Lithuanian Point Guards

[Svajunas]

That pass at 50 sec mark was very hard to make. He had to increase the ark of the pass to give time for his team mate to chase it down to the basket. His teammate was behind 3 pt line when he released the ball from his hands. Wow, just wow.

[Straight forward]

That pass at 50 sec mark was very hard to make. He had to increase the ark of the pass to give time for his team mate to chase it down to the basket. His teammate was behind 3 pt line when he released the ball from his hands. Wow, just wow.

This. He executed this pass couple of times during ANGT finals. Despite Barca failing to win it all, Jakucionis had a monster ANGT tournament. Individually he by far exceeded lottery picks like Gionzalez, Traore, Egor Demin and so on. ATM I think he is the best 2006 gen player. That 31as in 2 games was nasty. Straight nasty. Traore may be better athlete, but he doesn't have such dominant facilitation game. 32eff per game is more than elite. That's what Topic was having last year. Jakucionis may have lesser ceiling than all those other guys I mention, but even that is not clear. To me most important thing that I can see that he's not another Velicka. His decision making is way quicker, more consistent and he has way superior skill. His three has been cold in this tournament, so he could do even better and he will shoot better cause he can.

Summing up, we basically are speaking about generational talent at 1. Once JV was generational talent at 5. We do know that it's day and night in FIBA between those positions. JV had 34,5eff in ANGT (not sure if qualification stage or finals though). Kasparas comes as red hot uber prospect for Lithuania. Let's see if he will lead U18 to gold now.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7ZqsO3u2KF/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lcA_LimyC4&ab_channel=CollegeBasketballSc outing

[Straight forward]

Illinous scouts sums it up Kasparas well, just had to add his D. Illinous is really going hard after him, but there's also several other countries too. If he gets to NCAA, I just hope he plays from day one. I would surely all for his PRO opportunities in ACB or even some German Eurocup/CL club, luke Nunez went.

Jakucionis is a high-IQ floor general with long arms who can make plays himself or others. Jakucious has excellent court vision and is a top-notch passer. He is not overly athletic, but it is tough for opponents to stay in front when he gets downhill.

Jakucious is a good finisher at the rim and does a fantastic job getting to the free-throw line. While Jakucious does have to work on his perimeter shooting, he possesses a nice, smooth jumper with a quick release.

Piper said Wake Forest, Florida, and BYU are also pursuing Jakucionis hard. Additionally, Piper added that Jakucious also has pro opportunities.

https://lastwordonsports.com/basketball/2024/05/26/illinois-basketball-looking-to-fill-one-more-key-piece-in-2024-recruiting-class-among-4-schools-targeting-lithuanian-star-guard/

[Straight forward]

So Jakucionis moves to Illnois. Well, let's just hope he'll get a big role from day one. Seems like that's the projections and he's too good not to play. But Murauskas also was good. Not that ready as Kasparas, but also was good, so you never know. I think this decision shows that he is willing to get his best chances in draft 2025. But if he will get benched, it will screw things for him, at least when it comes to 2025 drafts. Now he's essentially projected as first round piece:

https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/1795440992449098216

[Straight forward]

So Jakucionis moves to Illnois. Well, let's just hope he'll get a big role from day one. Seems like that's the projections and he's too good not to play. But Murauskas also was good. Not that ready as Kasparas, but also was good, so you never know. I think this decision shows that he is willing to get his best chances in draft 2025. But if he will get benched, it will screw things for him, at least when it comes to 2025 drafts. Now he's essentially projected as first round piece:

https://x.com/DraftExpress/status/1795440992449098216

The rumor is that Jakucionis first year will receive 750K (potentially more). How about that. Hopefully that won't affect him in negative way. Earning such money so early is pretty crazy and potentially harmful, IMO. Off course such money goes only for top tier talents which Kasparas is. So it depends, I guess.

Anyway, 5 elite prospects in NCAA next season: Jakucionis, Krivas, Indrusaitis, Murauskas, Marciulionis.

[Straight forward]

Unprecedented fuzz around Jakcionis now. This is new age obviously, but twitter is going crazy about it. I think only Jakucionis and Buzelis transfers could do that. From what I hear his role should be big from day one. Should see some playing time at both positions 1 and 2.

Next, interesting how Purlys will utilize him. I think the green light will be the case. Previously Purlys didn't want him to put at 1, while now all the team will be in his hands despite that next him there will be a lot of talent and Inrdusaitis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cixxQtbog8M&ab_channel=LearningFamily

[Shawshank]

Jokubaitis without Jasikeviciaus support loosing competion inside the team to 3 32+old veterans and getting 4minutes playing time

This shows not tallent problem in my opinion,but lacking strong character to take his minutes.

Being 3 years in same club and he was getting more minutes at 21 and 22 old age than at 23 thats going the wrong direction. Clear signs he must choose weaker club.


2024 Olympic summers main floor generals:

Usa Curry
Germany Schroder
Serbia Micic
Canada Murray
Spain Brown
Slovenia Doncic
Greece Sloukas
Australia Mills/Giddey
France Okobo/Decolo


Jokubaitis is this company looks like 10min backup at best.

France have impressive frontcourt but their perimeter will have problems too in Olympics. Fournier and Decolo got old to play well every second day. I dont think 2023 France was just fluke,they had problems with PG position and will in 2024 too.


in 2010s fiba Kalnietis used outplay in some games main pgs like Teodosic,Prigioni or some italian pg but in 2020s fiba perimeter is clearly much better overall and they are main factor how games is going on.



When i look on perimeters there is no hope for LTU NT. Miracle need to happen and some ltu guard play like superman way over his levels they show in clubs.

No wonder making top 8 become very chalenging mission 2017-2024 . In 2010-2016 top 8 was minimum goal

[Straight forward]

Why would people think that 23yo Jokubaitis should play more than Sato and Rubio?

How much Jokubaitis improved or regressed will be clear in NT when he will be unleashed for 30mpg.

[Shawshank]

Because Rubio didn't play for year and he is like half retired with 34 old body that has lots of miles on it , he started to play at 15 age with men.


32old Satoransky is chech Pg that played versus Kalnietis n times in his not veteran years and not always shined in those matchups.

Lapro at 34 is Argentina NT backup Pg


So healthy 23 old already with good experience best LTU guard cant win competion versus neither of those veterans ?

So how the hell he will win matchups versus simply better Pg in Olympics?


So not only All top 10 NT have better perimeter leader Chech NT have also? Argentina have even 2 better Pg?


So what we expecting from out NT with such guards,when basketball went heavily to perimeter since warriors started their run in 2015?

Playing 30min in NT averaging 12+5 when opponents perimeter leader will give us 20 Pts performance that not winning your matchup

[Straight forward]

I think the problem with NT has been that when Kalnietis started to slowly decline (it started with 2017), at the age of 31, there was no starting level youngster next to him. There was Lekavicius, but he's not a long term option for NT which wants to aim high. Whe Jasikevicius was on a decline in 2012, we already had coming to his prime Kalnietis at that moment. In 90s there also was a gap when Marciulionis retired after 1996 OG and we had to wait till Jasikevicius pans out in 2000. Now we have the crisis of true floor general for 2017-2023. Jokubaitis was close to look like true floor general in WC 2023, but still wasn't exactly there (the one who could lead to big wins). We'll see if he can already make a push for it being almost 24yo in Olympics.

We needed some-one like Jokubaitis, Marciulionis, or most perfectly Jakucionis being a youngster next declining Kalnietis in 2017, but there was no player of such level at that time. Thus the gap.

Regarding Jokubaitis role you are missing one point. Most coaches would trust vets. But that's not always the right decision. The thing that Grimao didn't trust Jokubaitis more, doesn't mean that he couldn't give more. Jokubaitis, IMO, will show that he's progressing again. Unless Rubio can still shape up, I think he is turning to be the best guard of Barca. His just about to brake out, he's on the edge. He has everything, just maybe needs confidence which he lost a bit with fragmental playing time.

In my opinion he will be really good this summer most likely. But NT is not there to contend. Unless something really strange would happen. Something like Jokubaitis provides 17/9 in playoffs (which is possible), Grigonis 15ppg (less likely) and Sirvydis play more or less like he did in Eurocup (unlikely).

Since Iggy out. Jokubaitis, Grigonis, Sirvydis are most talented guards we have ATM. All three would have to play at elite level offensively Lithuania to have a chance. Grigonis be might half step worse than he was in 2022 (athletically?), Sirvydis still probably needs one season in EL to adjust to physicality, but I secretly hope the brake out already (probably a bit too soon though), and Jokubaitis will deliver (15-16ppg and 7-9as is what I expect from him).

Maksvytis already made crucial mistake to cut Giedraitis. Our defense will suffer a lot because of that. Dimsa can't stay against truly agile and explosive guards, we know that. Thus, Maksvytis is an idiot. He doesn't understand that we need 2 way punch (offensive and defensive guards) and that we don't have such ridiculous offensive talent ATM that we could win it with it alone. To cut the best perimeter defender was beyond stupid. I treat Maksvytis the biggest fraud and idiot of all time regard NT coaches.

[Shawshank]

Very interesting break out when Jokubaitis had worst individual season in last 3 years .

For me he had a bad season and lost competion inside the team to 3 veterans from Kalnietis decade.

Maybe Jokubaitis will turn like Kalnietis superman with Nt jersey,but i dont like what i saw from him this season at all. I was expecting more.



Its easy to look good coach when you have Doncic,Shai,Bogdanovich,Schroder they can do everything by themselfs dont need alot of coaching

Give LTU coaches such perimeter leaders from nba they suddenly also will start looking alot better


I dont think that Slovenia or Canada or Germany have some elite masterminds on bench,they just had elite perimeter star that makes them look good


LTU problem is not coaching. Problem we clearly loosing perimeter battle last 7-8 years. That problem can be fixed only with elite euroleague guards or good nba level guards.


If your hope is fixing perimeter problem with players from uleb or lkl you doint get what level perimeter killers will play in Olympics.

[Straight forward]

Its easy to look good coach when you have Doncic,Shai,Bogdanovich,Schroder they can do everything by themselfs dont need alot of coaching

Give LTU coaches such perimeter leaders from nba they suddenly also will start looking alot better


I dont think that Slovenia or Canada or Germany have some elite masterminds on bench,they just had elite perimeter star that make them look good


LTU problem is not coaching. Problem we clearly loosing perimeter battle last 7-8 years

That's one way to look at it. And off course, we could get away with mediocre coaching if we had truly stacked team, we already know that from 2003 story, or 2007 and so on. But in this 2017-2024 stretch we specially needed GOOD coaches. We know how much Kazlauskas took from those limited NTs in 2013-2015. My biggest problem that Maksvytis with his choices also hurts NT long term and a lot. It's not only this year, but the next one too. You have to slowly prepare pieces who will soon be the main one, the next one. Cutting down Sedekerskis, Sirvydis, D. Giedraitis, Marciulionis, Tubelis (ignoring Rubstavicius) all this affect NT in next Olympic cycle, specially the beginning of it when suddenly most players will retire and new coach (hopefully) will have to rely on some-one like D. Giedraitis, Marciulionis, Rubstavicius, Tubelis a lot in 2025 most likely.

Jokubaitis will look better than you think. Trust me.

[Straight forward]

If your hope is fixing perimeter problem with players from uleb or lkl you doint get what level perimeter killers will play in Olympics.

I'm not hoping to win anything this year. Objectively we're not there. We don't have better team than USA, CANADA, SERBIA, GERMANY for sure. But Jokubaitis, Grigonis, Sirvydis are all EL level players. Pure fact. Sirvydis without a single doubt is EL level player already.

In a way Iggy's decision couldn't have better timing cause Sirvydis looked amazing this season. He deserves a decent role in the NT.

[Shawshank]

I'm not hoping to win anything this year. Objectively we're not there. We don't have better team than USA, CANADA, SERBIA, GERMANY for sure. But Jokubaitis, Grigonis, Sirvydis are all EL level players. Pure fact. Sirvydis without a single doubt is EL level player already.

In a way Iggy's decision couldn't have better timing cause Sirvydis looked amazing this season. He deserves a decent role in the NT.

Fantastic guard lineup easily worst backourt from all top 10 NT in 2024 Olympics


Is not about who has more euroleague backups 15min level guards

Its about who has more euroleage perimeter stars and good 10pts+ nba guards thats what 2020s fiba short tournaments is all about

[Straight forward]

Is not about who has more euroleague backups 15min level guards

This is true. You shouldn't try to put the oppositions into my mouth when I agree with you. We don't have perimeter stars and most top teams do.

But interesting moment is that I think Sirvydis is already better player than R. Giedraitis overall. Meaning for a trashy EL teams as Zvezda, and well Zalgiris, he could already have a big role. Just as R. Giedraits had this season, 25mpg and to probably bring even more than 10pts potentially. And in the NT Sirvydis should be N times better than Rokas Giedraitis.

I would suggest to look at NT in terms of development and particular our own goals. The best scenario is when these 3 players I mention are being able to create a bit for themselves and shoot well (specially Grigonis and Sirvydis who can be super aggressive of the staggers and with the step backs). If that happens and say Jokubaitis runs the team at 1 at more or less elite level, offensively we will look good, cause there's also prime Sabonis in the middle as glue guy offensively.

Even if Lithuania is lacking true game changer and game closer, it doesn't mean we won't be good offensively. If Lithuania will be a bit stronger than 2022, we will have certain chances. My wish is only to see as quality BB as possible with current talent. But since Maskvytis fucked it up with defensive thickness again (specially that Butkevicius is half injured or whatever and had a crappy season), it's like he asking for disaster. Cutting the best guard defender in the country (and one of the best in EL) and most likely cutting down second best guard defender (Marciulionis), is like reducing NT chances 30-40% by your own will.

Dimsa was completely eaten alive by Sirvydis himself. But Maksvytis still takes him to be a stopper against much better players. Kazys didn't learn a single thing from last year against Serbians. Zero:

https://x.com/BasketNews_lt/status/1792958939992060181