Lithuanians in Euroleague

[Shawshank]

Taking playing averages of 1/8 1/4, 1/2 type elimination games no perimeter stars is averaging just 24-26minutes

Shai in Canada bronze 2023 run:

in 1/8 Spain 37min 31pts
in 1/4 Slo 36min 31pts
in 1/2 Ser 34min 15pts
bronze Usa 40min 30pts


LTU basketball is trying to win medal with 15-18min and 7-8pts euroleague averages guards doesnt look very seriuos compared what medal winning countries puts on perimeter in those competions in 2020s


LTU NT was just unlucky for 8 years (2016-2023)

At some point those 15min eurolegue backup guards will beat nba perimeter players right?

[Straight forward]

Why you're complaining so much? Even Jokubaitis, Brazdeikis, Grigonis (2024) will be >>>>>>>>> Kalnietis, Seibutis. And you were predicting that we will have worse backcourt after Kalnietis, Seibutis heading to the future... You should celebrate and be very happy with this (to you surprising) outcome.

[Miškinis]

Seibutis is one of the most underrated players we had

[Svajunas]

Could be interested to create a euroleague fantasy league for us here? Anyone would be interested to join?

[Straight forward]

Sneaked in to figure out what's with new Barca and Jokubaitis' role. Watched just his minutes basically. The team is new and there's no much chemistry yet, the team is playing more liberal basketball. Jokubaitis plays in the second unit with new comer Brizuela at the back-court and there's little chemistry yet between the too as well as Rokas doesn't yet feel connection with Willy. He had the best moments playing pick and roll with Vesely, obvious chemistry. In that second unit there's little high level creators, so if previously Jokubaitis was receiving great passes from Lapro, Higgins and such player now he has all the tools in his hands and rather has to create himself than expect to be dished which is bigger responsibility, but I think Jokubaitis is ready. Despite calm game scoring wise and overall, eye test looks really good - he's stronger, faster and more explosive than before. He will have big games. Probably this season he yet won't emerge as obviously best guard of Barca (Sato, Lapro and him will be on the same tier basically), but he's slowly emerging as such. Jokuibaitis is better offensive player already than Satoransky and offensively Barca would be better with Jokubaitis being main PG. Defensively Sato is still more impactful. I think it's the last season for Jokubaitis being a back-up for Barca, but it's nearly completely open even now. There will be a lot of games when Jokubaitis will be No.1 player of Barca. Even in a bleak game, he already exceeded Satoransky with efficiency and +/- stats. I like that Jokubaitis slowly adds to his defense as well. By no means he's "Jasikevicius" at the D end. To stay with bullet quick midget Larkin is a problem, but overall he's better defensively than last season.

[Straight forward]

Here's Grigonis 17pts. He's an elite shooter. One of the best shooters in Europe. 44% career in EL. That's what I want to see in NT, and that's what he provided in 2022:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5upEFfM4bps&ab_channel=PanathinaikosTV

At the moment Sedekerskis is the most athletic player in the country I would say (until Buzelis joins who is at different level athletically and Tubelis who is in the same tier with Sedekerskis, maybe Sabonis too). Here's his highlight of the solid first EL game:

https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1710391971087331384

[Straight forward]

Here's Sedekerskis dominating ACB game with 27 eff, all around game. He's a top rebounder and 14# by 17,3 eff (the only Lith among top 20). I'm very pleased with Sedekerskis development last 2 years. Looking from 10's perspective, LTU needed more or a scoring Sedekerskis, but now the fact is such version of Tadas as all around grinder, hard worker, hustle player is even more valuable. We have and will have plenty of guys who want and can score a lot. But you need defensive players as Butkevicius, Sedekerskis who can grind and play without the ball:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_epePFPx8Fk&ab_channel=Baskonia

So far the best Lithuanians in EL:

Sedekerskis 17,2eff
Ulanovas 10,4eff
Grigonis 10eff
R. Giedraitis 9,6eff
Motiejunas 8,8eff
Jokubaitis 8,4eff

The best in EL today is Rokas Jokubaitis. He can carry elite EL club here and there and he's almost on the same page with Satoransky (in ACB he's even better). He's playing well in the by far the best team. In Zalgiris or even some Baskonia, his efficiency would explode. Grigonis is pretty good, but Jokubaitis is at another level already. Give Jokubaitis those 28 minutes in PAO and he would give you much more than 10eff per game. It's good that his minutes increased in EL and he's playing 19mpg, that's solid as for soon 23yo youngster who plays for top 2 EL team.

The second best in EL now is Sedekerskis. He's a beast. Brazdeikis will need time to adjust and he might struggle. We'll see later how things will develop for him. Some good players totally struggled in OLY historically.

From guys that NT missed in 2023 and I want to see Grigonis, Butkevicius and maybe Ulanovas back (if he's interested). All others, meh. Leave them aside (I'm not against Lekavicius though, but so far Maksvytis really keeps him under short leash and doesn't trust him).

[Straight forward]

A guy who was projected as a first rounder for 4-5 years and really dominated youth level basketball - Sedekerskis - arrived at PRO. Under his own age group, Sedekerskis had +20 eff tournaments in all U16, U18 and U19. Now he finally bring his athleticism and skillset to PRO. In last 4 games (EL/ACB) he's averaging 22eff. He's 9th at eff in EL with 19eff per game.

At some point it seemed he will bust, but eventually he found his way at PRO being super role player, efficiency freak, grindy player. He's not the flashiest player per se (can run without a shot all game if needed), but he just may be the most dominant EL player since...who? Kleiza 2010 when he was averaging 18eff?

Good piece, and very happy for him. He will be very useful rotation player at 4 mainly for the NT.

[Shawshank]

From euroleague lithuanians


Grigonis,Jokubaitis,Butkevicius,Sedekerskis should be in starting 5 in 2024 NT

Dimsa,Brazdeikis,Ulanovas comming of the bench


Arnas in starting because we need somebody to defend opponents perimeter nba guards .Ulanovas 2024 versions feels better defending PF than guards.


Lekavicius,R.Giedraitis,Motiejunas i dont want to see them in NT 2024.

[Straight forward]

Quick reminder Maksvytis dumped Sedekerskis in 2022 for scrubs. That alone is sensational (likely cost us a medal). A year and bit later he's top rebounder of EL and among top 10 MVPs. Maksvytis has been a cancer for NT evolution and natural development (which should be present each Olympic cycle - "how can we get better from Eurobasket to Olympics"). He has been real obstacle. I hope Zalgiris does well in EL and he will retire from NT just to work with Zalgiris. He can't build his own roster, it should be given to him as in Zalgiris. Otherwise you would see scrubs digging from their periphery graves as Griciunases, Cizauskases, Maldunases straight to the NT.

NT needs a figure who can start utilize the talent. It should be the biggest talent wave or second biggest talent wave ever in NT history and Maksvytis is probably the worst figure to deal with it. He managed to screw so badly in 2 years that probably even Maskoliunas couldn't in terms of roster selection and long term home works. Maksvytis is a solid EL level coach, but he just a horrible architect of the NT which is the other name of the head coach. New figure should feel and know which youngsters and when to integrate to expect results and how to handle this process which is not simple cause there will be many guys competing with each other. Maksvytis simply screwed up totally with this process, even cutting around 10eff EL players for complete scrubs who never played and never will play in EL or any high level.

[Shawshank]

Once again you judging head coach not by shown team play,but did he took your beloved youngsters.And you are wrong nobody judges head coaches by this criteria only cluesless dinosour experts.

Sedekerskis was cut by 3 diffrent NT head coaches in 2019-2022 not just by Maksvytis.


After he came way mature better player to 2023 camp same coaches not just took him,but put him in starting 5.

Thats shows coaches never was againts Tadas,young player improved alot and was rewarded.


Seibutis,Marciulionis both were cut 3 times before making NT. Normal process,sometimes tallents need a kick in ass to start using/training their gods given tallents and not put red carpet in front of them and spoil them.



Maksvytis is head and shoulders nr 2 lithuanian coach right now.NT loosing him and hiring 4th or 5th best lithuanian coach would be just shooting at our own leg.


Wanna help coach win medal give him elite guard that will score points vs modern switching defences in critical moments.

Without such type guard you can hire anybody you want 5th or 67th best ltu coach ,NT wont win more than one lucky breaks medal per decade with backup euroleague guards when they have to outplay nba guards in direct battle.


If u still dont get diffrence after watching Serbia game between Bogdanovic and Jokubaitis/Brazdeikis in critical moments, u never will

I dont believe coach Pesic prepared some miracles game plan from his 1992 coaches mind and thats why Bogdanovich looked how he looked.

Bog just shown individual nba guards level

[Straight forward]

It has nothing to do with my likes or dislikes. I personally never was big fan of Ulanovas (for my tastes he lacks agility, higher motor, athleticism and aesthetically he's almost displeasing player), but I know that he has to be in the NT level wise. And it's not about youngsters. Sedekerskis was established EL player in 2022 and better than in 2021 (when Maskoliunas cut him). You don't jump from being dumped to the starting level. Maksvytis made a mistake. If you deny that Maksvytis made a mistake cutting Sedekerskis in 2022 for Zukauskas, you are being simple pathetic fanboy and protecting your ex Neptunas fellow. There discussion could end here actually if so. If you think Kariniauskas didn't need any competition fighting for back up 1 spot and just a red carpet (while sucking in the camp actually and later failing in key games), even more so...

It's not about whenever you have elite team or not have. It's about how can you utilize all the talent and get better. You don't go with scrubs only because you don't have elite guard who can do it all. What kind of Logic is that? We don't have Schroder or Bogi, so we take Kariniauskas and don't work on those who can become elite players? That's nonsense. I will repeat and repeat that you should invest into talent when we speak about 11-12th players. You ask guards who can split and beat perimeter ISO defense and you ask player who can play defense, but you leave aside Marciulionis who looks great in reserve NT. How do you justify that? It's the material you need, but you don't work with it. You ignore it and don't give a slightest chance. That's ignorance. Even Serbia with way more talent and depth gave Topic (18yo) a chance. And we ignore our talent. Spain is making 19yo a starter and we don't even invite our best and most needed talents (potential key players in nearest future). That's the old problems of ours. Other NTs don't hesitate. We waste precious time.

I disagree that Maksvytis will be big loss even if some Zibenas would be hired. FOA, Zibenas would be available in windows and that is crazy that NT is left without the head coach. Second of all, I hope that Zibenas would be working with young talent more and would emphasize long term development (in which Maksvytis sucks balls so badly and yet fails to deliver results now too). But I would actually be happy if Adomaitis would work only with the NT as well. Let's find a bit more money and have only LTU NT head coach. That's very important, and I think the best solution. Head coach should have time to watch and visit all talented players. Most importantly that the head coach would work as a head coach. Maksvytis seems not to have time and has zero fucks about the future. Just looking how to survive now and he screwed. Sedekerskis could be good choice agains Garuba in the 4finals. Stop being hypocrite, it's disgusting. Sure, bro, cutting Sedekerskis for trash was absolutely objective and great decision..."uleb" (as you like it) Zukauskas rocked in EB 2022...

[Shawshank]

Could tell me please when the last time any euroleague level backup PG-SG being best perimeter player/desicion maker of his team lead his nation to medal outplaying nba guards in playoofs type games?


We are giving audi model and asking head coach/driver win race versus ferarri model cars. Unless Ferari car will break mechanically in race progress,audi is not winning that race.Usually to win medal audi will need to beat not just ferrari,also mclarens and bugattis is it that race too.

Lucky breaks can happens once in decade when in same race 3 fastest cars collides with each other and audi from behind manages to finish 3rd.

That how drivers/LTU head coaches chances looks before race with euroleague backup guards to win medal in 2020s basketball race



That Audi car better have top 10 worlds driver to even be in striking distance in this 2020s fastest modern car race.

[Straight forward]

Could you tell me, please, how adding Eurocup mediocrities (at best) give us better chances to go against those feraris?

I blame Maksvytis for not thinking long term (not even a bit) and wasting tons of spots (at the end of the bench) for scrubs who have zero future. I never asked him to win medals, specially not in 2023 with 22yo Jokubaitis as our best player. But when people say "he took Kariniauskas because he wanted to win now", I ask them "in which universe having Kariniauskas increases your chances to win and where the results then"?

[Straight forward]

Sedekerskis continues to cook. Now he's 6th most efficient player in EL.