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Lithuanians in Euroleague

  • Thread starter Thread starter Straight forward2
  • Start date Start date
Dreamcatcher said:
You advocate him too much. F.e. today i watched the game against Oly and Jokubaitis in 9 min had an opportunity to score at least smth when he two times had an open 3pt shot and both times it wasn't close. Am i wrong thinking that today he was bad? I don't think so.
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That's not the point. I'm talking about whole picture. How many 23yo in EL with Jokubaitis experience, role and impact? None. From that perspective it's strange to hear all the concerns about him when he's still in way more advanced situation compared to basically all the rest young EL players. From this angle, my advocacy is absolutely justified and makes common sense.
I can only understand this differently if the expectations about Jokubaitis was raised so high that people now think that he has to give 10ppg, 6apg as 23yo player playing for Barca in playoffs. Well that's not gonna happen, but it's not gonna happen to any 23yo player in EL as well for sure too.
 
Straight forward said:
it's not gonna happen to any 23yo player in EL as well for sure too.
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It's because nowadays almost all good and promising youngsters go to NBA. 10 years ago 23 y.o. Mirotic played in EL final and he was one of Real leading players. Nowadays this kind of player goes to NBA long before he can explode in Europe.
 
Exactly, it only justify my point. People should understand what it takes to even be in the situation where Jokubaitis is now and they still ask more. Like, look how bad he plays, LOL...Who cares that he is best young point guard in EL ATM.

And even looking globally. How many international (non USA) point guards of his age in the NBA that we could 100% say they are better than Jokubaitis? One is obvious - Josh Giddey. And that's where the list ends generally. Zagars is on the same tier with Jokubaitis (he has been injured, otherwise he would face some playing time with Fener now). Nunez yet is not as good. Topic yet is also not as good, but he can get there in no time. Look at WC 2023. Giddey, Jokubaitis, Zagars were best young point guards in the game.

My point is simple, realize objectively how good is Jokubaitis for his age. When he will be 26-27 he will already be balling big time in EL. Book it.
 
Actually it doesn't justify your point. Quite oppositely. If all the best European talents hadn't gone to NBA, some of them would have had a decent role in a strong EL team (you didn't mention only point guards at first).

About Rokas balling big time in EL in a few years - in Zalgiris off course. But in another solid EL team and without Saras' help i don't know. At least your projections that he will be more important player in Barca soon has fallen down it seems.
 
Dreamcatcher said:
Actually it doesn't justify your point. Quite oppositely. If all the best European talents hadn't gone to NBA, some of them would have had a decent role in a strong EL team (you didn't mention only point guards at first).

About Rokas balling big time in EL in a few years - in Zalgiris off course. But in another solid EL team and without Saras' help i don't know. At least your projections that he will be more important player in Barca soon has fallen down it seems.
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But we should emphasize that we talk about PG position exactly. The hardest position to fill internationally. Killian Hayes, Maledon, Manion and so on all struggle(d) in the NBA. Jokubaitis current abilities, his experience and basketball IQ stand in a good place competing even with NBA young players.

There's only Haliburton, La Melo, Darius Garland, Cunningham, Giddey (maybe few others as Jallen Williams, Scoot Henderson, but god knows how they would look in FIBA and are they point guards at all) as sure fire better than Jokubaitis globally. I would say, he's in pretty decent situations.

My projection had little to do with Rubio coming back. In his prime Jokubaitis will lead final 4 teams at 1. Book it.
 
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Everyone who has an eye on BB and can study it, will understand that this player would be huge for Zalgiris next year. I'm laughing every time scrubby commentators doubting whenever Rokas can take over starting 1 spot :) He would take over all Zalgiris not freakin' staring 1 role, LOL. He would be the best player. I mean, it's so way out of hand it's even funny. He was carrying all NT which had players like Valanciunas, Sedekerskis, the ones who Zalgiris wouldn't be able to buy. If Zalgiris packs home Jokubaitis back (which I doubt a lot, but now it's possible), it will be huge achievement, not other way around:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzKDRHiaVTw&ab_channel=TOPBASKETBALLHIGHLI GHTS
 
Recently I have wondered quite a bit about Sirvydis upside. He shows at times ridiculous flexibility and extreme smoothness with his spins, with his reverse lay ups, one handed lay ups sort of in a jazzy style. A lot of grace and a lot of acrobatics and body control for almost 203cm. He play 3 seasons in Eurocup and in all seasons was shooting the lights out. The average 42%. In G League he also shot the ball well, 39% evarage I think. Now in LKL he always shot the ball poorly. This season he also started horribly, but it was more about getting on the right track as it turned out later.

So who is he? A guy who will one day drop 18-20ppg for whatever team of EL? (prime Macijausaks soul) Solid role player as Grigonis? Elite EL forward as Stombergas or Siskauskas offensively? (meaning 14-15ppg for elite teams).

Now I'm really curious how high he will climb. He's just scratching the surface. He's still like 2-3 years away from his prime. And now he slashes, he spins, he runs into transition. He draws fouls and goes to the line. His problem is defense and he needs more handles if he wants to completely take over EL. IDK if can improve his handles even further. Maybe a little bit? That would be enough for him to be a monster in EL. He has a lot of flexibility and feel of the game in his stronger and stronger 203cm body. He starting to love a contact. If he will be able to protect the ball while operating as a secondary ball handler here and there, while attacking in ISO situations, he can be a scoring machine even in EL. Or he will be more of spot up guy, more of a cutter and the one who attacks a close outs here and there, sort of an improved and more skilled version of Rokas Giedraitis.

I'm eager to see if he becomes all around ballhandling killer scoring machine or just sport up forward for elite teams. Both situations are possible it seems, even though I see more of a latter when it comes to top tier of EL.

His flexibility in this game stood out to me. Imagine if carries this with himself straight to the top EL clubs in few years:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VUOC4iAQic&ab_channel=DeividoSirvyd%C5%BE iofanai
 
So I think Sirvydis and Zalgiris deal is done. Too much sources think so.

Then it seems that Baskonia, Zalgiris and probably more are interested in Tubelis. I doubt he chooses Rytas, unless they would say, look, we will give you 30mpg. Maybe he would still take it just to become completely ready to be a big role player in EL from scratch in 2025/2026 season.

Rubstavicius is pretty unlikely to be drafted. He may be drafted at the end of second round, but will be more of a draft and stash piece. He will attract EL attention as well. Even though he most likely choose Lietkabelis.

I wouldn't be surprised to see all these 3 players signed with EL teams.
 
Why would Rubstavicius choose Lietkabelis? He already played there two years ago. He could have stayed last season if he wanted to.

He is not at EL level yet, but Lietkabelis is a step back imo.
 
Svajunas said:
Why would Rubstavicius choose Lietkabelis? He already played there two years ago. He could have stayed last season if he wanted to.

He is not at EL level yet, but Lietkabelis is a step back imo.
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Chance to be a leader. To have a green light at offensive end.

Also 2 way contract in the NBA is possibility.
 
For Sedekerskis it took until 25/26 to fully bring his youth performance level to highest levels of PRO. Now he's essentially the same dominant combo forward that he has been for U-NT.

Sirvydis is bringing that earlier, being 23/24yo. When he became MVP of Kaunas ANGT as 18yo, he was relentless swingman with the ball going to the hoop and making one lay up after another. Now he brought this skill to PRO. Dude's killing with it. In LKL PO he shoots 67,8% from 2 and against the Wolves in small final (3 games) he shoots 85% from 2, freaking 85% (15/18). And he shoots 89% FT in PO and 94% in the small final. So his main trait now is driving and scoring inside, getting to the FT line.

Next, let's see how this translates to EL, but he has been punishing Zalgiris well in playoffs too.

I agree with Leksas this time. I could actually see the scenario when current Sirvydis is the best player of current Zalgiris offensively. There's literally no player other than Evans in Zalgiris who could be dropping 20ppg in Eurocup and LKl playoffs for Lietkabelis.

Sirvydis stock is getting higher. He seems like top EL teams material and one of main protagonists of 2024 NT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFslqib_GPg&ab_channel=DeividoSirvyd%C5%BE iofanai
 
Straight forward said:
For Sedekerskis it took until 25/26 to fully bring his youth performance level to highest levels of PRO. Now he's essentially the same dominant combo forward that he has been for U-NT.
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I agree. Which is why Tadas Sedekerskis only made Team Lietuva last summer. Yet you keep heaping abuse on Coach Maksvytis for cutting Sedekerskis in 2021 and 2022. Sedekerskis quite simply wasn't good enough yet to make those teams.

:(
 
Straight forward said:
Sirvydis stock is getting higher. He seems like top EL teams material and one of main protagonists of 2024 NT:
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Deividas Sirvydis' skills development will be better served staying with Lietkabelis and playing major minutes instead of getting bit minutes with a Euroleague team.

:(
 
From Sirvydis answer it seems that the deal with Zalgiris is indeed done, just he has to wait till it's officially announced. At least i got that impression from "not yet" and sneaky smile. His trigger from three got cold in last couple of games, but he still managed to drop 20ppg in both and rack up 21eff. It shows he's really versatile player now. Ge got 14 free throws. I like it. We need versatile players with the ball going down hill and causing trouble. Never was the fan of primarily spot up shooters as Milaknis. Empty colories to me. Today perimeter players should be able to punish defenses in various ways. Now let's see what Sirvydis can bring to the NT.
 
Straight forward said:
From Sirvydis answer it seems that the deal with Zalgiris is indeed done, just he has to wait till it's officially announced. At least i got that impression from "not yet" and sneaky smile. His trigger from three got cold in last couple of games, but he still managed to drop 20ppg in both and rack up 21eff. It shows he's really versatile player now. Ge got 14 free throws. I like it. We need versatile players with the ball going down hill and causing trouble. Never was the fan of primarily spot up shooters as Milaknis. Empty colories to me. Today perimeter players should be able to punish defenses in various ways. Now let's see what Sirvydis can bring to the NT.
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Yup : https://x.com/DAlessandro_LU/status/1800602985111982308

If Zalgiris locks Sirvydis for 2-3 seasons with great buy-out, it's a huge win for this club. Sirvydis is higher upside player than Grigonis and Brazdeikis. So it's big win. If Zalgiris will also sign Jokubaitis, it would be sensational off season for Zalgiris. They would provide next season instantly, and if they somehow stays for 2025/2026 season, they could be super big for Zalgiris and make trouble even for contenders under right circumstances. Both may be braking out as 25yo and become elite pieces in European BB. Imagine prime Jokubaitis, Sirvydis and some really good American next these 2. With that backcourt you can challenge even top teams.
 
there are some concerns with sirvydis, im cautiously optimistic about his success in euroleague. his defense is straight up bad, it looks bad even in lkl at times, its going to be even worse in euroleague. i feel like sg is not his natural position and because he's not very athletic he simply cant guard smaller, quicker guards than him. of course he's still young and his defense can get fixed and if it does his ceiling is really high.
 
Asking from 2m03 to defend fast guards its simply asking too much

When he is guarding those fast guards he looks like on skates with straight no leaning long legs

Its very unlikely for him to stay in front any fast guard even in lkl levels,in euroleague no chance.


His natural positions is SF.

In Lietkabelis he can play SG when Lipkevicius and Bickauskis is defending main players and is hiding on weakest opponnets players


In Euroleague Sirvydis should play most of his minutes at SF and his matchups wont be that fast like SG
 
Straight forward said:
Sirvydis is higher upside player than Grigonis and Brazdeikis.
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That's the way it looks to me right now as well.

zalias said:
i feel like sg is not his natural position and because he's not very athletic he simply cant guard smaller, quicker guards than him.
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Huh?! I thought athleticism (for his height) was his strength. If it's not athleticism enabling him to put up the stats, how's he doing it? What's his skillset? He's excellent from the foul line but otherwise his shooting is good but not phenomenal.

:confused:
 
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Sirvydis is not non-ahletic either. He's surely above average Euro player. For NBA standards only he's non athletic.
 
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