Zalgiris Kaunas 2018-19

[Straight forward2]

No, I don't think so. The way I see this is that the player has dominated LKL, yet now gets no chances to play in the league anymore (or Euroleage for that matter). That sounds incorrect. What I do think is that Žalgiris went into a panic mode (as they had only one PG), signed a player to fill the gaps and now wants to (potentially) get rid of him while the season is barely started (alternatively benching him with little to no hopes for getting playing time). In my book that's the definition of a dick move.

Well the problem only is that 17yo Jokubaitis looked more convincing and better overall in all pre-season games. So how his performance in Siauliai relevant here? basically I was disappointed with what I've seen from Sabeckis playing for Zalgiris. You can clearly see limitations. Unreliable ballhandling, non-existant perimeter shooting, lack of quickness, explosiveness and mobility at such level, inability to control the tempo and very mediocre decision making (again, at this point Jokubaitis looked way better). So so far he gets what he deserves. If he will improve, I have no doubt he'll have some chances here and there, specially in LKL.

On other hand, I can't follow what exactly Zalgiris sees in Uleckas? IMO, the guy is horrid basically. Streaky shooter, soft, takes bad off balance shots, takes sissy complicated lay-ups with his off hand, lacks lateral quickness, not a system player...Really not thinking he deserves a chance.

 

[Miškinis2]

Well the problem only is that 17yo Jokubaitis looked more convincing and better overall in all pre-season games. So how his performance in Siauliai relevant here?

You're putting my words into a different context. I was referring to his level being or not being acceptable for the league(s), i.e., LKL or/and Euroleague, as it was questioned by another forum member. The last season has already answered at least a part of this question. Žalgiris' inability or lack of interest in utilizing him is more of a problem.

 

[Mindozas6]

No, I don't think so. The way I see this is that the player has dominated LKL, yet now gets no chances to play in the league anymore (or Euroleage for that matter). That sounds incorrect. What I do think is that Žalgiris went into a panic mode (as they had only one PG), signed a player to fill the gaps and now wants to (potentially) get rid of him while the season is barely started (alternatively benching him with little to no hopes for getting playing time). In my book that's the definition of a dick move.

C'mon, mate, why Zalgiris needs some dirty moves to get rid of Sabeckis? Nor he signed some lucrative deal, nor Zalgiris would have to pay some big money to break the contract if they wanted or smth. If they doesn't need him, then just would let him go, would loan and that's all (Valinskas, Varnas, Masiulis, Geben, Jogela lately are examples). Half of LKL are looking for PG and would take him with arms wide open. Also what panic you're talking about? Sabeckis was signed at very beginning of August... What kind of panic can be at such time, when there're still plenty opportunities and choices in market, especially for smaller clubs, when players demands are getting lower, when NBA clubs didn't even start riddance? He was nothing but an option to widen the bench. It was obvious cause he was signed into Valinskas place, who also was behind 3 PGs last season. The news even came at once. He knew what he is gonna get. None really expected him to deliver in EL. Everyone knew that club still searching for another backline players, it was openly stated plenty of times.
And yeah, he dominated LKL in assists category, so what? That alone should guarantee him minutes on highest level? He must prove his worth once again, starting with practices, but if he can't, so again, who to blame? Overall, we saw dozen of times, when some LKL stats leaders came to Zalgiris or Rytas (when they were still a top club with big goals) and get totally lost, there was simply too big quality gap. Sabeckis so far doesn't look like exception here

 

[Miškinis2]

C'mon, mate, why Zalgiris needs some dirty moves to get rid of Sabeckis? Nor he signed some lucrative deal, nor Zalgiris would have to pay some big money to break the contract if they wanted or smth. If they doesn't need him, then just would let him go, would loan and that's all (Valinskas, Varnas, Masiulis, Geben, Jogela lately are examples). Half of LKL are looking for PG and would take him with arms wide open. Also what panic you're talking about? Sabeckis was signed at very beginning of August... What kind of panic can be at such time, when there're still plenty opportunities and choices in market, especially for smaller clubs, when players demands are getting lower, when NBA clubs didn't even start riddance? He was nothing but an option to widen the bench. It was obvious cause he was signed into Valinskas place, who also was behind 3 PGs last season. The news even came at once. He knew what he is gonna get. None really expected him to deliver in EL. Everyone knew that club still searching for another backline players, it was openly stated plenty of times.
And yeah, he dominated LKL in assists category, so what? That alone should guarantee him minutes on highest level? He must prove his worth once again, starting with practices, but if he can't, so again, who to blame? Overall, we saw dozen of times, when some LKL stats leaders came to Zalgiris or Rytas (when they were still a top club with big goals) and get totally lost, there was simply too big quality gap. Sabeckis so far doesn't look like exception here

Let's agree to disagree.

 

[Prancūzėlis_ZLD2]

In the recent mid-season survey of Euroleague GM, Brandon Davies is second in the "Euroleague player you would sign" category. This proves once again that Žalgiris took the best decision last year, when they extended his second year to keep him until the end of 2019-2020 season, even if I read lot of bad comments at that time (it's true it had maybe been done a little early though).
Otherwise this would have been impossible to see him in the roster next season.

 

[Straight forward2]

It's interesting that last year when Pangos was playing great, some fans were saying Pangos passed Lekavicius for good, but this season we see that basically Lekavicius is having a better season statistically. Pangos struggling with Barsa. Thus I believe Lekavicius could have been huge for Jasikevicius last season as well, actually I don't doubt this at all. Zalgiris would be so much different team this year if had one of them.

 

[LuDux2]

This season Zalgiris has 11 main players (everyone except youth and Thompson). Here's how team performed when some of them were unable to suit up
wins, loses, average point difference
All 11: 2-2 +0.5
10/11: 3-3 +3.3
9/11: 2-5 -6.3
8/11: 0-1 -4

Arguably 5 of those 9-player-games were 8-player games because in those Jankunas and Kavaliauskas played with hospital gowns (missed all 10 FG and combined for -1 PIR total)


Last season through 36 games Zalgiris had 2 games where 2 main rotation players didn't play (once Ulanovas and just fired Bost and later Toupane and Udrih) 1-1

 

[LuDux2]

www.infinitelooper.com/?v=cKHxRWXfwtg&p=n#/3798;3809

 

[Straight forward2]

Happy for Grigonis. Always knew he can be a good player. He's having a break out EL season in his very first season in the league. He's already one of the keys of Zalgiris.

 

[Prancūzėlis_ZLD2]

I really liked what Žalgiris showed yesterday. I honestly don't expect them to finally reach the top16, because this seems now almost impossible. Yet I hope the team will fight until the end.

This had already been a weird season really. The beginning with all those games lost at home while the results on the road were very good... And those different facets depening on the periods : for example I feel like the team in March seems to behave very differently than it used to in January/February

 

[Hepcat2]

So I see that Newstats.eu has calculated the odds of Žalgiris qualifying for the Euroleague playoff this week as 23%. If Žalgiris wins in Madrid on Thursday though, the team's chances of making the playoffs would leap to 69.02%.

The Žalgiris team's mission is therefore clear.

That of the team's supporters is somewhat more muddy, but involves offerings to Perkūnas in the hopes that he will induce certain other teams, e.g. Armani Milan and Panathinaikos, to lose. Here though the aid of learned theologians may be required. What kind of offerings would find favour with Perkūnas in this day and age? These perhaps?

 

[Mindozas6]

So I see that Newstats.eu has calculated the odds of Žalgiris qualifying for the Euroleague playoff this week as 23%. If Žalgiris wins in Madrid on Thursday though, the team's chances of making the playoffs would leap to 69.02%.

The Žalgiris team's mission is therefore clear.

That of the team's supporters is somewhat more muddy, but involves offerings to Perkūnas in the hopes that he will induce certain other teams, e.g. Armani Milan and Panathinaikos, to lose. [/IMG]

Milan to lose is enough. It's the easiest way, if it can be called easy at all

 

[Prancūzėlis_ZLD2]

Milan to lose is enough. It's the easiest way, if it can be called easy at all

Well... Getting a win on Efes at Sinan Erdem Dome is not easy. Only CSKA (+2), Real (+2), and Žalgiris (+14 xD) have won there this season.
That being said, this win is useless for Istanbul, except to please the fans there

 

[Efesdxb2]

Well... Getting a win on Efes at Sinan Erdem Dome is not easy. Only CSKA (+2), Real (+2), and Žalgiris (+14 xD) have won there this season.
That being said, this win is useless for Istanbul, except to please the fans there

Keeping the momentum is more important than anything else. So Efes will do its best to win the game.

 

[Hepcat2]

Yay! The offerings worked! Žalgiris made the playoffs.

 

[Prancūzėlis_ZLD2]

When can we expect to know the exact schedule for the quart-finals game ?
I've read on Eurohoops that this will be played in a best-of-five series starting April 16 and finishing May 1.

I'll be in Kaunas from 17/04 to 25/04, so maybe I can be lucky or try to expand the dates

 

[Mindozas6]

When can we expect to know the exact schedule for the quart-finals game ?
I've read on Eurohoops that this will be played in a best-of-five series starting April 16 and finishing May 1.

I'll be in Kaunas from 17/04 to 25/04, so maybe I can be lucky or try to expand the dates

Logically we should have a game in Kaunas on 23/24, but you better book a ticket as soon as they will appear, cause sold-out is expected no matter the prices. I predict cheapest tickets will be around 30 euros at least

 

[Hepcat2]

So the games in Kaunas are on April 23rd and (if necessary) the 25th.

 

[ZalgirisFanForLife2]

Am I understanding right? Davies don't have the contract with us for next season, we only have a +1, right? If that's the case, I don't think, that he will stay. White is gone too, because he for us is not worth more than 350k, and other teams can easily offer him 500k for 10-15 minutes per game. 500k is starting player for us and White just isn't that. For now we have a roster like this:

PG Leo+1, Waklup+1, Jokūbaitis (hope Wolters is gone)
SG Grigonis,..., Uleckas
SF Ulanovas +1,....., Jogėla
PF .....,.....,Masiulis
C Davies+1(buyout),....., Geben, Birutis

I mean, I would like to stay everyone, exept Wolters and take SG/SF that can play PnR or PnP. Or just a better shooter overall. I look forward to two french man - Axel Bouteille and William Howard. One is good shooter and another one more athletic, better dribbling skills. Also, Giedraitis could be bought out, if he won't go to EL with ALBA. Then we could get foreigner to other spots. I would like if Thompson stay's, he is a beast on D. Very poor offensive game, but on D, he is like glue, that keeps everything together. Very strong legs. But he can't be main PF and Jankunas can't be main as well. So that's a decision we should think over. Giedraitis in, Thompson stays, White OUT, Jankunas stays, Masiulis on loan and new main PF in. Then We either keep Davies or get a buy out and get something like Lessort or McLean and then we keep Kavaliauskas and either Birutis or Geben. Ulanovas also stays, Leo, Milaknis and Walkup stays and we have a pretty good team, I think. But if White goes, Davies will go as well I thin, because they are bff. Roster I would like:

PG Leo, Walkup(SG), Jokubaitis (more mins)
SG Grigonis, Milaknis, Uleckas (Jokubaitis mins this season)
SF Ulanovas, Giedraitis, Jogela(Maybe)
PF Moulttrie(lithuanian coach said, that he is EL caliber player), Thompson, Jankunas
C Davies(McLean or Lessort), Kavaliauskas, Birutis/Geben

HC Saras

 

[Prancūzėlis_ZLD2]

I look forward to two french man - Axel Bouteille and William Howard. One is good shooter and another one more athletic, better dribbling skills.

If Šaras is still the coach next year, then I'm really not sure Bouteille would fit at all...