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Mindozas6
Moderator
So what we are discussing here about? You admit it yourself that in 00s we surely had better NT, that in 00s all the decade was stronger, which makes our achievements even more valuable, but then suddenly again you're starting to look for problems, trying to prove smth different... I don't get it, nor someone wrote that 2010 NT was not competitve, nor someone wrote anything like that about 2011/2012 teams... Just they've achieved what they've deserved, ok maybe in 2011 we could've finished 4th, but that's all.
Maaan, you have a talent to make simple things way too complicated
You dig way too deep when we are talking about such simple thing like goals for one given tournament. It's your strenght vs your rivals strenght. Evaluate it and you'll get the answer. Simple as that, it should have nothing to do with culture, love for the game or smth. Latter things are the ones that won't let basketball die in our country no matter how low we can fall in terms of talent, but it has nothing to do with realistic goals we should set for our NT for one, given tournament. Hopes will be higher of course, every player who'll play for NT will be heading to Olympics with hopes to get the medal, every fan will hope for that too. But hopes and reality not always comes together
Mindozas6
Moderator
Darjus got injured again, now it's meniscus and it might be season ending injury, so I guess we can forget about him in NT. Knowing that situation with bigs is getting closer to last year, when there were no D-Mo, no Kleiza, now Javtokas is under big question-mark too, and remembering how badly Kazlauskas wanted Darjus in NT, I guess there was a good chance for him to finish his NT career in Olympics. Moreover, he was having really good season as back-up big in Reggio Emilia. But now it's not likely to happen what so ever
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Straight forward2
Guest
Darjuš had that ability to be very productive in short time periods and that could be very useful for the NT. Yet even if he's healthy he's 2 years older compared to 2014 WC when the last time he played for the NT. I doubt Kazlauskas had a lot of hope to have him in the team. It's sad there's no good news about Kleiza. He still would be very useful if D-MO wouldn't play. But if D-MO will come, Lithuania is very good to go with JV, D-MO, Jankunas, Sabonis, Kavaliauskas/Gudaitis and Kuzmisnkas being able to play some 4. It's a bit sad about Darjuš, but Domantas developing as nicely as it can get.
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Shawshank2
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in 15min site is short interview and Darjus said is not that bad.There is chance that after months or little bit more he may return.So there still hope seeing him in Olympics i gues.If no Motiejunas,we definetely need one more big with 2m10+,because in 2012 that was the big problem,when he had only one young Jonas that was over 2m10 and we got owned under baskets by russians and others.Kavaliauskas,Gudaitis,Sabonis is bit too small playing defence against best real centers of the world.I believe we should take atleast one Darjus/Javtokas ofcourse if they are healthy. Because guard such players likes Baynes,Gasols,Gobert,Bourusis you need to have big bodys inside ,that 2m07 half center,half Pf doesnt work,they will make you pay inside .And Jonas as always will strugle in some games .We cant go only with on 2m10+ player .Even is Motiejunas is in ,i doutb he can guard powerfull centers as i mentione.If we do not want have same problem as in 2012,better hope that one of them Darjus/Javtokas would be ready to back up Valanciunas for one more time.
Mindozas6
Moderator
I don't see Darjus as some defensive boost, Javtokas could be such, all the sceptics could look at current Zalgiris defense without Javtokas and remember how it was with him and spot the difference. Of course in offense he is not a factor, but exactly such could be Darjus as with JV, Sabas, Kavaliauskas, the same Javtokas we lacked a big who could stretch the floor and be constant threat near perimeter. Jankunas can hit some jumper, some occasional three, but he is not on Darjus level what comes to shooting skills. With such big, JV would have so much easier job to do in the paint.
Of course the best thing would be to have healthy D-Mo
Of course the best thing would be to have healthy D-Mo
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Straight forward2
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Motiejunas was going against any center just before injury, including such monsters as Deandre Jordan and he kept him off the glass very well. The thing is D-Mo is big enough and very smart at positioning, boxing out. He won't collect a lot rebounds, but he's a great team rebounder. D-Mo could do so many things which NT lacked in 2015 - he would improve ball movement, would provide smooth in and out game (JV failed it, even though he's improving with passing out skills), he stretches the floor better than Jankunas and Lithuania would have legit second guy to go player after JV offensively. And JV would collect more easy points because D-Mo is a great and willing passer. NT would be so much more all around team with D-Mo. Fingers crossed, there are still chances he'll play.
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Shawshank2
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Yeah sure Motiejunas before injury would be big spark for our team on both ends of the floor.I loved his defence in pikenroolls agains guards...But Motiejunas now is like 30% of his own himself.Not sure how much can he improve in 5 months ,because now he looks not faster than Jonas does.Either way surely even 50% ready Motiejunas should be taken to the team,and kazlauskas will take him.But problem will be his new contract also and talks with club.Knowing nba they will say you are after seriuos injury and have to prepare your body for next season,not play seriuos competion like Olympic games in your free time...Alot "if" in this playing this summer.Somebody from our media could ask Donatas what is his own thoughts about playing in Olympics.He missed 2012 because he declined offer,i doubt he will want not to miss second olimpics...In 2020 Motiejunas will be already 30...
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Straight forward2
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I won't argue how long it will take for him to get back into shape, it could be 5 months, it can be 8 or 12 (or maybe never if his back continue to cause problems), but he's already playing and he played + 10 games after injury and till Olympics there are 6 months. If he'll stay healthy it should be enough to get back on track pretty much optimally.
You right, health and contract are 2 issues. Lithuanian fans should hope D-Mo will sign some sort of contract soon enough that NT could work on insurance issues and D-Mo could play. NT won't be able to do anything if he won't have a contract.
Media already asked him and he answered: 2015 10 "Everyone wants to play in Olympics. But many things are not up to me: my back, will I be needed, maybe coaches will decide to go with 2015 team. The are many factors. I want to play for sure, but it's still too far away in the future" 2015 12 "Not everything depends on me. If I will be invited than we'll see. If not, there's players who won the ticked. No-one knows how it will be. (...) Every sportsman's goal is to play and to win in Olympics. That's biggest honour since Sabonis' times and till now - the most prestige basketball tournament."
Also D-mo had some word fight with Batum about Olympics. He obviously wants to play, that's not an issue - health and contract is.
http://sportas.lrytas.lt/krepsinis/donatas-motiejunas-apie-skausma-garbe-ir-olimpines-zaidynes.htm
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Shawshank2
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yeah he played and looked badly.What progress he made in last 2 months after he begin playing is very slow,not even a single sign to any possible fast recovery...He played 10-games trash minutes and his body coulndt take them? that aint good,you dont need to be doctor to understand that...Hopefully everything will be fine,but things doesnt look promising.
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Straight forward2
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Do you think Pocius should be in the team? After thinking for a while my crazy answer is still - yes. The guy is pure SG player, a bit slower and less explosive, but still can get to the FT line, still can get inside and make a lay up or to find an open man, still can be pretty tough, also he still is better defender that any other SG after Seibutis. Even if he declined I think he should be rotational player.
Here's Eurobasket 2015 rotation:
Kalnietis (34) Lekavicius (9)
Seibutis (26) Milaknis (15), Gailius (8,5)
Maciulis (31) Kuzminskas (23)
Jankunas (24) Sabonis (7)
JV (27) Kavaliauskas (12), Javtokas (10)
I'm looking forward to see Kalnietis playing less and being fresh at knock out stage. Kuzminskas should play more. I want him to be second best scorer on the team after JV. He's a beast and having a great season. And call me crazy I can see Sabonis being one of the most productive bigs already this summer. The guy seem to be fearless and just fundamentally sound. Specially if D-Mo won't come, but I hope he will and if he does I want him to grab back-up centers minutes because currently there's no reliable back-up center option. I think D-Mo and Sabonis are 2 best options. Javtokas is too old and washed out (even injured at the moment), Kavaliauskas is big time foul prone and weak defensively generally and Gudaitis is too raw. Generally if all team gathered it will be athletic, tough and lengthy team, really nice packed at 5-3 positions.
Here's Eurobasket 2015 rotation:
Kalnietis (34) Lekavicius (9)
Seibutis (26) Milaknis (15), Gailius (8,5)
Maciulis (31) Kuzminskas (23)
Jankunas (24) Sabonis (7)
JV (27) Kavaliauskas (12), Javtokas (10)
I'm looking forward to see Kalnietis playing less and being fresh at knock out stage. Kuzminskas should play more. I want him to be second best scorer on the team after JV. He's a beast and having a great season. And call me crazy I can see Sabonis being one of the most productive bigs already this summer. The guy seem to be fearless and just fundamentally sound. Specially if D-Mo won't come, but I hope he will and if he does I want him to grab back-up centers minutes because currently there's no reliable back-up center option. I think D-Mo and Sabonis are 2 best options. Javtokas is too old and washed out (even injured at the moment), Kavaliauskas is big time foul prone and weak defensively generally and Gudaitis is too raw. Generally if all team gathered it will be athletic, tough and lengthy team, really nice packed at 5-3 positions.
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Svajunas2
Guest
Just finished watching Gonzaga vs BYU, Sabonis was amazing. Its not his scoring or rebounding that stands out for me, its his basketball IQ. He was also hacked , double teamed and fouled almost on all plays, but he kept his composure and had only 1 foul. While all 3 BYU bigs had 4 fouls each and scored 17 combined. So yeah, I expect him to have bigger role this year in NT.
Pocius seemed to have picked up his game lately. One thing I dont like is that neither Pocius nor Seibutis is a shooter. Both can hit three, but both are very inconsistent. Thank god we have Milaknis, hope he will be in good shape this summer. Grigonis should definetly be invited to the camp, but unless he play similar like Lekavicius last year in friendlies, Pocius will be going to the Olympics.
Mindozas6
Moderator
Pocius has dissapointing season, but knowing what kind of personal issues he had to go throught... Well, I tend to forget that part of the season and look further to see what he'll offer in final stages of the season and of course NT camps. Overall thinking, do we have lot of options to choose from? Seibutis is a lock, Milaknis probably will be there too, we need such shooter. Who else? Maybe Grigonis can surprise. Can't see other options tbh
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Modis2
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Probably nothing is oficiall yet with this but I heard US wants to play Lithuania in a friendly.
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Svajunas2
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Just curious, where did you hear it from?
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Modis2
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15min.lt had an article about it after Eurobasket 2015 that US is interested in playing Lithuania.
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Shawshank2
Guest
I believe Ulanovas has his case over Pocius,obviuosly he looks alot better right now...Ulanovas easilly can play SG.For Zalgiris he is defending from Pg-Sg-SF. When Ulanovas and Seibutis is together their are putting good pressure on defence.Knowing how Kazlauskas likes defenders,i see Ulanovas having chance overcome Pocius this summer already. Ofcourse he is rookie and Pocius experience will have advantage here,but overall Ulanovas should be very seriuos candidate making the team.
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arturcia2
Guest
Well maybe Ulanovas would be rookie in NT, but he is not rookie in high level basketbal. he plays average 29min every game in Euroleague TOP16, so he will be more then ready to be back-up SG/SF
Mindozas6
Moderator
One thing is to represent your club, other your country
NT is different story. The pressure in NT is huge, not every rookie can handle it, especially when we are talking about Olympics here. Of course it all depends on Ulanovas, if he will do good in friendlies, if coaches will see that he is ready psychologically, he surely has a good chance to make it, now he is surely better option than some Gailius who made it last year. Also his chances depends on one of the most interesting topics - what Kazlas will do with back-up PG position. Who will be those 11-12th players. Season comes to it's finishing stage, but situation still looks miserable here. I even thought about bringing Delininkaitis back to radar, when he started great in Greece, was named player of the week, but his later performances were dissapointing...