys 13.0 pt for 5th u20 team
Maciulis 14.6 pt for 2nd u20 team

More like we should be putting like this:

Kozys 13 / 6.6 / 2.1
Maciulis 14,6 / 6.1 / 1

That's rather similar performances. I find their games very similar, but off course Maciulis was a bit better prospect.