Domantas Sabonis thread

[Straight forward]

Damn, hardcore conservative, Mr. Redneck suddenly wants naturalized player! Now that's the fucking twist What's up with you, you super red neck Trump ass licker? You suddenly turning to be liberal!?

Nevermind...I had couple of drinks.

Now, seriously. No naturalization. Never. It's not needed anyway, at least soon won't be. Jokubaitis defense is underrated and Marciulionis will be 2 ways bulldog who will be + defender at guards spot and with him we can still run offense at the high level. At 2 Rubstavicius, Lelelevicius, Indrusaitis will be solid defenders and case closed. We'll have all what it takes at guards spot. Just some more time needed.

Now, I never said you don't need perimeter D presence these days. My thesis is that the best case today to have 4 mobile pieces (specially good guards) who can score (positionless players if possible) and mobile defensive center who can guard and not ask the ball too much (and if he can shoot, that's even better). In my opinion, the worst case is when your center (bad defender) is a guy to go (except maybe if that's Jokic level center, or some prime Hakeem, Shaw ) because the game became so quick and so athletic and intense, that even Jokic barely can compete with few elite scoring guards as opposition. Specially in FIBA where Jokic is great, but not totally deadly as in NBA. In FIBA no No.1 big is winning. In NBA, yes, in FIBA, no. Unless it's Durant (2020), but he's playing like a tall guard.

And, man, maybe we should consider naturalization...since the best conversationalist on the Lithuanian section is Serbian today...

[Straight forward]

Crazy game against Warriors. Kings without Fox almost made it. Sabonis baked it in from mid range to make a lead, but Thomson nailed a game winner nevertheless. It was fun to see how Kings triple double Curry in the last possession, but there's still Klay who can make game winning shot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScP69XtpIQw&ab_channel=HooperHighlights

[Shawshank]

No Fox 0-2 Kings.

That Sabonis jumper vs Warriors using glass from 5meters was lucky bank shot Warriors in playoofs serries 2023 or fiba opponents was asking him please Domas shoot from there.He must shoot and make that shot on daily basis otherwise he never will be nr 1 teams offensive option


Tonight from 3pointer 0/2 from free throw line 1/4 all those fantasies that Sabonis with age will improve his jumper is looking again just talks. He is what he is very good nr 2 option,but he need elite scoring guard near him for team mechanism to work. NT dont have such calibre guard and Sabonis will be forced to do things that is outside his skillset and in that scenerio neither Domas looks how he could,neither team wins.


Same shit again can happen like every summer in fiba.In friendlies when nobody shows no help defence Sabonis dominates,real game start help defence comes,opponnets wont guard his jumper will stay inside the lane and we will have again nba all star plays 30+min and takes only 7-8 shots not because he doesnt get the ball,but because he feel comfortable to shoot only from 1-2 meters distance

Goodluck averaging alot playing without jumpshot in small fiba floors ,where smart double team defences ( that knows from who to risk) comming non stop

To add to all that we also giving Domas belov average shooting guards compared to what he is used in Kings team. Those hands off where Kings guards dribbling and making jumpers,LTU guards wont make those shots after dribble like Monk,Fox,Huerter types is

Didnt noticed improvements in Domas weak areas after free summer.

[Toruko]

Let Domantas shoot all day. I am just happy to see that Sengun gave him a very hard time in the low post. In a full fledged team Sengun would have had a triple double.

[Straight forward]

There's nothing strange to see Domas struggling to shoot in some nights, he doesn't have the softest hands. Sometimes he can miss even some bunnies, that's normal for him. I actually saw very good things in that Rockets game (from extended Domas highlights). He showed some good defensive stops and rotated well. He contested many shots, he blocked 2, he stayed well with the guards and wings and here and there. He also still is the best rebounder in the world and might be even unquestionable leader at this point this season. He started the season relatively slowly scoring wise though.

What I want to see from Domas in the NT are mainly 2 things - better defense and more consistent decision making. He was a bit too wild in EB with decisions and he tends to make too risky pass or work with his elbows carefree, or make some silly fouls. He just has to play more solidly, that's what I ask from him. I don't care if he missed few mid range shots and or threes. He just needs to facilitate others and be a glue guy offensively and help more defensively than he did previously.

Now Kings is not a good 3pts shooting team so far. Only 22# spot from 30 teams. Huerter struggles to shoot badly, 20%, Murray struggles too 25%. Only Fox and Barnes were on fire, but with Fox out guys like Murray and Hurter have to step up and they couldn't yet.

Let Domantas shoot all day. I am just happy to see that Sengun gave him a very hard time in the low post. In a full fledged team Sengun would have had a triple double.

Sengun is much better defensively, that's very evident. Growing as a player. Will be an ALL STAR one day definitely, and we'll see if he can get to ALL NBA one day. That's the question.

[Straight forward]

Sabonis destroyed Anthony Davis and the Lakers. He's heating up lately and playing at ALL NBA pace in recent games:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-eqzIdE8xk&ab_channel=NBAEurope

[Straight forward]

Sabonis with a crazy run lately. Cooking as nuts. Standing second in MVP ladder. Most fun is that he played some good defense too. We need the strong version of Sabonis. Balicunas better won't screw exhibition stage this time if we will get to Olympics. Once Sabonis is in shape, look out.

https://www.nba.com/news/in-season-tournament-mvp-ladder-nov-18

[Straight forward]

Sabonis is sensationally good ATM as Kings trashed Mavs. Superstar level. For the first time in his career he put up crazy numbers 3 games in a row. At least 27ppg and averaging 29,3ppg in this stretch and putting up ridiculous numbers in last 6 games and all 6 wins, with or without Fox. Incredible 71% from the field. He's on some serious GOAT mode. It's insanity that there's only Wilt Chamberlain and Sabonis (no-one else literally) who had 19pts, 12rbs, 7as, 60% FG seasons in NBA history. And Sabonis is doing this for another year. No-one in basketball is able to do it but Sabonis. Not even Jokic who can't reach that FG %. Jokic is off course better player, but that alone shows unique and dominant niche that Domas occupied and no other human being can.

His career turning out to be sensational. Becoming All Star looked like extreme success knowing how he looked in Youth basketball. Now he became All NBA guy and emerging as legitimate, realistic contender of MVP title. Simply one of the best ballers in the game today.

https://twitter.com/kfippin/status/1725322424726810779

[Serbian_Layup]

Sabonis is sensationally good ATM as Kings trashed Mavs. Superstar level. For the first time in his career he put up crazy numbers 3 games in a row. At least 27ppg and averaging 29,3ppg in this stretch and putting up ridiculous numbers in last 6 games and all 6 wins, with or without Fox. Incredible 71% from the field. He's on some serious GOAT mode. It's insanity that there's only Wilt Chamberlain and Sabonis (no-one else literally) who had 19pts, 12rbs, 7as, 60% FG seasons in NBA history. And Sabonis is doing this for another year. No-one in basketball is able to do it but Sabonis. Not even Jokic who can't reach that FG %. Jokic is off course better player, but that alone shows unique and dominant niche that Domas occupied and no other human being can.

His career turning out to be sensational. Becoming All Star looked like extreme success knowing how he looked in Youth basketball. Now he became All NBA guy and emerging as legitimate, realistic contender of MVP title. Simply one of the best ballers in the game today.

https://twitter.com/kfippin/status/1725322424726810779

No, he can't because he already topped that efficiency (63% last season)

I have always liked Sabonis. He has very nice offensive skill set, especially for NBA game. However, it's not really justified to compare him to Jokic in terms of efficiency (or anything else to be honest). Jokic had 63% FG just last season on nearly triple double average. And when you know that Jokic is shooting a lot of threes, one legged shots, mid range shots, while Sabonis is just finishing around the basket, then the real difference between them is just enormous. There has never been a player (if we are talking about big men, or any player maybe when it comes to Jokic) who takes the type of shots that Jokic does with that kind of efficiency. It's not grateful to compare Sabonis to Jokic, they are in different tiers.

About superstar level, playoffs is the only measurement about someone's true value. Sabonis would have to step up in the playoffs and prove to be that kind of player. When it comes to NBA, regular season is one thing, playoffs is something completely different. And we know that Jokic somehow is like 30-40% better when tough gets going in the playoffs. Jamal Murray for example has never been even an all star. But let me tell you this, when playoffs comes I would take him instead of at least half so called all star players. Sabonis is great but he has to step up in the playoffs before making him a superstar. Even Embiid has struggled big time to perform in the playoffs.

[Straight forward]

No, he can't because he already topped that efficiency (63% last season)

I have always liked Sabonis. He has very nice offensive skill set, especially for NBA game. However, it's not really justified to compare him to Jokic in terms of efficiency (or anything else to be honest). Jokic had 63% FG just last season on nearly triple double average. And when you know that Jokic is shooting a lot of threes, one legged shots, mid range shots, while Sabonis is just finishing around the basket, then the real difference between them is just enormous. There has never been a player (if we are talking about big men, or any player maybe when it comes to Jokic) who takes the type of shots that Jokic does with that kind of efficiency. It's not grateful to compare Sabonis to Jokic, they are in different tiers.

About superstar level, playoffs is the only measurement about someone's true value. Sabonis would have to step up in the playoffs and prove to be that kind of player. When it comes to NBA, regular season is one thing, playoffs is something completely different. And we know that Jokic somehow is like 30-40% better when tough gets going in the playoffs. Jamal Murray for example has never been even an all star. But let me tell you this, when playoffs comes I would take him instead of at least half so called all star players. Sabonis is great but he has to step up in the playoffs before making him a superstar. Even Embiid has struggled big time to perform in the playoffs.

Yes, but Jokic failed with reblunding part last season, didn't reach 12rpg, and that crazy fact that only Wilt and Sabonis in NBA history had 19/12/7/60% still stand

Sure, my point was probably, that in his own version of greatness (his own niche) Sabonis success is stunning. We definitely shouldn't even compare Sabonis with Jokic, cause Jokic is like MVP of NBA for three years (de facto) now, and he most likely will win it again. It's just amazing that Sabonis may be among realistic candidates in MVP conversation. He won't win it, but just being among potential 3-5 realistic candidates is really insane.

I think this year he will have his best PO too. If he will be healthy. He already been there, he felt it, and he got even better. I think his last PO numbers 16,4/11/4,7 will increase to something like 22/12/7. My point was that in this stretch he's putting up superstars numbers. Can he play like superstar in PO, we'll be seen. Most importantly both Sabonis and Fox are really cooking. And Kings will be hard to stop.

[Shawshank]

Domas was all nba player last season in regular season. For Domas he reached the point he cant prove nothing in regular season anymore,his next step is to show he can be good in playoofs againts scouted and directed game plans againts his weaknesses.


Its hard to be MVP candidate when you arent even most important player in your own team.

KIngs with Fox 6-1, without Fox 2-3 this season . Foxas averaging just 31,9pts 6asist 5 reb and with 51% 42% shooting splits

Kings was leading 2-1 in playoofs untill Fox broken his finger in Game 4 .After injury series have changed and Domas was dissapoitng as all nba player in that playoofs.


Domas at 27-28 this season this is Sabonis peak,clearly his best version.When brain and body goes together at maximum levels,but both Domas and Fox have to show in playoofs and finally win first playoofs series of their careers.

[Serbian_Layup]

Yes, but Jokic failed with reblunding part last season, didn't reach 12rpg, and that crazy fact that only Wilt and Sabonis in NBA history had 19/12/7/60% still stand

Sure, my point was probably, that in his own version of greatness (his own niche) Sabonis success is stunning. We definitely shouldn't even compare Sabonis with Jokic, cause Jokic is like MVP of NBA for three years (de facto) now, and he most likely will win it again. It's just amazing that Sabonis may be among realistic candidates in MVP conversation. He won't win it, but just being among potential 3-5 realistic candidates is really insane.

I think this year he will have his best PO too. If he will be healthy. He already been there, he felt it, and he got even better. I think his last PO numbers 16,4/11/4,7 will increase to something like 22/12/7. My point was that in this stretch he's putting up superstars numbers. Can he play like superstar in PO, we'll be seen. Most importantly both Sabonis and Fox are really cooking. And Kings will be hard to stop.

Jokic had 11,8 rpg last season, if I'm not wrong. So he missed that criteria by 0,2 rebounds per game. And then, in that same season, only in playoffs, you see Jokic going for title averaging something like 30/14/9 on great efficiency. While Sabonis was nowhere close to those stats. This is not a diss on Sabonis because he is certainly top 5 center in the world, but you get the point what is really important and what should be looked at. Right now, there is a sick hyper production of stats coming out after literally every game. They can pull stats like that for any random player. This or that player scored that many points, rebounds or assists in 25 minutes and 40 seconds for the first time in history. I mean, it's becoming ridiculous and really taking value of the real stats. There are such stats about Jokic (and lot of other players) after basically every game, but I don't even try to track it.

I'm obviously into Kings very much ever since Vlade snd Peja made one of the most fun teams of all times. Whenever Kings make good team, they ste so fun to watch because of great offense. They would have won title in 2001 had there not been for that robbery against Lakers.

[Toruko]

Jokic is the best player on the planet right now and surely not a comparison to Sabonis. He is surely the best European player of all time, we can say that even now.

[Straight forward]

SL, I get what you mean about those records. The game became very offensively minded, so many possessions per game, so many points, rebounds, assists. And yet I think that 19/12/7/60% club will still be very private. It's really hard to be in that club. FOA, if you are going for +20ppg, it's really hard to have 60%. Sabonis averaging 19-21ppg is just spot on to go after this. Then to reach 12rpg in the season is really really hard. We can see that only 3 players ATM are capable to do that, it's Jokic, Sabonis, Gobert. And you still have to add 7 freakin' assists.

Jokic and Sabonis can do it. But no-one else really can, even in today's game. Embiid is relatively close, but not exactly there, specially in terms of FG %. Sengun won't be able to rebound as well. And so on and on. And it probably shows how much of a beast Chamberlain was. In the era when there been much less possessions he was putting up that. On the other hand, overall level could be much lower than these days. It's always hard to measure 60s or 70s.

[Serbian_Layup]

SL, I get what you mean about those records. The game became very offensively minded, so many possessions per game, so many points, rebounds, assists. And yet I think that 19/12/7/60% club will still be very private. It's really hard to be in that club. FOA, if you are going for +20ppg, it's really hard to have 60%. Sabonis averaging 19-21ppg is just spot on to go after this. Then to reach 12rpg in the season is really really hard. We can see that only 3 players ATM are capable to do that, it's Jokic, Sabonis, Gobert. And you still have to add 7 freakin' assists.

Jokic and Sabonis can do it. But no-one else really can, even in today's game. Embiid is relatively close, but not exactly there, specially in terms of FG %. Sengun won't be able to rebound as well. And so on and on. And it probably shows how much of a beast Chamberlain was. In the era when there been much less possessions he was putting up that. On the other hand, overall level could be much lower than these days. It's always hard to measure 60s or 70s.

Listen, I'm not trying to minimize what Sabonis has accomplished so far, because it's very impressive. However, we had a chance to see Russell Westbrook and his historical triple double seasons. At that time everyone was amazed, rightfully so. But what do you think about that record right now, when you saw how little sense he has to play a meaningful half court basketball in the playoffs? That doesn't seem that much impressive right now, more like meaningless stat padding. I'm not saying Sabonis is stat padding, he is excellent team player, those regular season records are nice, testament to how good one player is, but means little and won't be much appreciated if it doesn't translate to playoffs.