Kaunas Zalgiris Thread

[Straight forward]

Sabonis bossing Trinchieri:

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

[Dreamcatcher]

Sometimes Francisco is amazing. One of the best 3pt-shot creaters in Europe. The best rival's defender was focused on the French fellow and it was useless. And at the same time you can't guard him very close, as he's very fast as well.

It seems Zalgiris screwed EL season by signing Walker, which spoiled team's chemistry. Francisco + good team could be good enough for play-offs.

[Straight forward]

To trash the shit out of Russian ass lickers though Good job.

[Dreamcatcher]

First of all, what a bad game in Vittoria. Secondly, if you loose 2 times to this Basconia, then good bye play-inn for sure. Thirdly, how unplayable Sirvydis can be quite often. 12 min of nothing. Even free throws are missed. - 6 PIR + bad defense. Despite that, he had a chance to make a game winner, but not even close.

[Hepcat]

If and when the game is on the line, I'd rather have the ball in the hands of say Deividas Gailius than Deividas Sirvydis.

[Straight forward]

All younger Zalgiris Lithuanians lack consistency. That's what separates solid players from good or great. Sirvydis, Iggy, Giedraitis show some nice thing here and there, but they go up and down too much. Specially first two. Giedraitis at least brings A defense all the time. Sirvydis may have few more years growing into his prime and becoming more consistent, but I can see already that certain streakiness will be a part of his identity for good. Not a bad player, but doesn't have what Stombergas had, consistent hand. Saulius could knock down a three out of the bed at the middle of the night. Iggy should be close his prime by now, basically prime, but he's still inconsistent, hasn't really grown much since he landed in Europe as 23yo. Nice player in certain days, can bring big offensive boost, but on a daily basis way too inconsistent and defensively vulnerable.

Francisco to my taste is not a guy to lead PO EL team. He doesn't have passing, he's a streaky shooter, his very very up and down decision maker. The team depends on his scoring streaks. Take some Jokubaitis. His scoring may wary here and there, but passing and team control is on consistent level, he will make right decisions. While Fransico doesn't have it and I would take Jokubaitis to lead my team in this comparison.

Trinch is good, but I thought he's better. That's how I would sum up the season no matter the outcome. That's my general impression. I though he would utilize the roster better.

[Dreamcatcher]

Fuck, Zalgiris resigned Francisco. The organization is on a higher level than before when financially the club couldn't afford to keep the best player who averages 14 pts in EL.

[Straight forward]

So the failure the season has nothing to do with your starting player at 1?

I don't see how this is a great achievement. He can't pass and has no fundamentals. He will score in some games and will sink the team in others.

[Dreamcatcher]

So the failure the season has nothing to do with your starting player at 1?

I don't see how this is a great achievement. He can't pass and has no fundamentals. He will score in some games and will sink the team in others.

Why then all Zalgiris fans are so happy now? No way in the past Zalgiris would secure a leader who provided that much in EL. Francisco is among top10 EL guards this season. Who you think Zalgiris could sign instead of him? It would be crazy not to resign him if it's possible.
The main failure was bringing Walker and the way Trinchieri treated all that situation. Also, Manek and Mitchell were useless. Add here Williams who was supposed to be among the best players and you get minus three foreigners which is very bad. In addition, front court is pretty weak.
Francisko was the least problem here. He was very good in general and amazing in some games. And you underrate him saying that he can't pass - he averages 4.3 ast.
Generally, I always considered Trichieri as a fairly solid coach, but I didn't like him in this EL season. I think that Zalgiris could look and do not worse with Maksvytis.

[Toruko]

Why then all Zalgiris fans are so happy? No way in the past Zalgiris would secure a leader who provided that much in EL. Francisco is among top10 EL guards this season. Who you think Zalgiris could sign instead of him? It would be crazy not to resign him if it's possible.
The main failure was bringing Walker and the way Trinchieri treated all that situation. Also, Manek and Mitchell were useless. Add here Williams who was supposed to be the among the best players and you get minus three foreigners which is very bad. In addition, front court is pretty weak.
Francisko was the least problem here. He was very good in general and amazing in some games. And you underrate him saying that he can't pass - he averages 4.3 ast.
Generally, I always considered Trichieri as a fairly solid coach, but I didn't like him in this EL season. I think that Zalgiris could look and do not worse with Maksvytis.

Francisco also struggled a lot at the start of the season and its not like he remained underused. He is a gifted guard but in reading and reacting is a thing he is not able to provide. This and his ups and downs should be the reason why he is not targeted by bigger clubs. It tells a lot considering how thin the PG position is filled in Europe.

[Straight forward]

Why then all Zalgiris fans are so happy? No way in the past Zalgiris would secure a leader who provided that much in EL. Francisco is among top10 EL guards this season. Who you think Zalgiris could sign instead of him? It would be crazy not to resign him if it's possible.
The main failure was bringing Walker and the way Trinchieri treated all that situation. Also, Manek and Mitchell were useless. Add here Williams who was supposed to be the among the best players and you get minus three foreigners which is very bad. In addition, front court is pretty weak.
Francisko was the least problem here. He was very good in general and amazing in some games. And you underrate him saying that he can't pass - he averages 4.3 ast.
Generally, I always considered Trichieri as a fairly solid coach, but I didn't like him in this EL season. I think that Zalgiris could look and do not worse with Maksvytis.

I agree with what you say, it's just that my point is - let's not underrate the down side of Francisco. Zalgiris often sucks at ball movement and this guy is the main reason why cause he's with the ball the most time. I even think Zalgiris would be in better position if Iggy tried to close more games and surely such player as Sirvydis would be much better cause often he just stands open and there's no elite passers on the team. Ulanovas still the best passer on the team. So while it's OK to assume Francisco is not a problem and Zalgiris has to improve other positions I would still need a guard who can truly play make. Francisco can't do it and assists number doesn't say much anyway. Some great ball movers not necessary collect tons of assists and Francisco is just not a great ball mover.

Trinchieri tried to go for the highest upside of the team. Like everyone plays limited role, but utilizes it's time well, but this didn't work. He had to establish better hierarchy and Brazdeikis had to play bigger role here, and even Sirvydis. he had to unleash Brazdeikis from the start, give him freedom, he had to be OK with his early struggle. Yeah, I agree that Trinchieri screwed, but also Zalgiris management screwed again.

[Dreamcatcher]

Francisco also struggled a lot at the start of the season and its not like he remained underused. He is a gifted guard but in reading and reacting is a thing he is not able to provide. This and his ups and downs should be the reason why he is not targeted by bigger clubs. It tells a lot considering how thin the PG position is filled in Europe.

Looks at big clubs like Real or Barsa. Francisco could drastically strengthen each of them.

[Shawshank]

Modern PG position went heavily to score first types and only then create for teammates.

All last 5 minutes in 4 querter is about do your main guard can beat switch all defence vs mobile bigs or not


High IQ PG that run the team and who firstly looking how to create good shot is past.

In todays 2020s basketball guard must be elite 1 vs 1 firstly and running the team became secondary thing in last 10 years.

All those Curry,Harden,Lebron,Lillards,Doncic,Shai they are not real PG but teams give them the ball and say do your thing.


Will it be scoring or passing it depends on defences and how those perimeter stars sees what is happening and reacts and not what play coaches draw.


Francisco is head is shoulders better at 1 vs 1 than any lithuanian perimeter player.Its not even close.

Like Dreamcatcher mentioned look at Real or Barcelona perimeter is weak and getting old with non athletic white guards.

Somebody from rich clubs would have thrown bag of money on Francisco in summer after very good euroleague season.


Zalgiris put huge contract now and managed to convince him to stay.

Francisco is euroleague Schroder version. Ultra fast with limitations in playing IQ.

[Straight forward]

Nah, elite players have both. Lorenzo Brown. ISO game and elite reading of the game. Take Micic in Europe and he has both. Enough of ISO presence and elite IQ, passing skills. Francisco will never ever be elite cause he has no great IQ and tons of flaws reading the game, very inconsistent. And he is small, he struggles with passing over double team and all. He can get to the basket and kick out, but against size he would struggle.

And yes, Doncic is very very much a PG He can dish 20 assists if he wants to. But he chooses to score +28 and give 8 assists.

Off course what you described is true. BB shifting towards shoot first position 1 players, point guards, but barely a play makers. But still it's the best when they can do it both. Guys like Curry, Lillard are shoot first, but it's not like they are not consistent in terms of reading the game. They are. They can dish nasty passes regularly. It's just that they are more preoccupied with scoring. Francisco can't just make this decision. Even if he tried, he would never be able to switch on passing and be consistent with it. He doesn't have it.

[Shawshank]

Zalgiris is not nba club they can't have such nba talent.

For zalgiris to sign Schroder type that is truly elite 1vs1 and have limitations in other things is big win and they put real bag to achieve that.

We and they saw multiple rich euroleague clubs needed guard badly in december and couldn't find nothing.

PGs position 2020s is main skill is 1 vs 1 .Francisco has it.

You know what Lithuanian guards will never have no matter how hard they will try what Francisco have ? is beat every teams best defenders 1 vs 1 with ultra speed and skill


In 2020s basketball 1 vs 1 skill for perimeter leader is way more important than passing or hiqh iq

That's way 1 vs 1 type guards taking over Pg position overall in today's basketball.