Lithuanian NT 2016 Olympics

[Straight forward2]

Shawshank, I think it's too soon to write off any player of current core, except Javtokas who retired (respect for this man!) and those who will decide to retire. Look at Spain, Argentina, France. Their 34-36yo best players are here in Olympics and they contributing. Our 39yo Kaukėnas could give us a boost and probably Pocius as well seeing how Mantas and Seibutis were lone fighters at the backourt. It all comes down to what kind of new material will come to the NT. If some talent will come, it will push out veterans, but generally it's too soon to talk about some radical change of ~1985 generation. It may not play the main role, but it's not necessary fading away.

Also, it's way too soon to talk about Sabonis position. In 4 years he can become a terrific shooter from distance. He only starting his career.

Seems like we all agree we need players who can create, facilitate, make plays for others, be able to create it's own shot. We can treasure those times when we had such brilliant creators with wonderful basketball IQ as Jasikevičius and Šiškauskas in one team surrounded by brilliant players as Štombergas and Macijauskas even more now. 4-5 first round NBA bigs barely can match this bunch of Euroleague's stars who had computers in their heads.

Even if Grigonis eventually chocked mentally in OG and missed his threes, but I think peaking Grigonis will surely improve NT's IQ and creativity at least a little bit. He has some of those 00's NT instincts in him and with time it will be more noticeable. He's pretty nice peace and we'll need more of that kind.

 

[Modis2]

So would it be to soon to call guys like A.Velicka M.Varnas or T.Sedekerskis to camp next summer ? I know A.Velicka 17 who is completely still a kid but his IQ and skill for the game is already ahead of his age group, would be a good experience for them in friendlies. Some might argue why bother with them and that only those players are called that are potential contenders for the final roster but pretty much every year our final roster is very similar, next year will be same especially if Kazlauskas stays as he didin't say anything yet about him leaving.

PG Kalnietis Kariniauskas
SG Seibutis,Grigonis,Juskevicius
SF Kuzminskas,Ulanovas
PF Motiejunas,Jankunas,Sabonis
C Valanciunas,Kavaliauskas

 

[Straight forward2]

So would it be to soon to call guys like A.Velicka M.Varnas or T.Sedekerskis to camp next summer ? I know A.Velicka 17 who is completely still a kid but his IQ and skill for the game is already ahead of his age group, would be a good experience for them in friendlies. Some might argue why bother with them and that only those players are called that are potential contenders for the final roster but pretty much every year our final roster is very similar, next year will be same especially if Kazlauskas stays as he didin't say anything yet about him leaving.

I think it's too soon and chances to see any of them are minimal. All of those guys can play at U18 and U20 and they'll have their field of development. On other hand, if Kalnietis (which I doubt because he's NT freak), Seibutis would decide to skip EB we could see some other young faces as Lekavičius, Paulius Valinskas (he's more matured physically and will be 21yo). Probably we would see Janavičius, Juškevičius, Kariniauskas, Giedraitis as a candidates. Off course, we want to see those high upside prospects in the NT as soon as possible, but putting them in too soon can hurt. Actually I would lean only to Velička as crazy as it sounds. He's youngest, but it's a desert in his position and he's already bulked and sturdy enough to hang out with NT players. But again - is it better to train with NT candidates with limited chances to make it, or to play big time basketball at U18 and to lead that team to the podium? He most likely will play for U18. BTW, call me crazy, but if I had to choose Kariniauskas or Lekavičius I still would go with latter because he played some big minutes in fire and he wasn't shaking his legs, played heck of defence while Kariniauskas didn't provide any impact to the team and we saw what happened when he came of the bench against Australia, he couldn't pass the mid court line with ball in his hands. Future will show who is more talented, but I'm not yet sold on Kariniauskas at all.

 

[remigijus2]

Kristupas Zemaitis looks quite promising as SG was named as All-Star Five in u20 2016.

 

[Straight forward2]

Kristupas Zemaitis looks quite promising as SG was named as All-Star Five in u20 2016.

Yeah, he's interesting, but seems to be ultimate team player. We so need some higher profile guards. Some real talent.

BTW, I came to an idea that Kazlauskas tested and gave experience to 4 back-up PGs. Vasilauskas, Juskevicius, Lekavicius and Kariniauskas. Except Adas in 2014 everybody generally failed (Adas failed this summer as well), but at the end of the day 2 of them are young and already knows what it takes to play for the NT. That's an impact of Kazlauskas for the future, we should value that.

 

[Hepcat2]

So would it be to soon to call guys like A.Velicka M.Varnas or T.Sedekerskis to camp next summer ? I know A.Velicka 17 who is completely still a kid but his IQ and skill for the game is already ahead of his age group, would be a good experience for them in friendlies. Some might argue why bother with them and that only those players are called that are potential contenders for the final roster but pretty much every year our final roster is very similar, next year will be same especially if Kazlauskas stays as he didin't say anything yet about him leaving.

PG Kalnietis Kariniauskas
SG Seibutis,Grigonis,Juskevicius
SF Kuzminskas,Ulanovas
PF Motiejunas,Jankunas,Sabonis
C Valanciunas,Kavaliauskas

No Maciulis? How about:

PG Kalnietis Kariniauskas
SG Seibutis,Grigonis,Juskevicius
SF Maciulis,Kuzminskas,Ulanovas
PF Jankunas,Sabonis
C Valanciunas,Motiejunas

 

[Modis2]

No Maciulis? How about:

PG Kalnietis Kariniauskas
SG Seibutis,Grigonis,Juskevicius
SF Maciulis,Kuzminskas,Ulanovas
PF Jankunas,Sabonis
C Valanciunas,Motiejunas

Maciulis said he might take a break. Also i wouldn't be surprised if more of our veterans decide to do the same like Seibutis or even Kalnietis but then we would be totally screwed at PG.

 

[Shawshank2]

PF in 21 century MUST HIT 3 pointers just must ! Look at Mirotics,Bjelicas,Anthonys,Andersons,Sarics,Galinari and so on. If PF is not doing that it will be 2 times more difficut for Valanciunas to play inside,because that PF is not guarding our Pf that is not making shots and Jonas playing basically 1 vs 2 in offence...I didnt like Valanciunas+Sabonis together,we couldnt score...Valanciunas need PF near him that can shoot 3pointer,than he will be effective more and will have space to operate.I am not a fan of putting Sabonis together with Valanciunas after wathcing this olympics... Sabonis should replace Valanciunas,but not play them together.

Domantas too feels way better in center position,when he can show him moves inside.

Problem was only Jankunas is PF that can shoot,so Kazlauskas didnt have what to do.So he tried Sabonis ,but it wasnt working offensively.And when opponents saw that Sabonis isnt making shots,they shut down entire inside lane with C and PF near Valanciunas.

We need new Kleiza/Lavrinovics brother type player,but not play 2 centers together that both cant shoot...thats old a nd slow basketball and is not effective againts strong and well prepared opponents.


We dont have creators,we dont have shooters how the hell we still so good ?

 

[Hepcat2]

PF in 21 century MUST HIT 3 pointers just must ! Look at Mirotics,Bjelicas,Anthonys,Andersons,Sarics,Galinari and so on. If PF is not doing that it will be 2 times more difficut for Valanciunas to play inside,because that PF is not guarding our Pf that is not making shots and Jonas playing basically 1 vs 2 in offence...I didnt like Valanciunas+Sabonis together,we couldnt score...Valanciunas need PF near him that can shoot 3pointer,than he will be effective more and will have space to operate.I am not a fan of putting Sabonis together with Valanciunas after wathcing this olympics... Sabonis should replace Valanciunas,but not play them together.

Domantas too feels way better in center position,when he can show him moves inside.

Problem was only Jankunas is PF that can shoot,so Kazlauskas didnt have what to do.So he tried Sabonis ,but it wasnt working offensively.And when opponents saw that Sabonis isnt making shots,they shut down entire inside lane with C and PF near Valanciunas.

We need new Kleiza/Lavrinovics brother type player,but not play 2 centers together that both cant shoot...thats old a nd slow basketball and is not effective againts strong and well prepared opponents.

Very good points!

Team Lietuva had two major weaknesses this year. First of all at center. Despite having three on the roster,

A. The team didn't have a single huge physically dominant center. I'm talking 219 centimetres plus and not a string bean.

B. The team had no center who could shoot the three, and only one big (Jankūnas) who could shoot the three. That's why I frowned when Darjuš was told by his doctors that he needed a couple of months rest to mend his battered body. On this front Donatas Motiejūnas could/would have helped but he chose to hold out for a larger contract offer instead of playing for Team Lietuva.

C. The team didn't have a single center who was quick enough to defend both the three and protect the rim. Domantas Sabonis was perhaps quick enough but he just doesn't have the height plus wingspan of a true center so that the team's rebounding ended up suffering.

Secondly guard.

Mantas Kalnietis was amazing and far and away the best player on the team. And Renaldas Seibutis made a solid contribution as well. But when the only other guard who was given meaningful minutes on the floor was a 22 year old first timer who was no better than alright, the team couldn't go far. Perhaps had Rimantas Kaukėnas stuck around for one last kick at the can....

 

[Hepcat2]

Spain broken our team mentaly and its was never same after that game....Kazlauskas is not magic men to overachieve all 4 summers.As i said after 2012 Olympics we will have problems,we dont have same tallent pool and no creative players at all.

Maybe that Spain game was indeed the key. Coach Kazlauskas was able to work his magic with teams that weren't as talented as the top teams from 2013-15 but there was nothing he could do with a team that was shell-shocked after the Spain debacle.

Did this team played better than 2012 team? i dont know,but what thing is for me i feel way more dissapointed how we finished the tournament...in 2012 we finished in fighting 1/4 game with some chances making semifinal... last 3 games 2016 team played like 2009 team...without a single chance...

I agree! Yes, the 2012 team didn't end up winning against anybody of note, but they really gave the United States a game and with an extra shot or two falling late in the game they might have won. And they were in the quarterfinal against Russia until the last half minute of play. So I ended up disappointed but I had a straw or two at which I could clutch. Meanwhile, although the 2016 team beat two decent teams in Brazil and Argentina, the only noteworthy memories I'll have of the team are nightmarish ones. Being annihilated by Spain and then thoroughly beaten in the quarterfinal, I mean I just want to forget the basketball portion of these Olympics.

 

[Shawshank2]

Mantas Kalnietis was amazing and far and away the best player on the team. And Renaldas Seibutis made a solid contribution as well. But when the only other guard who was given meaningful minutes on the floor was a 22 year old first timer who was no better than alright, the team couldn't go far. Perhaps had Rimantas Kaukėnas stuck around for one last kick at the can....

As it looks now we will have to go next Olympic cycle again with Kalnietis (30) and Seibutis (31) in our backourt for 2017-2020 runs...Our Backourt never looked so weak.Thanks god are those 2,that hides that problem as possible to hide this problematic situation. But they will be in 2019 33 and 34 years old and that alot for guards...We need to prepare as best possible for 2019 campaign...(2017 meaningles championship,2018 will be no champ at all).

For all the guard Kazlauskas tried ( and he tried alot of them!) in 2013-2016 nobody taken their chances...The only hope now it is Grigonis to play in SG.In this Olympics he choked,but what can you hope for rookie in Olympics? But he shown really good prospects for the future.In PG its Empty NOTHING...

 

[Shawshank2]

In the last Olympic day i want to remember player that deserved to be remembered.Player that dedicated 15 years to our national team jersey.Player that got alot of criticize from our fans,but he always would return and help our national team year after year...But all runs comes to the end.

Yes im talking about Robertas Javtokas.If not counting qualifications tournament games of 1995,1997,1999,2003,but count only main official tournament games Javtokas played them the most than any other Lithuania national team member ever 91 official tournament games !.

In the 13th official tournaments Robertas proudly weared Lietuva jersey !

When Tim Duncan retired this year,alot of people were saying what a fantastic teammate and human being he was.I can say same about Robertas Javtokas for me he was the beat teammate Lithuania national team ever had.Big brother in loockeroom that all player could count on when things went badly inside the loockeroom.

There were time when Robertas was broking world record 3m65...than accident took away alot from him and almost took his life...but after that his mind and heart was alot tougher and stronger and than he become best captain you ever want to have.


I will always remember 2010 when "one leg Javtokas" stood like a wall and defended our basket from anybody who came closer to it.Fantastic "goolkeeping" i that champ i have ever seen in my life from any player.

Thank you for all the memories Captain ! #15

 

[Modis2]

In the last Olympic day i want to remember player that deserved to be remembered.Player that dedicated 15 years to our national team jersey.Player that got alot of criticize from our fans,but he always would return and help our national team year after year...But all runs comes to the end.

Yes im talking about Robertas Javtokas.If not counting qualifications tournament games of 1995,1997,1999,2003,but count only main official tournament games Javtokas played them the most than any other Lithuania national team member ever 91 official tournament games !.

In the 13th official tournaments Robertas proudly weared Lietuva jersey !

When Tim Duncan retired this year,alot of people were saying what a fantastic teammate and human being he was.I can say same about Robertas Javtokas for me he was the beat teammate Lithuania national team ever had.Big brother in loockeroom that all player could count on when things went badly inside the loockeroom.

There were time when Robertas was broking world record 3m65...than accident took away alot from him and almost took his life...but after that his mind and heart was alot tougher and stronger and than he become best captain you ever want to have.


I will always remember 2010 when "one leg Javtokas" stood like a wall and defended our basket from anybody who came closer to it.Fantastic "goolkeeping" i that champ i have ever seen in my life from any player.

Thank you for all the memories Captain ! #15

Javtokas was a real monster physically and athletic. He was made for NBA but of course the motorbike accident.

 

[Mindozas6]

As expected, sadly, Jonas Kazlauskas also retired from NT. No matter dissapointing last 3 games, he did marvelous job by bringing this limited NT to 2 Eurobasket finals, 4th place in World Cup and what's the most important to Olympics. In 2013 I was really sceptical about our chances to make it to Rio, but Kazlauskas did it.
Now it'll be really interesting to see who will be the next coach. I literally have no idea what's gonna happen

 

[madmax2]

Hopefully Kurtis won't ask for too much money and will agree to take reigns of this NT - a guy is very good psychologist and motivator and this young team needs a captain like him on the helm instead of the old school euro coach like Kazlauskas. Kurtis is also quite flexible in his offensive schemes and young talented guys will no longer be afraid to improvise on court

 

[Modis2]

There is a interesting voting going on right now on Krepsinis.net for who should be the next coach.
These are the results so far

Rimas Kurtinaitis with 2697 votes
Šarūnas Jasikevičius with 1012 votes
Dainius Adomaitis with 398 votes
Tomas Pačėsas with 286 votes
Gintaras Krapikas with 283 votes
A foreign coach with 236 votes
Kazys Maksvytis with 217 votes
Darius Maskoliūnas with 81 votes

 

[Mindozas6]

Kurtinaitis indeed would be the best option now IMO. But he stated lot of times that he won't mix club job with NT and he recently signed 2 years deal with Cantu. Another thing is that he doesn't like this new FIBA system, all that qualification games windows and etc. it doesn't match with the way he sees himself working as NT coach.

 

[Shawshank2]

As expected, sadly, Jonas Kazlauskas also retired from NT. No matter dissapointing last 3 games, he did marvelous job by bringing this limited NT to 2 Eurobasket finals, 4th place in World Cup and what's the most important to Olympics. In 2013 I was really sceptical about our chances to make it to Rio, but Kazlauskas did it.
Now it'll be really interesting to see who will be the next coach. I literally have no idea what's gonna happen

I agree with everything.Jonas Kazlauskas did very good job in this 4 years,i was skeptical about our chances making to Rio too after 2012 Olympics.Kazlauskas prooved me wrong,but also 3 games that we won in lasts seconds was also some luck on our side otherwise no Rio2016 even with very good coaching of Jonas...Right now i dont see situation aint better,we will strugle making next Olympics and next coach will have huge pressure to do that,otherwise he can become first lithuanian coach who wouldnt make olympics...

Is Lithuania federation ready to higher foreigner coach or we still far away for doing that ? Because if not Kurtinaitis,others are just lkl level coaches...

 

[Hepcat2]

And what the hell has gone wrong with Lithuania's rebounding? Spain and Croatia savaged the team on the boards these last two games. And Lithuania winning the battle of the boards is something on which we could always count.

Now that I've had time to look back and think about the team, I can answer my own question. While Domantas Sabonis offered more quickness at the C position than did Jonas Valančiūnas, rebounding suffered when Sabonis was in at C because he doesn't have the height and wingspan of the ideal center.

Moreover when Sabonis was in at the C slot, the only substitute for Paulius Jankūnas at PF was Mindaugas Kuzminskas. While Kuzminskas has his own set of skills, he doesn't offer the "power" at PF to help dominate the boards.

 

[Hepcat2]

PF in 21 century MUST HIT 3 pointers just must ! Look at Mirotics,Bjelicas,Anthonys,Andersons,Sarics,Galinari and so on. If PF is not doing that it will be 2 times more difficut for Valanciunas to play inside,because that PF is not guarding our Pf that is not making shots and Jonas playing basically 1 vs 2 in offence...I didnt like Valanciunas+Sabonis together,we couldnt score...Valanciunas need PF near him that can shoot 3pointer,than he will be effective more and will have space to operate.I am not a fan of putting Sabonis together with Valanciunas after wathcing this olympics... Sabonis should replace Valanciunas,but not play them together.

Hmmmm, that would also imply that only Paulius Jankūnas and Mindaugas Kuzminskas could fill the PF slot when Valančiūnas was on the court.