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Kaunas Zalgiris Thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Straight forward2
  • Start date Start date
Straight forward said:
Seems like Lelevicius is pretty much ready to step some onto LKL court. I don't understand why wouldn't Zalgiris loan him. Most players that Zalgiris keeps close goes nowhere, they just warm the bench and gets released. Just unleash Lelevicius early, he could get some serious minutes in Prienai or Kedainiai already./QUOTE]

I agree. Žalgiris doesn't seem to be the spot where many young players blossom into stars.They just don't get enough court time to develop their skills at Žalgiris.

:(
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Well, seems like Evans and Brazdeikis duet should be pretty dynamic for Zalgiris in EL this season.
 
Watched Zalgiris vs Wolves today. Maksvytis obviously experiments yet, but the starting line-up didn't make sense. Hayes, Smits, Ulanovas, Brazdeikis, Evans. This is a good defensive line-up, but both bigs have too little offense (I think generally Zalgiris overrated Smits offensive ability a little bit) and Ulanovas is limited offensive player as well. Maybe in Zalgiris Ulanovas back to the basket game is not the worst thing to do since they lack post players, but I really don't want to see this in NT. Again, starting 5 should be different, I think Cavanaugh should start. Hayes seems raw, but he will be decent. Good news that Evans seems to be nicely balanced PG, patiently looking for open men, can play defense. Brazdeikis will be good once he'll adjust to new teammates and plays.

I'm not sure about the bench. I really like that Zalgiris signed Butkevicius. But Dimsa comes off the bench for Brazdeikis? Is that EL rotation option? Lukosiunas is meh and will continue to be meh, IMO. Then Birutis sucks. He's not EL material and never will be, IMO. I don't understand how he's better than Blazevic.

Evans, Lekavicius (+Kalnietis for 5min)
Brazdeikis (+D. Giedraitis for 5-10min)
Ulanovas, Butkevicius
Smits, Cavanaugh
Hayes

These players are worthy EL rotation. But I think Zalgiris is lying to themselves about Birutis, Lukosiunas, Dimsa. They are not EL material and never will be, IMO. If D. Giedraitis won't establish himself as reliable role player as a guard, I think Zalgiris will be looking for another piece here during the season.

Zalgiris will be pretty good defensive team, but I'm not sure good enough to be truly winnable team. Probably not, but obviously it's a step forward compared to last year.
 
I like this year's Zalgiris. Solid defensive team. Offensively Evans is a solid PG with the ball, Brazdeikis creates a lot of pressure on D, Lekavicius will deliver too (off day tonight though), solid bigs in Hayes, Smits, Cavanaugh + solid role players Ulanovas, Butkevicius. But I sincerely don't understand what Lukosiunas is doing in the team. He had to be released 2 even not 3 years ago. Dimsa also is not Zalgiris' material. In EL such players as Lukosiunas, Birtutis, Dimsa will be basically unusable. Zalgiris also lacks shooting. Giedraitis still in rehab. His addition seems to be good fit for this roster. Basically after Brazdeikis there's no-one who can bring something at 2. Dimsa can have some crazy games once in 9 games, but that's all. If Giedraitis won't be able to fill the spot as back-up 2, Zalgiris will need addition here, IMO.
 
As expected Dimsa and Lukosiunas (specially) provide little help for the team. I mean Adas Juskevicius would be more useful than any of these. Is he so much more expensive than Dimsa?

Evans and Lekavicius both basically with an off games so Zalgiris had kinda bleak win over Prienai. Better this not happen in EL game.

Brazdeikis is kinda physically and emotionally down after EB, it is really felt. Still collects his points, but he's different. He had a long summer. Nevertheless, he should look at Doncic tapes a lot. This coordination and guard skills for 201cm, 98kg guy is rare. He's not as beefy and strong as Doncic obviously, but pretty damn strong and big while still doing his things. He needs to learn more of these up and under things that Doncic constantly do. They both are from same age group too 1999. Velicka and Musa are lucky that Doncic never played for Slovenia in Youth tournaments, it could be something nasty :)

https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1575513978452819972
 
The way Maksvytis handled the end of the game against Maccabi (going for one possession instead of two) partially shows why NT struggled with that. He doesn't know yet how to handle the ends and to control details and nuances.
 
Valanciunas was watching zalgiris-maccabi game from USA that's why zalgiris lost game ending.

Guards desicions have nothing to do with lossing close endings
 
last 4 minute Maksvytis went PF Ulanovas SF Butkevicius

and it worked defensively maccabi struggled alot scoring in last minutes

That can be an option for NT too 2023-2024 Ulanovas at PF in last 3-4minutes of close game and switch everything with Domas at C.

If we are putting not shooting player at PF so atleast lets put mobile battle tested euroleague player in game endings.

Brazdeikis is wild mustang if he feels that day play him 30min,if goes crazy with brainless desicions put him on bench. Coach must control him


Overall Zalgiris bottom 5 team in 2023 very strong euroleage by tallent i dont expect big things,i just want to see NT players improving playing againts highest level players.
 
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Straight forward said:
What's your prediction of Iggy's numbers for Zalgiris EL next season? Above or below Grigonis 20/21 Zalgiris numbers (13,4ppg)?

https://twitter.com/EDemirNBA/status/1554091325552635904
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Iggy with 14,5ppg after 2 games. Too soon to make conclusions, but he can get to the basket without much problems and finishes 61.1% from 2. Threes hasn't been falling yet and he can surely shoot better. IMO, Brazdeikis is a perfect fit to current Zalgiris. ISO freak who is hungry for the touches. I think Maksvytis should give the ball to him even more, as well as to Evans. But team defense is still an issue. He will need time.
 
Butkevicius>Ulanovas

Ulanovas is playing like 37yo already. Hope I won't see him in the NT ever again.
 
nice to see lithuanian players finally steal one game ending :)

Today our wild mustang delivered offensively.

Damm but that one was wrestling match,super physicality in euroleague. In eurobasket i didnt see such physicality.Players need real men muscles to survive outhere.

When Smits,Butkevicius,Ulanovas was in same lineup zalgiris defence was rock solid even in euroleague

Smits i like alot as PF/C. Smart,can make open shot,mobile,strong as horse and no fear in eyes.

From role players Dimsa deserving gets minutes so far , he competes very hard in defence even againts bigger bodies after switches.


negative thing 3point shooting 3/21 ...Its a little miracle team won game shooting like that
 
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Ulanovas old school post up againts Barsa guards works nicely :) 13pts in 12min

But reason why Zalgiris is fighting nicely is defence.

Evans+Dimsa pressuring Barsa guards in backourt. Ulanovas,Butkevicius,Smit,Hayes flying all over the floor with help defence after pikenrool.

Only weak links in defence is Lukas and in team rotation defence Iggy. Cavanaugh so so.

When 6,5 of 9 main players are good/solid defenders good team defence can be built.
 
again second game Ulanovas at PF Butkevicius at SF worked defensively nicely in last 4minutes of close game.


Now i get why Kazys waited Ulanovas desicion till last moment in NT too.

When Smit,Evans,Butkevicius,Ulanovas together on the floor my mind believes zalgiris gonna make defensive stop almost every time :)


Zalgiris offence is awful to watch in that case ,but defensively its euroleague level when they put their best defensive lineup


Bravo Zalgiris !
 
Dreamcatcher said:
Jokubaitis didn't close the game being wide open.
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Nor did Kalinic after Rokas' feed. Overall Jokubaitis was carrying Barsa in the 4th quarter, but couldn't close it.

Zalgiris has guts this season, has energy. I owe an apology for Ulanovas, would love to see him hustling and fighting like this each night. The team is still very raw offensive chemistry wise, but that's reserve. Butkevicius and even Dimsa fill hardworking roles nicely. If Giedraitis will add the same and some more shooting, it may be exciting season.
 
Kalinic really killed the game today for Barca. Bad first half of Jokubaitis, ambivalent in the second half but he neither has a killer instinct nor the green light of Jasikevicius to try it out in the clutch phase. His pass in the last offense was ok but he should have go to the rim instead of passing.
 
Toruko said:
Kalinic really killed the game today for Barca. Bad first half of Jokubaitis, ambivalent in the second half but he neither has a killer instinct nor the green light of Jasikevicius to try it out in the clutch phase. His pass in the last offense was ok but he should have go to the rim instead of passing.
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Ambivalent? I mean he dropped almost everything he shot, dished 4-5 assists, moved the ball to right corners. I loved how he instantly recognized mis-matches, I think at this point he already might better than Sato. He had ambivalent second half if you want Doncic from him. As 21yo guy he's playing insane bb in front of 15k Lith fans.

Kalinic thus far can't make his open shots in Barca. That's the main issue. So far he's the disappointment. I have ACB context in mind as well.
 
On other hand, Butkevicius! He sunk that crazy jumper against Maccabi (it was close off time though, but still) and now huge game winning three basically. If only he made those in Eurobasket...
 
Straight forward said:
On other hand, Butkevicius! He sunk that crazy jumper against Maccabi (it was close off time though, but still) and now huge game winning three basically. If only he made those in Eurobasket...
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There is a huge difference between do or die games and rs games as an underdog.
 
Toruko said:
Kalinic really killed the game today for Barca. Bad first half of Jokubaitis, ambivalent in the second half but he neither has a killer instinct nor the green light of Jasikevicius to try it out in the clutch phase. His pass in the last offense was ok but he should have go to the rim instead of passing.
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Kalinic playing so bad doesn't help, but IMO the biggest issues were Lapro who had a very bad game and who can't defend and Saras who gave him so many minutes. Jokubaitis who had overall a solid game played less. He should have eaten some Lapro's minutes for sure.
 
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