Ąžuolas Tubelis thread

[Straight forward]

But having a first pick Lithuanian would be insane though.

Indeed. It would have long term impact too. Specially that Buzelis is very universal player. These days it's a trend. I doubt many young kids today want to be like Valanciunas, at least not those who have already enough bb contiousness. He's too old school. Kids today want to be Curry, Doncic, Ja Morant or Lebron, Durant. Those guys who can shoot, who can drive, who can do tricks. I doubt even Domas is super good role model in terms of a game style We lack perimeter stars who would be role models.

But No.1 pick not always translate to being a star in NBA, let alone superstar. If Buzelis becomes superstar though or something close to this, it would surely make impact for LTU basketball nex generations. But I'm afraid this may mean some skipped tournaments. If you are true franchice player, you might have different thoughts about playing for the NT. Let's hope Buzelis will be more of A. Sabonis, Marciulionis, Doncic type...We still don't know how much loyal he will be since he was born in USA.

Another thing. It would be pay back for A. Sabonis. He was clearly the best player in the world from 1964 age group. He had to be No.1 pick.

https://inf.news/en/sport/7bcab43551cb89e83e20b26c0e96e0bb.html

[Straight forward]

When you think about it, all NCAA career Tubelis played next HUGE center. At first with Koloko who is in NBA ATM and now with Oumar Ballo. He knows how to play next huge bodies. Meaning he should feel much more comfortable at 4 than Sabonis does likely. Some argue this is the best way to use Tubelis:

https://twitter.com/EDemirNBA/status/1609806698520236033

[Straight forward]

It sounds extremely ironic, but A?uolas (Oak) receives Wooden Award. It appears it's a big deal cause the only other Wildcat that received it is well know San Antonio Spur Sean Eliott:

https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/basketball/arizona-forward-azuolas-tubelis-makes-midseason-wooden-award-watch-list/article_f6d83df0-8c90-11ed-bfde-ef5ec6f5f441.html?hidenav=1&hidefooter=1&utm_source=nativeapp&utm_medium=mobile&utm_campaign=link

He's the best European in the NCAA.

[Straight forward]

ZU with tremendous stat line. He's such promising 2 ways big. When the last time we had 2 ways big seriously? It's actually very rare cause most of our bigs are offensive. Even Arvydas was more of offensive center (young off course was 2 ways). But Ilgauskas, JV, Motiejunas, Domas, Petravicius, Kavaliauskas, Einikis...All offensive bigs. We have only few bigs who could be treated as 2 ways like Songaila, Jankunas. I'm very curious what Tubelis can bring to the NT. I agree with one of the guys on Twitter that he can more something like a glue guy at the frontline. Dude who can be pretty effective without asking much of the ball, just occasionally. 4 blocks, 3 steals, 4 assists, 9 boards, 18 points. That's huge.

https://twitter.com/BBrennanNBCS/status/1611245857101254659

Look how he's working. Finally we have hustle bigs in Sedekerskis, Tubelis, this will help a lot:

https://twitter.com/JustinESports/status/1601747728727298049

https://twitter.com/ArizonaMBB/status/1611239174098784257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1611239174098784257%7Ctwgr%5E232a971504b5b2bf1cdb720ab0c70e0eaf03a68e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.krepsinis.net%2Fnaujiena%2Fa-tubelis-dviguba-dubli-pagardino-blokais-g-juozapaitis-emesi-lyderio-vaidmens%2F324637

[Linas Kreiza]

The block in the last one was very very cool, lol.

[Straight forward]

Tubelis drops 29/14/2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQxa9B-azYM&ab_channel=TremendousUpside

[Straight forward]

There's Tubelis defensive highlights too:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnFkPvBK8IH/

[Straight forward]

Tubelis drops 40. Tier drops looks good, driving to the right became available and running to transition is all nice, as well as good interior presence. We are finishing turtle basketball soon. Sabonis and Tubelis and 5 and even sharing some min together will be completely different ball game. New level of mobility.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfyV8sKlO5M&ab_channel=FullCourtFilms

[Straight forward]

Lloyd compares Sabonis and Tubelis

https://twitter.com/JustinESports/status/1621416404707835904

[Straight forward]

If this is spot on, Tubelis is 210cm (I still think he's more like 208cm kinda guy), weights 111kg (so 2kg more than Domas Sabonis), wingspan 212cm (2cm more than Domas).

Face up PF or versatile C look good description. I hope in NT to see him playing 5 more often. His defense is flexible enough to be solid, mobile defender for a center. I think we would have the best C defense ever since Javtokas. Krivas also interesting at D, but a bit too slow (very talented, but a bit too old school, so I see Krivas more of 3rd center or back-up when Sabonis will retire one day).

With Tubelis we would have a chance to play sort of a small ball without losing much under the boards cause he's big and strong enough to bang with big bodies. Solid rebounder, blocker for his size. So it's like, he won't be super mobile small ball 5, but you don't get entirely small with him under the boards as you get with Green or Garuba. That's a good compromise.

I watched mainly Tubelis' defensive highlights as this is the key for the NT. We will have more than enough offense. Tubelis won't even be among the keys scoring wise of you ask me, all he will need to do is to play solid D, to run to transition and occasionally to make a bucket off the p'n'r or move the ball. Perfect off the ball big, specially if he will be able to knock down a three from time to time, just occasionally. Should be great piece next to the guys as Buzelis, Murauskas, Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius, those who can slash the life out of you and need space.

Defense starts with 10:00:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZQgsWbqHX0&ab_channel=DianeCallahan-QuotidianWriter

[Straight forward]

Yes, San Antionio Spurs, please do it. It would be a great place for Tubelis, IMO.

The San Antonio Spurs should anticipate a lot of talk about what they’ll do with their likely top-5 pick. However, there should also be some hype around what they may do with their second-round pick this summer. A sneaky good pick at the beginning of the round could be Arizona’s Azuolas Tubelis.

https://projectspurs.com/azuolas-tubelis-prospect-watch-the-learned-lithuanian/

[Straight forward]

Tubelis enters NBA draft. Despite being projected second round option, I think Tubelis is the most NBA ready Lithuanian since Domantas Sabonis (2016). So we gad a glimpse of Kuzminskas, Brazdeikis, Sirvydis, Kulboka in the NBA, as well as Jokubaitis potentially waiting for his chance, but Tubelis, IMO, has very realistic chances to have actual career in NBA. I feel like some team should love him and he may go higher than expected, like very early second round.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...eakout-combine

[Straight forward]

Its not about being ready or not. The question is what he can give NBA teams on the court. He looks like a decent low post scorer with a good touch, can excel in transition and he looks like to be a good passer in transition and thats pretty much everything he can deliver RIGHT NOW. Considering how old he is a draft in the early second round is impossible.

He looked in his early years to be a very versatile defender but you can forget such a role in the NBA. If he decides to stay in the NBA he will have a bench role all his career long. More probable is that he will try and return to Europe unless he turns to a shooting big a la Lopez.

I think it's possible if something will happen like with Sirvydis. Pistons really took a bit of a wild shot taking him 37. They seen something in him. Well, it didn't work. Big deal.

Off course, Tubelis is objectively late second round pick and actually being undrafted is not entirely off question. But I think he will be drafted and can have Songaila's sort of career. A bit of a 2 ways player. Hustles a lot, gives a lot of heart. I doubt Tubelis wouldn't be satisfied being a role player in NBA. Europe always there in case of the failure or being tired with NBA (Mirotic case?).

Anyway, my point is that Tubelis is different case than those recent Lithuanian attempts to make it. Definitely can be usable. If not right away, I think he can stay in the league long years as a bench material. Maybe Domas and Kings success will also increase Tubelis chances. I guy from the bench who can be poor man's Sabonis? Not the worst recipe, IMO.

As for NT, it's good to keep rolling with NBA material at 5.There's continuation after JV and Sabonis. It should be like inevitable for such country as Lithuania.

[Straight forward]

I hear people saying that running the floor and sealing is not gonna work for Tubelis in EL as it works in NCAA with Wildcats. Think again. It's very much possible and Tubelis would be a beast at it cause he's better post player and better at sealing than Mirotic. Running the floor hard and sealing would give a lot points for Tubelis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNdpO7vhJ5g&ab_channel=BallScouting

[Shawshank]

Talking about euroleague and youngsters u-23 is not seriuos talks.

Rising euroleague star winner usually is players with 5pts average and 12 minutes bench player

Euroleague is not for kids. Even good youngsters dont get seriuos roles there.


Biggest europes tallent of last 20 years Wembi played only 15min and average 6 pts in bottom 3 euroleague team and he decided that not for him what he needs right now and decided rightfully not to play in euroleague 2023.



If youngster want to play real minutes he should choose uleb type team not euroleague team

If youngster want to end up in Blazevic,Giedraitis bench 5min role first 1 or 2 seasons he can go to zalgiris