Lithuanian Point Guards

[Straight forward]

Here's Jokubaitis highs. Passing looks good. I specially like that bullet pass to Kuric. That's elite pass. Hopefully second half will be better for Jokubaitis. In last 2 ACB games he's averaging something like 12pts, 9as.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg09My3B2GU&t=1s&ab_channel=ACB

Marciulionis scores 11pts and drops 3 threes.

Huge night/week for our prospects. All Brazdeikis, Jokubaitis, Murauskas, Rubstavicius, Tubelis, Buzelis, Marciulionis oozing with good performances. The decade gonna be bright.

[Straight forward]

Here's the explicit take on Jokubaitis by Saras:

"Rokas needs these kinds of games. He's trying to get back to what he showed last year. Maybe he's too eager, but he, as a young player, has to go through these difficult times and know how to get up. He's trying and we have a lot of hopes put in him. Today has been a very good party for him", explained on Jokubaitis.

[Straight forward]

Velicka in FIBA Euro Cup feels like in Youth tournaments - dominant

https://twitter.com/FIBAEuropeCup/status/1612895847695671296

[Toruko]

Velicka in FIBA Euro Cup feels like in Youth tournaments - dominant

https://twitter.com/FIBAEuropeCup/st...95847695671296

It would be horrible if he couldnt dominate FIBA Europe Cup. Every training game needs more effort.

[Straight forward]

It would be horrible if he couldnt dominate FIBA Europe Cup. Every training game needs more effort.

If you say so. I have no idea about the level of that league. On other hand a three is a three.

[Toruko]

If you say so. I have no idea about the level of that league. On other hand a three is a three.

Its a much worse league than LKL. For a young guy its good but for a 23 year old it has nothing to offer tbh.

[Straight forward]

Its a much worse league than LKL. For a young guy its good but for a 23 year old it has nothing to offer tbh.

Liekabelis made mistake not pursuing Velicka and taking completely useless Stefan Peno instead. Velicka would be pretty good for Lietkabelis this season. Their price kinda similar.

[Straight forward]

Finally Jokubaitis with a good game in EL. 13pts, 4dimes, 18eff. Recently he's showing signs of life.

[Straight forward]

Velicka is second in assists in Bundes Liga Germany with 8,3apg. The leader is J. Lewis with 8,5ppg. Tonight Velicka made 12 dimes. Again, not too shabby for a "combo".

[Svajunas]

Velicka is second in assists in Bundes Liga Germany with 8,3apg. The leader is J. Lewis with 8,5ppg. Tonight Velicka made 12 dimes. Again, not too shabby for a "combo".

What is interesting about Arnas is that we allways talked that he doesn't have a 3pt shot. Surprise surprise this season he made 3 TIMES more 3pt shots then 2 pt.
2 pts: 11/25 for a quite low 44%
3 pts: 33/81 for a very good 40.7%, thats 6.2 attempts per game folks.

Also his assist to TO is 3.6/8.3. He still need to reduce TO to a ~2 per game.

His FT's is 71% which is low for a guard. He needs to change his routine. Now he shoots the ball without bouncing it once to the floor and not really gathering his breath.

Anyway its time for him to join a solid club and learn from better then himself.

His last scouting report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oukQve8Ol_0

[Straight forward]

Jokubaitis has been playing down the stretch last 3 games in EL. And he has been dominant in ACB recently. Finally a good stretch for him. Hopefully getting his confidence back and having more impactful second half of the season.

[Straight forward]

Jokubaitis continues a good streak. 14pts, 6as, 19eff in ACB

Good news at 2 spot as well. Rubstavicius drops 16pts, 20eff just in 15min in the knock out stage.

Finally we have not decent, not solid, but really good guard prospects.

I think there are some chances to see Rubstavicius in 2024WC roster if Grigonis won't be available, but I definitely see him in 2025EB team.

[Linas Kreiza]

Ramibėlė struggles sometimes. He's cool enough, yet doesn't seem to be delivering that well at least in the first half of the season.

[Straight forward]

Despite Jokubaitis inconsistencies these season, there's overall positive take from overseas on his development.

Just as I mentioned before, this year Jokubaitis is concentrating more on facilitation and team's control while he's with the ball. It's more like he's trying to be true floor general while he's very much capable to operate as combo guard too, but that's not where the priority is this season. His assists rates increased, his shooting a bit declined.

I will quote the parts that seems to be most important to me and will give you think link of full article:

"The biggest improvement that Jokubaitis has shown this year is with the ball in his hands. His assist numbers are way up, as well as his usage rate, and with that, you may expect an increase in turnovers, but the Lithuanian guard has nearly cut his turnovers in half from his performance last year in the Euroleague. The Euroleague is the second-best competition in the world and with that comes a higher level of opposition. While Jokubaitis? numbers in the Euroleague are less impressive than his Spanish league output, he is still showing improvements in the important areas that translate to his projection at the next level.

He is running an efficient offense and taking care of the ball in a way that is beneficial for his team. He has a knack for finding open teammates and can make correct reads to get them easy baskets without forcing passes or creating turnovers. The smart style of play that Jokubaitis presents is an easy translation to the NBA. Versatile ball handlers that limit turnovers and can run an offense to slow down the game and create easy looks are always going to have a place in the Association. If Jokubaitis can continue to do that at the next level, he projects to be a solid bench guard in the near future."

https://theknickswall.com/tkw-annual-check-in-rokas-jokubaitis/

[Straight forward]

Jokubaitis with 17pts last night in ACB. He's still 5th most valuable Barca's player in ACB. Knowing that this summer Rokas was 4th most valuable player of LTU NT, we still have very very convincing development arc here despite certain struggles.

In ACB games that he played at least 20min this season, he averages 10.3ppg, 5.8apg.

In EL (at least 20min games) - 11ppg, 3,5appg.

It has a lot to do with the role. This season in Zalgiris he would be playing around 26mpg as the main PG (meaning Evans hadn't been signed) , taking incomparably more shots than he takes in Barca. IMO, he would score more or less as much as Evans (something 13-16ppg) and would dish more assists than him. But he would surely be worse defender.

The biggest question is why that slump happened. Because of so many games he played last season with Barca and long summer with NT? The brake in the summer because of injury? I still think he didn't reach last mid season physical shape. Like he was sharper and more agile, more explosive with his first step. Nevertheless, I found Visniauskas remark that he's not going to be much different player than he is now (unless he will work on individual game in summers) - complete absurd. I have no single Lithuanian podcaster who I can trust. Visniauskas recently saying a lot of nonsenses. He was almost swearing Sabonis departure to Kings won't change anything, no chance and so on. Tends to make huge generalization and lack deeper take. Prime Jokubaitis will be much more dominant player than current, there's no least doubt about it if he will stay healthy.

With that said I think both Jokubaitis, and specially Marciulionis (who is playing alien BB for the type of player that he is), made a mistake leaving Lithuania. Both could play at the very high level, more minutes, and playing BB style that fits NT much better. At least looking from the NT point of view I would prefer both to be in Lithuania.

If not ACB season, which is really solid for Rokas, he's playing 13:47mpg in EL this season.

Marciulionis is playing 16mpg in NCAA . Well, 6 minutes more than Jasikevicius had in his second season, but still, it sucks.