Lithuanian Point Guards

[Straight forward]

Step 5 : Jasikevicius made NT in 1997 after his 3rd ncaa season where he was already starting guard for Maryland with 10,8pts average

That is true. But you also should have in mind that Jasikevicius was unleashed for 29 minutes in that season to score those 10,6ppg. Marciulionis played 15mpg last season. And when he started to get 21.5mpg in March Madness he scored 10ppg. In other words, Marciulionis is about to be unleashed most likely. I can see him going for those 10,6ppg if he unleashed for 29 minutes. Just for consideration.

[Straight forward]

Jakucionis cooking. Gotta love his quick jimmy off the dribble, quick and aggressive slashing, long wingspan which makes him extreme ball hawk. He showed that he can already dominate among 18yo, probably gonna be a big piece of U18 EB this summer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6kQ_lA4pZ4&ab_channel=BasketCantera.TV

[Straight forward]

Rubio may come back to Barselona in 2024/2025 season (or 2025/2026 which would less relevant). It will be interesting to see how PG hierarchy establishes between 24yo Jokubaitis and 34yo Rubio if that happens. They may be very well at the same level at that time. Nevertheless, that's probably not the best news for Jokubaitis when it comes to his last (in terms of current contract) year in Barcelona. IMO, he should be big time No. 1 PG at that time for Barca. Will be ready, IMO. I actually do not exclude possibility that Jokubaitis will establish himself as No.1 PG in upcoming season.

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1509947/ricky-rubio-talks-return-to-europe-barcelona/

[Straight forward]

BTW, I think Barca made a mistake (and this one goes on Saras too) to sign Satoransky for 4 years. Till 2026. In the final 4 only 7,5eff, horrible shooting. He can't lead EL contending team offensively. He doesn't have it.

Barca's biggest hope is brake out season for Jokubaitis. He was carrying Barca in 4th quarters against Zalgiris in PO. In Final 4 he choked, but he should be ready next season, and specially in 2024/2025, most probable year or brake out (24yo).

[Shawshank]

Jokubaitis didnt choked,he is at such point in his career when one good game is changed with bad one. Up and down young player.

In games when he plays well Saras gives him 20+min, in games where played badly he gets 8minutes and thats why he average around 14minutes


Barsa biggest upgrade should be signing fast athletic american. Higgins never healthy anymore

Elite euroleague team cant have entire backourt of only white,smart but not athletic dudes .They need 1-2 athletic americans that can play 2 way basketball.

[Straight forward]

Jokubaitis didnt choked,he is at such point in his career when one good game is changed with bad one. Up and down young player.

In games when he plays well Saras gives him 20+min, in games where played badly he gets 8minutes and thats why he average around 14minutes


Barsa biggest upgrade should be signing fast athletic american. Higgins never healthy anymore

Elite euroleague team cant have entire backourt of only white,smart but not athletic dudes .They need 1-2 athletic americans that can play 2 way basketball.

Yeah, choked is too strong word, just couldn't establish himself as the one who finishes the game. He was close in the game against Real. He started well, scoring 6 points or something, but missed couple of shots in the second half and that was the end for him. In small final he dished the ball well, but shots didn't fall. He's close to be good in final 4 stage, but not yet there.

The thing is that it's not easy to find good American playing well in EL. Barca could buy one of L.Brown or Wade Baldwin, but how many chances to do that? If you take some ex NBA player there's no guarantee he will help you. They usually take time, or even fail to fit EL. The fact is that usually it's Europeans who are main guards in EL final 4. For Efes it was Micic, now Real vets Rodriguez, Lull closed the final.

IMO, even such breed as Mike James is overrated. Yeah, he can score, but he can't really lead. He doesn't make others better and can't provide quality decision making on constant basis. Such players as Lorenzo Brown is a very rare breed. EL is about European stars. Americans don't have the decision making and discipline for tiny EL courts. Now for 16 years EL MVPs are only Europeans. The last time EL MVP was American only back to 04/05 and 05/06 season - Anthony Parker.

That's why I say Jokubaitis is Barca's best chance. He is close to brake out and to be dominant force offensively. The one who can score with ease, facilitate at highest level and most importantly be consistent floor general with stellar decision making (something which Mike James will never be able to provide).

[Toruko]

Rubio might return to Europe so Barca could replace some names with Rubio. I dont see Jokubaitis to take over tbh.

[Straight forward]

Rubio might return to Europe so Barca could replace some names with Rubio. I dont see Jokubaitis to take over tbh.

To be honest to have Rubio and Satoransky in one team makes little sense. Both are very similar. Off course, Rubio is better version of Satoransky, or Satoransky poor man's Rubio.

Jokubaitis will take over. The question is to what extent, but he has everything to be very dominant offensive point guard in EL.

[Toruko]

To be honest to have Rubio and Satoransky in one team makes little sense. Both are very similar. Off course, Rubio is better version of Satoransky, or Satoransky poor man's Rubio.

Jokubaitis will take over. The question is to what extent, but he has everything to be very dominant offensive point guard in EL.

Lets wait and see.

[Straight forward]

BTW, if Micic, Vezenkov and Wemby leave for NBA and Mirotic sucks again, it might be first year after 17 years when EL MVP becomes American again. Wouldn't mind to see Jokubaitis taking over as elite guard taking Micic's duties. But I would expect this more in 2024/2025 season.

Maybe Petrusev can establish himself as MVP candidate too or Gallinari coming back.

[Shawshank]

Barsa didnt have player on perimeter in game endings when he could take good euroleague defenders 1 vs 1 .

Entire basketball endings is won who has best 1 vs 1 players. We saw even 2023 euroleague won on simple 1 vs 1 play when guard beat opponnets center with jumper


Real Rodriguez,Llull not athletic,but surely was scoring 1 vs 1 in critical moments. Same goes to Larkin and Misic in 2020-2022 seasons

Barsa on endings was beaten by those guards ,when their systematical guards ale Calathes,Satoransky,Lapro couldnt do scoring in critical moments


The only Saras win in semifinal was won when Higgins score 1 vs 1 on last second game winner in 2021 final four

Barsa needs atleast one scoring american for endings.



Olympiakos systematical team too but they had elite 1vs 1 scorers ale Cannon,Mckissic too and Olympiakos objectively was best team overall in 2023

Last 20seconds is decided not by Mirotic or Vezenkov,but by those scorers.

[Straight forward]

Yes, Barca needs game closers. Not necessary American. Some-one like Micic or Fournier would fit perfectly (Fournier said that he would play for Oly in EL though). Jokubaitis BTW fits the mould well, he's very much clutch player. And he proved that in Zalgiris series. Final 4 yet happened to be a little bit too big stage, but he's close. The last important title that Barcelona won was when last season they beat Real in Copa del Rey. Jokubaitis carried Barca in 4th quarter:

https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1496137366850920458

[LuDux]

This is bad news for Laprovittola

[Straight forward]

Dude, you can feel Jakucionis gonna be good. Dishing that ball at elite level:

https://twitter.com/skweektv/status/1667874290581254144

IMO, he's gonna get some ACB time next season as 17yo. Anything else doesn't make much sense being in Barca organization anymore. He's too good. He clearly showed he's the best player among U18 Barca's guys. He must get some PRO experience already. But being that good early is tricky. Is he gonna ride Barca's bench all year long? Maybe Barca can loan him for some bottom ACB team, or even some other leagues? IMO, he could easily play in LKL next season.

[Toruko]

Rokas the next big thing in Europe as a play maker with just two points again. He needs to raise his stats a bit.