Domantas Sabonis thread

[omgsomuchpotential]

Second ACB game against Valencia:

14:09 minutes
4 points on 2/3 FG shooting
3 rebounds (1 offensive)

[macleopard13]

OK, you don't need to keep track of all Sabonis' performances. You can just review him periodically.

[omgsomuchpotential]

OK, you don't need to keep track of all Sabonis' performances. You can just review him periodically.

Why not? Is it bothering you? If yes, I'll stop.

[macleopard13]

Why not? Is it bothering you? If yes, I'll stop.

I mean, you posting of stats makes it seem that he is getting too much attention. Don't get me wrong, he's an excellent prospect, but if you browse Motiejunas/Valanciunas threads, they aren't/weren't getting nearly as much hype as Sabonis (or so it seems). That said, reviews about how Sabonis is doing maybe every week/every other week are great.

[omgsomuchpotential]

I mean, you posting of stats makes it seem that he is getting too much attention. Don't get me wrong, he's an excellent prospect, but if you browse Motiejunas/Valanciunas threads, they aren't/weren't getting nearly as much hype as Sabonis (or so it seems). That said, reviews about how Sabonis is doing maybe every week/every other week are great.

I disagree. Valanciunas was so overhyped it's not even funny. Everyone thought he will be a franchise player for the Raptors, when in reality the best scenario for him os to become a 2nd-3rd option on a playoff team.
D-Mo had also a ton of hype surrounding him, I remember people calling him the next Dirk, which is ludicrous. I imagine his ceiling is something like a taller Scola-lite.

And regarding Sabonis, he's not even putting up any beastly numbers so I don't really know what is the problem for you here

[macleopard13]

And regarding Sabonis, he's not even putting up any beastly numbers so I don't really know what is the problem for you here

Exactly, and you're giving him too much attention for all the stats he puts up. I mean, if we do it with Sabonis, why don't we do it to all other youngsters that have some potential, like Grigonis and Dimsa?

[omgsomuchpotential]

Exactly, and you're giving him too much attention for all the stats he puts up. I mean, if we do it with Sabonis, why don't we do it to all other youngsters that have some potential, like Grigonis and Dimsa?

Because this is a thread about Sabonis. Create one for Grigonis/Dimsa ant I might do the same.

[macleopard13]

Because this is a thread about Sabonis. Create one for Grigonis/Dimsa ant I might do the same.

Since it's your idea, why don't you create it. And "maybe" is a weak word. You write all those stats just because you think Sabonis will be like his father when, in fact, you don't know how he'll turn out. He might just turn out to be another "Motiejunas/Valanciunas," who, following your logic, are "overrated".

[omgsomuchpotential]

you think Sabonis will be like his father when, in fact, you don't know how he'll turn out. He might just turn out to be another "Motiejunas/Valanciunas," who, following your logic, are "overrated".

No, I don't think that he can become as good as his father. That is literally impossible, because at his age his father was already 10 times the player Domantas is now. And yes, both Motiejunas and Valanciunas are overrated. Valanciunas is probably the most overrated european player in recent years. Chances are that neither of them will ever reach all-star level in the NBA.

My expectations for Domantas are that he will either become an above average player in euroleague, or a solid backup / borderline starter in NBA. If he becomes a slightly taller Jankunas I'd be very excited.

[Straight forward]

Valanciunas is probably the most overrated european player in recent years.

And how 21yo can be overrated? The guy will reach his peack after 8-10 or so years...

[Mindozas]

And how 21yo can be overrated? The guy will reach his peack after 8-10 or so years...

You can be ovverated at any time of your career. Remember how many youngsters only in Lithuania are overrated just because they played some good youth tournaments, so people starts to hype them and draw star future: Janavicius, Andriuskevicius, Jurkunas and etc etc.

[Straight forward]

You can be ovverated at any time of your career. Remember how many youngsters only in Lithuania are overrated just because they played some good youth tournaments, so people starts to hype them and draw star future: Janavicius, Andriuskevicius, Jurkunas and etc etc.

I see what you mean, but I disagree. They become overrated only when they reach certain age. Jonas didn't do anything bad so far. I think he's overrated only in the minds who overrate Valančiūnas themselves. The guy crashed Junior level, made Euroleague at 17yo and wherever he played (including NBA's fist season), his PER was one of the best in the league. Maybe some folks simply expected some miracles for Eurobasket 2013, I'm guessing.

[Mindozas]

I see what you mean, but I disagree. They become overrated only when they reach certain age. Jonas didn't do anything bad so far. I think he's overrated only in the minds who overrate Valančiūnas themselves. The guy crashed Junior level, made Euroleague at 17yo and wherever he played (including NBA's fist season), his PER was one of the best in the league. Maybe some folks simply expected some miracles for Eurobasket 2013, I'm guessing.

I didn't mean Jonas with my write-up. But if to talk about him, it's up to media and people expectations to measure if some guy is overrated or not. Media lacked some new hero after Saras' generation was goin' off the stage bit by bit and here came Jonas. So they turned huge hype compaigne around him and those grey masses of people obviously followed as they always does. Kid surely deserved recognition, but all that attention around him was kinda sick - new Sabas, future superstar, NBA all-star and etc etc. I even felt sorry a bit for him, it should have been damn hard to swallow all that attention and stay calm and focused. So from this point of view he surely was and is overrated. Blame media cause of it, blame ignorance of those grey masses, but they started to expect some miracles from guy, who barely passed his teen years. Give him a break ffs. It's good that he is in States now and all that praise and hype goes off his shoulders bit by bit. Even tho, I'm not fully satisfied with his development in NBA as he became too static, lost his quickness, mobility, but atleast psychologically he should feel more comfortable and can dedicate himself to work.
I fully understand why Sabas didn't want his kids to grow-up in Lithuania as our idiotic media would follow them and try to look for some sensations everyday. Now atleast they can live more or less normal life in Spain. Especially for Domantas it's important as he can concentrate on work and his goals without too much attention from outside

[Straight forward]

I didn't mean Jonas with my write-up. But if to talk about him, it's up to media and people expectations to measure if some guy is overrated or not. Media lacked some new hero after Saras' generation was goin' off the stage bit by bit and here came Jonas. So they turned huge hype compaigne around him and those grey masses of people obviously followed as they always does. Kid surely deserved recognition, but all that attention around him was kinda sick - new Sabas, future superstar, NBA all-star and etc etc. I even felt sorry a bit for him, it should have been damn hard to swallow all that attention and stay calm and focused. So from this point of view he surely was and is overrated. Blame media cause of it, blame ignorance of those grey masses, but they started to expect some miracles from guy, who barely passed his teen years. Give him a break ffs. It's good that he is in States now and all that praise and hype goes off his shoulders bit by bit. Even tho, I'm not fully satisfied with his development in NBA as he became too static, lost his quickness, mobility, but atleast psychologically he should feel more comfortable and can dedicate himself to work.
I fully understand why Sabas didn't want his kids to grow-up in Lithuania as our idiotic media would follow them and try to look for some sensations everyday. Now atleast they can live more or less normal life in Spain. Especially for Domantas it's important as he can concentrate on work and his goals without too much attention from outside

Basically I agree. I'm not even sure it's about "new Sabas". Simply Jonas was very atrractive by all means - he was crashing his age competition, very humble, everybody loved his personality. Somehow and very fast he bacame the hero of the nation. Media felt it and used it, sometimes very ugly.

As for his development I have mixed feelings. On one hand, last season when he came back after injury he did so well. And there was a month where he really dominated, I didn't even expect that. Lately he had a very nice summer league. BUT, he did gave up playing pick and roll what was his best quality in Europe, he's not so crafty anymore. Seems like Raptors wants him to be a power, energy player, but I think he had more skills in Europe and had some interesting ways to score. He will need time to put it all in places. NCAA players has an advantage - they are more used to NBA style. Jonas still adjusting.

[omgsomuchpotential]

BUT, he did gave up playing pick and roll what was his best quality in Europe.

Completely false.

He didn't give up on PnR. Raptors simply are a trash team all around, especially at PG spot. Kyle Lowry just isn't a starting calibre PG. He can't play PnR, he's very limited offensively, can't get past his man off the dribble consistently. He is just not a good fit for Jonas. Not to mention chuckers like Gay or DeRozan each jack up 20-25 shots a game and destroy the offensive rhythm and movement of the ball. In that type of basketball Jonas is limited to simply being a garbage-man - cleaning up the offensive glass and putting it back into the basket. Did I mention they have a horrendous coach and no competent big man coaches/veterans?

I always thought a crappy team like Raptors should be the best place for Jonas to develop (good minutes, time for development), but I think I might not have been completely right. His situation might not stink as in Donatas' case, but it is still not a great one.