Domantas Sabonis thread

[LithuanianCramWatch]

So evidently it is official that Domantas Sabonis will be heading to Gonzaga:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24531437/gonzaga-signs-arvydas-sabonis-son-damontas-sabonis

[Straight forward]

21 points and 12 rebounds in the first game of U18 European Championship against France. Hopefully he proves him self as an elite athlete in this tournament. I mean, I want to see him averaging at least 18 points and +10 rebounds. In other tournaments he wasn't exactly scoring as a big time prospect (the one who would be a legit NBA prospect).

[Straight forward]

Lithuania U18 and Sabonis didn't pass quarterfinals. I watched couple of games. In one of it Domantas was completely shut down offensively after few couple of misses. His offensive game is still raw and a little inconsistent. He's not finishing as confident as one would like. But I have to say guards are playing really poor basketball. Passing culture is very low and the bigs depends on guards. Having that in mind, I would say Sabonis living up the hype and shows huge promise - 15 pts, 13 rebounds, 3,4 assists, 1,3 bs. All that is team high. 42% from downtown is more than solid, even if he attempted only 7 times. It shows he does have a range. FT only 60%. Going to NCAA and working on individual skills make sense. He's a very good passer and good team player, he does have that naturally (no surprise knowing his name), so building more strenght and individual skills is what he needs now. I have to say I expected even bigger dominance in terms of scoring, but his passing pretty much impressed and he proved again he's a great rebounder. Here's video with some highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeyO_3swT-k

[macleopard13]

Lithuania U18 and Sabonis didn't pass quarterfinals. I watched couple of games. In one of it Domantas was completely shut down offensively after few couple of misses. His offensive game is still raw and a little inconsistent. He's not finishing as confident as one would like. But I have to say guards are playing really poor basketball. Passing culture is very low and the bigs depends on guards. Having that in mind, I would say Sabonis living up the hype and shows huge promise - 15 pts, 13 rebounds, 3,4 assists, 1,3 bs. All that is team high. 42% from downtown is more than solid, even if he attempted only 7 times. It shows he does have a range. FT only 60%. Going to NCAA and working on individual skills make sense. He's a very good passer and good team player, he does have that naturally (no surprise knowing his name), so building more strenght and individual skills is what he needs now. I have to say I expected even bigger dominance in terms of scoring, but his passing pretty much impressed and he proved again he's a great rebounder. Here's video with some highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeyO_3swT-k

Sabonis was the lone soldier in the whole tournament. If it wasn't for him, this team would have never made it past the second round. I had the "honor" to watch a couple of their games, and I must say that I'm truly disappointed with how this team played. Offense was lethargic all tournament long, passing was terrible, many silly mistakes both offensively and defensively. I didn't see any authority figure on or off-court, someone who would scream at them to pick their game up, someone who would unite them. Stombergas wasn't an authority figure, neither was Sabonis, Varnas, Paulikenas, or any other point guard, who IS supposed to be "the coach on the court". No, every man for himself - that's the atmosphere I felt watching this team. I can't wait for the conclusion of the tournament so that Sabonis can leave this sickly team behind and focus on his future.

[Straight forward]

No, every man for himself - that's the atmosphere I felt watching this team. I can't wait for the conclusion of the tournament so that Sabonis can leave this sickly team behind and focus on his future.

Why? It's still useful for him. Specially mentally as he there can and feels like a leader. He can feel the game again and not to go against stronger competition day by day which might be pretty frustrating at times. Besides, he's constantly doubled so it's not easy for him. Lithuania will have monstrous frontlines with JV, DMo, Sabonis and Gudaitis in the future.

[Straight forward]

Domantas Sabonis 6'9'' PF/C 1996

Has improved considerably over the past year as well. One year of practicing and playing with the senior team of Malaga completely changed his body and also the way he plays. Right now Sabonis kind of plays bully basketball, as he cannot use his right hand at all, But he has great IQ, can finish over his right shoulder in the post and can really pass the ball, something natural considering his last name but perhaps didn't really emerge until this tournament. He plays really hard, with passion, defensively and offensively fighting for position and has good feet and overall skills for a big. To be an NBA player he needs to develop a face up game and a very solid mid range jumper, because I'm not sure he is explosive and quick enough to go by people even facing up. He has a good hand and has been making 3 point shots when he has time and space but certainly it will be something he'll need to work on at Gonzaga. He will not be able to play bully ball in the NBA, so he needs to improve his skills to succeed and make it at the next level. Finishing with his right hand is also a must.

http://www.nbadraft.net/fiba-u18-championships-top-prospects

[Straight forward]

Domantas Sabonis – 2m05 – PF/C – 1996 – Lithuania

The young Lithuanian big guy was one of the most versatile players of the whole tournament. Averaging a double-double on this level when you are younger than the competition underlines what kind of prospect we are talking about. Being 2m05 tall, Sabonis had to play Center for the undersized Lithuanian team but his future position is most likely on the PF position. He has great hands and his strong left hand is really a beauty to watch when he receives the ball in the low post where he can create the necessary space to finish well of the glass. He has earned a bit of his father’s passing ability as he likes to go for the wrap-around dish for the cutters or the high-low plays from the top of the key. With his great arsenal of head and body fakes, Sabonis overcomes his lack of great athletic abilities nicely as he can put his defender out of positions on multiple occasions.

This gives him the possibility to put the ball on the floor easily and he likes to attack the defense on the dribble, mainly though over the left side. His shooting touch around the key looks promising and he should be able to develop an outside shot in the next years despite a poor percentage from the free-throw line during the event. With his choice to play College Basketball, Sabonis is certainly going into the right direction as he will work on his athletic abilities for sure. This will give him an additional dimension to his game that he is lacking a bit at the moment. But he has all the tools to become a tremendous force over the next years and should be a great complement to Joans Valanciunas and Donatas Motiejunas in the future.

Stats: 14.0ppg (56.2% 2FGs – 54.8% FTs), 11.4rpg

http://www.europeanprospects.com

[NorCal]

Domantas Sabonis Draft Express video scouting reports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er69CSpUd34

[LithuanianCramWatch]

I don't think anyone has yet posted the interesting article in Sports Illustrated which discusses both the attempts to recruit Arvydas and the recruitment of Domantas:

http://www.si.com/longform/sabonis/

[Straight forward]

Nice finds NorCal, LithuanianCramWatch.

What really impresses me about Domantas is his defence for 18yo. Most of bigs take time to get it defensively - even those best like Valančiūnas, Motiejūnas, Gudaitis - but Domantas already shows great maturity at the defence for his age. That said - he's almost ready for the NT. It will be interesting if Kazlauskas will have him in the camp already next summer.

[Hepcat]

Domantas better graduate from Gonzaga with a degree now or Arvydas should whip his ass.

[Straight forward]

Domantas better graduate from Gonzaga with a degree now or Arvydas should whip his ass.

Seems like Sabas was sceptical about Domantas' decision Somehow I feel he turns into a beast no matter the environment. It might be the first season when I watch NCAA games to follow Domantas. Probably the first Lithuanian stud in this league after Kleiza.

[LithuanianCramWatch]

Domantas was listed in Sports Illustrated's top 50 freshman in College basketball:

http://westcoastconvo.com/2014/11/06/domantas-sabonis-among-sports-illustrateds-top-50-freshmen/

[LithuanianCramWatch]

In his debut game for Gonzaga, Domantas Sabonis scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Granted this was against an overmatched opponent team and yet still an impressive start for Sabonis. Sabonis first game Gonzaga.jpg

[auris1]

Domantas was listed in Sports Illustrated's top 50 freshman in College basketball:

http://westcoastconvo.com/2014/11/06...p-50-freshmen/

Pff...Domantas was training with and playing for Euroleague team for the last 2 years.
There is no one with with this level of experience there at his age ,bar none.He might as well be 15/10 or even more,since he has been pro for so long,less the pay.