Ąžuolas Tubelis thread

[Straight forward]

Tubelis with a monster game, 49eff. And close win for Neptunas. He literally carrying the team being 21yo. This makes Maksvytis look extremely stupid. Amazing that Tubelis didn't make a single TO in 34 or so minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkvdbkNhUqg&t=1s&ab_channel=BasketNews%E2%80%A4LT

Neptunas' coach counted that Tubelis had 9 deflections in this game. So 4 blocks, 2 steals, 9 deflections, 8 drown fouls, 13rbs and 34 points. He set up a night for himself.

Zalgiris side is said to be split in terms of opinion (via podcast Pikenrolas) of signing Tubelis. Some are still pissed that 17yo Tubelis spit on Zalgiris logo, LOL...

[Straight forward]

Tubelis was named LKL MVP. Congrats to Azualas.

[Toruko]

Tubelis was named LKL MVP. Congrats to Azualas.

Azuolas

[Straight forward]

There it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHwATX0bZVE&ab_channel=Betsafe-LKLTV

[Straight forward]

Here's the thing guys - I remain pro Tubelis kinda dude when we speak about our next big after Sabonis (or say next guy next Sabonis, his back-up). Krivas will be good, but I prioritize Tubelis. His ability to run, his athleticism (which is way more dynamic and explosive than Krivas), his ability leap, his non hesitant lust to spread the floor (even if he's average shooter at best, he's way more willing and natural shooting big than JV/Domas), his ability to put the ball on the floor. He is MODERN big. I want to see his and Kaspa pick and roll and pick and pop duet. I want these 2 and others (Buzelis) dominating transition basketball. In my opinion with dynamic facilitator as Kaspa such mobile big as Tubelis can really thrive. He has more sneaky athleticism and strides than his natural mediocre (for NBA standards) athleticism shows. He can catch tough passes, he's good with thin angles and driving paths, he can catch a little bit above the rim. Krivas has a bit clumsy hands at times when catching more difficult passes and he's still too hesitant with passing out of the double team. Krivas will be better defender than Tubelis, but overall the way our talent panning out, having tremendously dynamic creators as Kaspa, Buzelis, we need dynamic and athletic bigs next to them to utilize that, and Tubelis is perfect for it. I think he will be huge next to these 2 playing at 5. Defensively he will have issues, but his chase down blocks are nice and he can still improve some at the defensive end. Some rolling, popping and always intense transition presence is what I want to see from Tubelis, some put back dunks too. He's the guy who can stay at the three point line at times and watch Kaspa, Buzelis going downhill, tracking down opportunities to cut and grab offensive rebound. That's primarily what Sedekerskis/Murauskas will have to do also. They will have to be good weak side role players.

Here's his season highs, pretty intense collection of highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKAKg-a4OuY&ab_channel=RytasVilnius

[Toruko]

I really dont understand what you see in this guy. IMO there is no way he is more useful or in some kind better than Krivas. When I saw him the last time even his ft shooting was very problematic. He is a classic big who likes to finish around the rim but more face up than post up.

[Dreamcatcher]

I really dont understand what you see in this guy. IMO there is no way he is more useful or in some kind better than Krivas. When I saw him the last time even his ft shooting was very problematic. He is a classic big who likes to finish around the rim but more face up than post up.

His ft shooting is very problematic, that's true. And he's way more face up than post up, that's also true. But he's not a classic big. It's Krivas who is a huge classic big. Tubelis is different. He runs the floor and shoots from three a lot. He was my favorite Lith prospect since he was 16 meaning it was more or less 6 years ago. And i'm quite skeptical towards young prospects and never give any bigger credits. But at that time Tubelis already could grab a rebound and run the floor to make a huge dunk. His athleticism and ability to run is very solid. So, how is he a classic big if you can play him easily in a fast-break? Last season he returned from good NCAA campaign and dominated LKL averaging 17 pts. So, i wasn't disappointed.

In fact, Rytas underrated him, because he was loaned to another LKL team so that he could have solid minutes there. But he was so good that it was clear he could have spent last season in Rytas.

[Hepcat]

He is a classic big who likes to finish around the rim but more face up than post up.

But he's not a classic big. It's Krivas who is a huge classic big. Tubelis is different.

That's also precisely why I see Ąžuolas Tubelis as a PF rather than a center. He plays as a PF.

[Toruko]

His ft shooting is very problematic, that's true. And he's way more face up than post up, that's also true. But he's not a classic big. It's Krivas who is a huge classic big. Tubelis is different. He runs the floor and shoots from three a lot. He was my favorite Lith prospect since he was 16 meaning it was more or less 6 years ago. And i'm quite skeptical towards young prospects and never give any bigger credits. But at that time Tubelis already could grab a rebound and run the floor to make a huge dunk. His athleticism and ability to run is very solid. So, how is he a classic big if you can play him easily in a fast-break? Last season he returned from good NCAA campaign and dominated LKL averaging 17 pts. So, i wasn't disappointed.

In fact, Rytas underrated him, because he was loaned to another LKL team so that he could have solid minutes there. But he was so good that it was clear he could have spent last season in Rytas.

You can play fast with him but he cant shoot in a reliable way so it would be the same problem with JV and Sabonis. I havent watched him for a long time but I am sure that he will have to play 5 in the long term.

[Straight forward]

I really dont understand what you see in this guy. IMO there is no way he is more useful or in some kind better than Krivas. When I saw him the last time even his ft shooting was very problematic. He is a classic big who likes to finish around the rim but more face up than post up.

Come on, Toruko, you just discrediting your self with such comments We all know you were big on Tubelis and liked him a lot And then you change your opinion, but admitting you haven't watch him seriously for a long time You just want to find reasons to get into the mission to downgrade other NTs and you specially passive aggressive towards traditional powerhouses, something that Turkey never could be and looking objectively won't be (at least long term).

We discussed Tubelis from bone to bone here for N years and you come up with such comment. You're funny Krivas brings different things. Tubelis is dynamic, ultimately running big who can also shoot and operate face up. He has more handles than 95% of center forwards. He's special in that sense and very good fit next our upcoming perimeter players cause he can catch the ball in tight spaces and aggressively cut or role and he's constantly running this way creating tension to defense and opining up things. In a way I feel he's much more natural fit to any line-up than even Sabonis who needs a lot of touches. Tubelis can be effective not even touching the ball a lot.

That's exactly where I want him to play. At 5 he's damn fast and mobile. Most of the bigs will look like one trick ponnies compared to Tubelis at 5.

Stop being jealous, Toruko. Your passive aggresssiveness and envy is a bit funny already

[Toruko]

Come on, Toruko, you just discrediting your self with such comments We all know you were big on Tubelis and liked him a lot And then you change your opinion, but admitting you haven't watch him seriously for a long time You just want to find reasons to get into the mission to downgrade other NTs and you specially passive aggressive towards traditional powerhouses, something that Turkey never could be and looking objectively won't be (at least long term).

We discussed Tubelis from bone to bone here for N years and you come up with such comment. You're funny Krivas brings different things. Tubelis is dynamic, ultimately running big who can also shoot and operate face up. He has more handles than 95% of center forwards. He's special in that sense and very good fit next our upcoming perimeter players cause he can catch the ball in tight spaces and aggressively cut or role and he's constantly running this way creating tension to defense and opining up things. In a way I feel he's much more natural fit to any line-up than even Sabonis who needs a lot of touches. Tubelis can be effective not even touching the ball a lot.

That's exactly where I want him to play. At 5 he's damn fast and mobile. Most of the bigs will look like one trick ponnies compared to Tubelis at 5.

Stop being jealous, Toruko. Your passive aggresssiveness and envy is a bit funny already

Well, players develop differently. He showed at early age some interesting aspects of the game especially on the defensive end but he didnt turn out to be that player. Accusing me of being jealous is nonsense btw. Tubelis is probably one of the last guys to be jealous. I just write down my view. I think you should handle the opinions of others better than this above.

Everytime I see him his body looks bigger and bigger. He may run the open court but he doesnt move that well on the spot. I think hell end up playing five but to be honest, I didnt see him a lot.

[Hepcat]

Ąžuolas Tubelis had a great season with Neptūnas but for whatever reason Coach Maksvytis didn't trust him enough to give him any more than bit minutes on the national team. I'm therefore withholding judgement until we see him play in the qualifying windows for Eurobasket.

[Dreamcatcher]

Being envy to Lith basketball nowadays is nonsense indeed.

[Straight forward]

Being envy to Lith basketball nowadays is nonsense indeed.

You're too pessimistic. We been one established guard who can play as lead guard away from big things in 2022. Hell, with Kazlauskas we could probably get away even with that talent. Off course, may pessimism comes from this side also, our next coaches may very well screw this even with way better talent.

But, again, you should see the while picture. We'll have an incredible team. We will field basically whole world class unit (Kaspa, Indrusaitis, Buzelis, Murauskas, Sabonis) and the guys who will get up from the bench (let's say, whatever the rotation...) will be still elite line-up (Joku, Rubsta, Sirvydis, Buzelis, Tubelis).

We will have some special presence of length, skill and motor. I will actually want to see how 198cm Kaspa, 204cm Rubsta, 209cm Buzelis, 204 Murauskas, 208cm Tubelis running into offense, transition offense. Good luck stopping that combination. Relentless motor in each piece. I even feel that to certain extent with Tubelis we will be playing smoother basketball and there won't be any issues to mesh. Sabonis very specific player, it's hard to utilize his constant touching basketball which is deadly in NBA, but complicated in FIBA. To certain extent Sabonis has to give on play making in FIBA and go dominate pick and rolls and paint area.

Most other NTs are naked at 1 or their PGs are one sided offensively. Like Traore, Nunez barely can shoot. Or even Topic who's shooting game is at question (of course Serbia is not among lacking teams though).

Regarding filling up star power (suddenly and finally!), the incredible depth (3-4 elite guys at each position, including 1, when others are butt naked), is something that only few Euro teams will be able to match (like France, Serbia, Spain).

It's really about the question when Kaspa and Buzelis taking over, but both have special tools. The way 18yo Kaspa is manipulating the D, that's special. In the NT with great players around he'll be a heck of a lead guard.

To me it's funny to hear all these crying when we stand at historical shift. Overall I think we never had such talent ever. Assuming Kaspa and Buzelis turns out to be FIBA stars, and I think they have it all for it, and the depth:

second half 20s team will be >>> 90s, 00's (not even mentioning shabby 10's)

[Straight forward]

BTW, Rytas sweeps Unventus in the friendlies big time. Tubelis adds 17pts, 10rebs. Dude's ready to dominate at this level, playing in second best (well, first officially ) team of Lithuania. I watched some Velicka at the start of previous season and then completely turned off boring Rytas who didn't have a single elite Lithuanian. Now they have a baller, Azuolas, and I turn on Rytas again. That's how it works. Don't have any true Lith ballers? Why should I care? Go be boring and some-one elses time. The fact that the stud Tubelis is playing for this Rytas is like MJ signing with some EL team. They won't have similar 22yo beast in decades.

Krizanauskas dude is nice though. He's a sneaky elite piece. Can develop into NT player. But most likely he will be leashed.