All time NT

[Shawshank]

I said NT best chance for 2022-2024 is with players born 1992-1994 that plays on high euroleague level and i still stand on that ground that give the best chance with battle tested euroleague/nba players but doesnt guarante anything,other top teams also play euroleague/nba players.


Reality shown of last 5 tournaments no examples for medal without perimeter star on your roster

I didnt realised 2 years ago how important was to have that perimeter star that can take over any game for 5 minutes and steal game his team have no business winning.I thought good team work can overcome that,but i was wrong

After watching 2021-2023 fiba tournaments i think now without perimeter star no medals.

Medal was won by fiba perimeter stars from nba in last 3-5 years,without such player no NT won and even elite nba bigs Jokic or Giannis couldnt changed that either.


In fiba Schroders,Mills,Fourniers,Bogdanovich is simply more impactful players especially in endings than even nba mvp bigs

Only perimeter star can bring LTU NT to realistic medal hunt.


Serbians put their defensive dogs on euroleague backups Jokubaitis,Brazdeikis and all that beautifull basketball dissapeared ltu played in first 5 games.

Serbs put same defensive dogs on German perimeter star (nba player) Schroder and Dennis said with his play that little pesky Avramovic cant guard me and went for 28pts to lift the trophy.

This recent example shows when one NT had perimeter star that will score in critical moments and how looks other NT that didnt had perimeter star and their teams offence got paralysed in critical moments faced with elite,physical defence

[Hepcat]

That's why going with JV for a decade, playing old school ancient basketball and not making any realistic efforts to develop guards was insanity.

For whatever reason you keep thinking that it's the national team's responsibility to develop players! It is not. The players are already supposed to be ready to play at the highest levels before they're even considered as candidates for the team. A month's preparation won't take a player to the level needed for the national team unless he's already there.

It's not the national team program's fault that only three all-star caliber PGs - Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Šarūnas Jasikevičius and Mantas Kalnietis - have been found over the last thirty years. Such players from Lithuania just didn't exist. To get more such players from a country as small as Lithuania two things are necessary and they're both politically incorrect these days:

1) A selective breeding program involving past stars and athletic women.
2) A well financed dedicated training program from about the age of six to develop those skills in promising youngsters (like they did in Communist countries including China today).

Otherwise you have to take what you get and hope really good players fortuitously surface.

[Dreamcatcher]

Macijauskas at 43 is still in some sort of shape and can easily make shots. Lith basketball lost so damn a lot when he ended his career due to injuries so early. The best Lith shooter ever.

[Straight forward]

I said NT best chance for 2022-2024 is with players born 1992-1994 that plays on high euroleague level and i still stand on that ground that give the best chance with battle tested euroleague/nba players but doesnt guarante anything,other top teams also play euroleague/nba players.

I disagree. Our best chance even for 2024 is the development of Jokubaitis and Brazdeikis. Jokubaitis was 15.1eff kinda player in WC. If we exclude that first easiest game against Egypt when he struggled (1eff), he was 17,1eff player in the rest of the tournament and didn't have a single off game in the tournament. Grigonis EB was 15,8eff player. In my opinion today Jokubaitis is already the best guard in the country. It's between Grigonis and Brazdeikis to fight for the second best the way I see it. So assuming Jokubaitis and Brazdeikis will make another strong step forward in one year (I expect that), there's little doubt Jokubaitis will be indisputable best guard and basically best player along with Sabonis in the country. Hopefully Brazdeikis will make a leap too and will pass Grigonis with his athleticism, strong slashing (something that Grigonis doesn't have) and solid shooting. So the best chance is Jokubaitis and Brazdeikis development. Off course, it doesn't mean that we don't need Grigonis, Ulanovas, Butkevicius., Lekavicius, but only Jokubaitis and Brazdeikis have elite EL guards upside and they already fighting their way through to be the best in the country. Olympiacos understands that and knows that Iggy will make a huge leap in upcoming 1-3 seasons before reaching his prime.

[Shawshank]

Doesnt matter which of those 3uroleague average euroleague players is best ltu guard.They dont need to beat each other

Compare best ltu guards with Schroder,Shai,Mills,Doncic,Fournier,Bogdanovich and its shows chances of LTU NT when critical game time comes in 2024 olympic summer.



When real game starts with physical prepared defences,no team sets works.

Simply NTs perimeter stars is taking the ball and deciding destiny in critical moments of his NT.

Thats was scenerio how Mills 2021,Fournier 2021, Brown 2022,Schroder/Shai/Bogdanovich 2023 won medals for their countries.


If you disagree tell me which NT won medal without peirmeter star in last 5 years?

[Straight forward]

That's not what I was talking about. You simply switched the topics. I wasn't comparing Rokas/Iggy with players as Schroder/SGA or so. You should learn to stay in the topic.

And, yes, the hierarchy of our guards matter. In other words, ATM all our 3 guards may be more or less on the same level (all being above average EL guards, but that's all for now), but the important moment is that Jokubaitis and Brazdeikis are only scratching the surface of their upside. Grigonis reached his prime (and even bothered by back issues) while Jokubaitis and Brazdeikis getting better with each day. That's the difference. That's why our BEST CHANCE (be precise interpreting these words) is Jokubaitis and Brazdeikis.

As for your question (which is other topic) - it's funny that you ask me this. I'm here preaching about contemporary basketball for a decade and now you come and ask me whenever I've noticed that guards are most important Come on, dude, don't be funny. You sound a bit retarded with this

While you pointed out complete triviality, Mr. Obvious kinda shit (8yo guy who follows bb today knows that guards lead the teams today), one thing has to be said - world class perimeter star (Dragic, Doncic, Rubio, Bogdanovic, Schroder, Mills) and EL elite guard (Brown) are 2 different animals. Spain 2022 showed that you can win with one elite EL guard and correct chemistry, you don't even need world class guard (the one who can successfully play in the NBA too). So if Jokubaitis becomes elite EL player (which may happen even as soon as one or two upcoming years likely) we'll have much better chance to win something. Obviously you do want to have NBA guards these days, but having elite EL guard is already legitimate position to fight for something big.

[Shawshank]

Im telling facts who won medals in 2019-2023 not what like or dislike


Thats why im saying after watching and seeing final results 2019-2023 i dont believe its possible to win medal with just team play anymore in 2020s basketball
without game changing perimeter star that gonna save team in streaches when nothing works vs good defences.

LTU basketball didnt have such level guard in last 15 years and we can see in our results.

Clearly can be seen perimeter stars won all recent medals


Its not about contemporary basketball or coaches playing style in 2020s fiba basketball is all about one thing do NT have Schroder,Mills,Shai level game changing guard or not ?

[Straight forward]

How many grades did you finish in high school, bro? You have issues

[Shawshank]

2019: Rubio,Campazzo,Fournier

2021 Durant,Fournier,Mills

2022 Brown,Fournier,Shroder

2023 Schroder,Bogdanovich,Shai


10 medals was leaded by nba guards, 2 by euroleague elite guards


What are we trying to fool with our 15minutes euroleague backups? Hope is good thing,but ltu nt future looks grim, looking what kinda level perimeter leader is needed to win medals in 2020s.

No wonder LTU made top 8 once in last 7 years with our backup level guards.

[Straight forward]

What's the new here? There's absolutely nothing new. All the time most of the best NTs were led by NBA players. In which planet do you live? Can you see only recent years from there?

In 2017 it's Dragic, in 2015 it's Pau, in 2013 Parker, in 2001 Parker, Pau, 2009 Rudy, 2007 DIrk and so on. Like Marciulionis couldn't drop 20ppg in the NBA in 90's and beat the hell out of anybody in ISO situations.

The only thing changed that Lithuania failed to develop elite guards in 10's compared to 90s and 00s. That's all. Now at the beginning of 20s we are very close to have elite guard again. Lorenzo Brown or Compazzo could only dream about the level of Jokubaitis that he has been as 21-22yo. Actually Jokubaitis exceeds Jasikevicius and likely Marciulionis (Rooney had higher upside though) in terms where he's been in recent years and were those been as 21-22yo.

[Shawshank]

dinoosour expert


Throwing random medal winners from the past that was nba bigs shows that u dont even understand topic

Im not talking just about gold medal winners,entire podiums are leaded by nba guards in last 4 tournaments.


Nba bigs leaded their NT to exactly 0 medals in last 5 years.

When nba guards leaded to 10 medals in last 5 years


in 2000s or 2010s fiba we can find alot examples of nba bigs leading his NT to medal


What happend before 2015 and Warriors 2015-2019 run its irrelevant.That Warriors run changed basketball playing style worldwide


Results of last 5 years shows way more info what wins in 2020s todays fiba

[Straight forward]

Perimeter players playing bigger and bigger role. The pace is increasing and there's more shooting. That is clear. But essentially when it comes to talent, I don't see any difference. Actually I see a decline when it comes to talent. Do FIBA Europe has anyone like Dirk today? Nope. Is any-one from non USA (and Canada's SGA) guards are as good as Parker or Manu (or even Stojakovic)? Only Doncic, that's it. You bragging about Schroders, Bogdanovics, Fourniers, but Parker, Dragic, Manu were better.

When LTU NT was winning stuff in the world stage 2000-2008 with EL stars as Saras, Siska, Macas, it had to take down ALL NBA guys as Stojakovic, Manu, Parker, Dirk, Pau. Now you have to take down Schroder, Bogdanovic, Fournier, Rubio, Mils (none of them are ALL NBA material so all this tier is at least one level below) or freaking Lorenzo Brown.

Give me Saras, Siska, Macijauskas, Stombergas today and LTU would be snatching medals just as it did in 00's. That NT almost beat really stacked USA NT 2000 in the semis.

Another thing. In that last 5 years stretch the best individual was Durant. Not a guard, but all around forward with tremendous scoring/shooting profile. The reason why we don't see forwards or bigs among medaling teams is that we don't have such players as Dirk or Pau in the game today. Specially some-one like Dirk. But when we speak about Germany, don't forget that Franz Wagner played a big role for Germany and he was even injured. He has an upside to be something special.

My point is that elite EL players as Saras, Siska could very well compete with today's opposition, they seen better players in front of them generally. If you think that Lithuania would suck balls with 3-4 elite EL guards today, you don't really get it. To stay in front of Parker was more difficult than to say in front of Schroder.

Another point - prime Lebron or prime Durant are better than any guard, IMO. That's where Lithuania can be hopeful if Buzelis pans out. He has a chance to be special with his size and skill. Give me 6'11 dude who has nearly guard skill and can shoot against anyone, and he will be the best baller in the game. Even if Buzelis fails or won't show up, I see Lithuania having 3-5 elite EL guards in the second half of decade and early 30s. And that alone will be enough to fight for medals legitimately, IMO. If Buzelis will join being NBA star, we can have a team that will finally be in Olympic final.

[Hepcat]

Give me Saras, Siska, Macijauskas, Stombergas today and LTU would be snatching medals just as it did in 00's. That NT almost beat really stacked USA NT 2000 in the semis.

Nobody is disagreeing on that point.

Where I disagree is that at times you seem to be implying both that the Lithuanian coaching establishment including present head coach Kazys Maksvytis is holding back the development of star guards and that Jonas Valančiūnas is a net negative that Team Lietuva would be better off without.

[Straight forward]

Nobody is disagreeing on that point.

Where I disagree is that at times you seem to be implying both that the Lithuanian coaching establishment including present head coach Kazys Maksvytis is holding back the development of star guards and that Jonas Valančiūnas is a net negative that Team Lietuva would be better off without.

Both points, IMO, are correct. Maksvytis didn't even invite Marciulionis to the main camp while majority of BB community wanted to see that. And JV is terrible terrible defender. We are butt naked with him on the court. I literally believe that it's impossible to win with turtle fast center to win in today's big games. Impossible.

[Hepcat]

Maksvytis didn't even invite Marciulionis to the main camp while majority of BB community wanted to see that.

Coach Maksvytis though isn't running a circus to entertain the public. Augustas Marčiulionis' numbers playing NCAA ball have not been nearly good enough to this point to merit an invitation to the national team camp.

And JV is terrible terrible defender. We are butt naked with him on the court. I literally believe that it's impossible to win with turtle fast center to win in today's big games. Impossible.

Your ignoring the "detail" that without the offensive dominance that Jonas Valančiūnas brings Team Lietuva probably wouldn't get to those big games. Yes Valančiūnas has his weaknesses but he also has his strengths. That's why he made the second All-Star team at this year's World Cup.

Basketball is situational. A coach has to take what the opposition is giving up. But to do so a coach needs a diverse tool kit. And Valančiūnas with his skills is a valuable part of any national team coach's tool kit.