Lithuanian Point Guards

[Straight forward]

Grmau is trash. 3:0 versus Real. I knew after Jasikevicius gone, Barca will be completely lost again. Just as it was prior Jasikevicius for many seasons. It's time for Jokubaitis to move from this mess and sign with Trinchieri if possible. Or he will return to Jasikevicius if Knicks won't give him legitimate chance.

[Toruko]

Grmau is trash. 3:0 versus Real. I knew after Jasikevicius gone, Barca will be completely lost again. Just as it was prior Jasikevicius for many seasons. It's time for Jokubaitis to move from this mess and sign with Trinchieri if possible. Or he will return to Jasikevicius if Knicks won't give him legitimate chance.

The Fenerbahce fanbase is strictly against signing Jokubaitis. He is not the material for a contender.

[Straight forward]

The Fenerbahce fanbase is strictly against signing Jokubaitis. He is not the material for a contender.

Well, not a not fanbase make a decision Off course, I would love to see him coming back to Zalgiris.

00s gen best player re-uniting in one team would be sweet. Jokubaitis, Sirvydis, D. Giedraitis.

[Svajunas]

Hope he stays in Europe. Would love to see him in Zalgiris again.

[Straight forward]

Hope he stays in Europe. Would love to see him in Zalgiris again.

IDK what Zalgiris is doing. They absolutely had sign him. Maybe it's not that simple. He has plus with Barca, and several more options I guess. He was pretty serious about the Knicks. It's interesting that most Knicks fans want him as a back up. But that's crazy fanbase. All depends on coach and I doubt Jokubaitis could get consistent role from the scratch even though offensively his fundamentals would be felt instantly. The lack of D would prevent it probably.

Anyway, we should be happy to have him healthy and ready for qualification.

[Dreamcatcher]

Off course, I would love to see him coming back to Zalgiris.
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Why would you? Just some month ago or smth you were strictly against this idea. Is it because his playing time in Barca reduced to zero ruining your projections?

Nunez moves to Barca. It means Jokubaitis is 100% leaving.

[Straight forward]

Why would you? Just some month ago or smth you were strictly against this idea. Is it because his playing time in Barca reduced to zero ruining your projections?

Nunez moves to Barca. It means Jokubaitis is 100% leaving.

There's a lot of misunderstanding with Rokas ATM. Even Lithuanians are lost The things is he was getting 18mmpg in his first season with Barca and that team was in EL final and won ACB. He was dropping 8ppg and closed many games, some with game winners. He shaped some trophies taking down Real.

Now Purlys says he needs 15-20mpg in EL team in today's podcast People get lost very quickly. Even PRO coaches. Today Jokubaitis without a single doubt is better than he was in 2021/2022 season.

If Zalgiris will sign him, he will be the best Zalgiris player overall, unless Sirvydis will continue to brake all the walls. These 2 would be by far highest upside and even level players for Zalgiris. People who think that Jokubaitis might not be good enough to be No.1 PG for Zalgiris are simply delusional. And funny that many people who are BB writers and so on are lost too. But that's why I'm here, right? To correct them.

At some point, when Jokubaitis was No.1 in efficiency in ACB and had solid role Barca in EL as rising star, going back to Zalgiris looked like crappy idea. He had to aim for becoming one of keys of Barca and I think he's not far away. He just needed a little push and more minutes. Don't get confused as some people got with Sirvydis. We know the story. I was reaping - people stop the nonsense, Sirvydis is OK and he will be very good EL player. The same happening with Jokubaitis. IDK if the limits of minutes will affect his NT performance, that's a possibility (even though I think he will be very good, better than in WC 2023), but in 2-3 years Jokubaitis will shape up as top 1-4 point guards in EL.

Situation changed when Rubio arrived and how messy Barca's staff now looks. He will leave Barca, but LTU fans ATM don't get it (many of them) that Zalgiris signing Jokubaitis would be in great situation. That would be a big achievement for Zalgiris. And now it makes sense for Jokubaitis too.

PS: People also forgot that Jokubaitis was getting 21mpg under Shiller in Zalgiris before leaving for Barca. He would be big time leader for the club now. I'm shrugging my shoulders thinking how fast people get lost.

[Dreamcatcher]

He will leave Barca, but LTU fans ATM don't get it (many of them) that Zalgiris signing Jokubaitis would be in great situation. That would be a big achievement for Zalgiris. And now it makes sense for Jokubaitis too.
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Somehow most of what you wrote is not to the point.

Anyway, i don't think that many LTU fans don't get that Zalgiris signing Jokubaitis would be in great situation. The best available Lithuanian would be returned. Just maybe some Zalgiris fans don't think that he would be suitable replacement for Evans who is a way better player (It's pity what happened to him again). And indeed in this case Rokas in and Evans out is simply a downgrade. (If Rokas is nr1 option). Imagine, that it's only Rokas, possible Sirvydis and no close to elite American guard. Do you think Zalgiris could aim high in EL?

[Shawshank]

Thats crazy team building is anybody thinks that Jokubaitis can be put in to Evans 20pts scorers shoes + with way worse defence

Jokubaitis would be good signing overall for zalgiris but not as nr 1 guard . Jokubaitis will play 20+min in Zalgiris in PG-SG positions.


But Zalgiris need fast and skilled scorer as main guard that will beat all those switching defences creating good looks for himself and his teammates.

Jokubaitis is not that. He is more true PG ale 12+5+5 player


Todays basketball good teams likes to have 2 playmakers at same time. Evans+Jokubaitis that makes sense


For example Jokubaitis+D.Giedraitis that team wont score enough points. Jokubaitis+Sirvydis that team wont make no stops.in euroleague


Jokubaitis near him need afro skilled scoring athlete that wont be hole in defence to compete vs euroleague very dangerous backourts.

[Straight forward]

Listen, what you both wrote is essentially correct. But few moments. The downgrade in comparison to Evans as No.1 option wouldn't be that big. Jokubaitis would play around 27mph or say 25mpg, just as Evans did and he would score around 14ppg, he would also give 6-8 assists. At the end of the day, it would be Jokubaitis who generates more points for the team (his points + assists). Jokubaitis is way better passer, facilitator and connector. Evans was elite at give me the ball and I go score in transition. At that he was basically unstoppable, but he wasn't creating for other. Ulanovas was the best facilitator in the team.

So if Jokubaitis generates more points himself and makes other better much more than Evans did, how is he still downgrade? Because of Rokas bad defence and lack of true ISO skills (athleticism). While Evans was not a connector at 1, he was closing games and that's very important and his athleticism also was a game changer in many games. But Jokubaitis overall as a connector would make other player better and that shouldn't be overlooked. That's why I se the downgrade wouldn't be that big as you think.

OK, Jokubaitis and Sirvydis lineup wouldn't be good defensively, but you gotta love the potential at the other side when both get it going Sirvyha is developing a bit into a game closer for white European standards.

Off course, to me it also would make sense to have one strong and established scorer, finisher as some Kevin Punter or something. Jokubaitis, Punter, Sirvydis, D. Giedraitis to me would look like a really good backcourt for Zalgiris.

Now they have Fransico, a guy who they probably expect to play rather similar basketball as Evans just at a bit lesser level and interested in another foreigner or Jokubaitis likely.

[Shawshank]

Exactly what small budget teams needs skilled guard that can take the ball and close the games on his scoring skills

Because zalgiris budget club cant have elite player in every position. To who in theory Jokubaitis could dish passes to limited offensive zalgiris players? How he gonna create offence with D.Giedraitis or Butkevicius and Birutis types near him ?


What are we doing our NT have weakest backourt from any elite NT and we gonna bring that to euroleague?


In euroleague backourt is combined from main guards from NT + skilled american athletes


And we gonna built lithuanian NT backourt in zalgiris ? ok goodluck fighting for 16-18th places with alba and Asvel with such limited one sided players backourt.

[Straight forward]

Exactly what small budget teams needs skilled guard that can take the ball and close the games on his scoring skills

Because zalgiris budget club cant have elite player in every position. To who in theory Jokubaitis could dish passes to limited offensive zalgiris players? How he gonna create offence with D.Giedraitis or Butkevicius near him ?


What are we doing our NT have weakest backourt from any elite NT and we gonna bring that to euroleague?


In euroleague backourt is combined from main guards from NT + skilled american athletes


And we gonna built lithuanian backourt in zalgiris ? ok goodluck fighting for 16-18th places with alba and Asvel with such limited one sided players backourt.

And now you're lost again, dude.

Do you realize that both Jokubaitis and Sirvydis are drafted and drafted high, at the start of second round? Both have legitimate chance to be in NBA in their prime. Keenan Evans was undrafted. He was a no name before Zalgiris and never played for elite EL club or NBA. Even prime Evans now would be just a role player for top clubs at best. He doesn't have elite BB IQ and elite system players instincts and none of top teams would put him into position to be No.1 option as he was for Zalgiris. So even current prime Evans (well, now he injured and that's another story) is at big question when it comes to his career in TOP clubs. He's not very good fit cause he's best when he's playing with the ball offensively and for such teams as Real he's not good enough to play with the ball cause he's not a connector.

You lost cause you don't get it that both Jokubaitis and Sirvydis have higher upside than Evans. In their prime they will be much better than current Evans. That's a no brainer cause Jokubaitis will be more or less like Jasikevicius who was dropping 16/8 or something for champ Maccabi in his prime. Meaning in Zalgiris he could give 20-22ppg and 8 assists (as non PO EL club). Sirvydis upside is also super high. He has length, IQ, passing, on and off ball offense, and even strongly improving slashing game and he's a perfect and flexible system player who also has some ISO game for European.

You on that silly mode to overrate all second rate Americans and can't see the whole picture. Jokubaitis is treated as serious candidate to be a back up Knicks PG because of his fundamentals, facilitation and all around offense.

ATM Jokubaitis would be just a slight downgrade to Evans, after 2-3 years he will be better than current Evans.

[Straight forward]

Jokubaitis came to the last final game with very clear mindset already

https://x.com/GIGANTESbasket/status/1797288567024054579

[Dreamcatcher]

Listen, what you both wrote is essentially correct. But few moments. The downgrade in comparison to Evans as No.1 option wouldn't be that big. Jokubaitis would play around 27mph or say 25mpg, just as Evans did and he would score around 14ppg, he would also give 6-8 assists. At the end of the day, it would be Jokubaitis who generates more points for the team (his points + assists). Jokubaitis is way better passer, facilitator and connector. Evans was elite at give me the ball and I go score in transition. At that he was basically unstoppable, but he wasn't creating for other. Ulanovas was the best facilitator in the team.

So if Jokubaitis generates more points himself and makes other better much more than Evans did, how is he still downgrade? Because of Rokas bad defence and lack of true ISO skills (athleticism). While Evans was not a connector at 1, he was closing games and that's very important and his athleticism also was a game changer in many games. But Jokubaitis overall as a connector would make other player better and that shouldn't be overlooked. That's why I se the downgrade wouldn't be that big as you think.

Evans was top4 EL scorer and a solid defender. It's no question that Jokubaitis instead of him would bring a certain downgrade. The question only how big it would be. Just compare their points and percentage. It's a huge gap. Have in mind that Evans was guarded a lot by rival teams (who do scouting of course) and still he could handle that greatly. While Rokas struggled a lot even being open. I don't even say that Rokas can't create a 3pt shot by his own. Those 2 players are simply not comparable scoring wise.

You project too much optimistically saying Rokas would average 14 pts. I don't believe in his shooting abilities so much during a whole season. I would say it would be smth like 12. Also, 6-8 assists is too much as well. The best EL passer had 7. I would predict around 5, but not around the best result in EL. At the same time, you underrate Evans who averaged almost 4 assists - that's not bad.

To sum up, you overrate Rokas and underrate Evans meaning that downgrade is slight or not-existent. In reality, at the moment Evans is clearly a better player making a difference way more obvious than you think. Injury fucked up Evans but that's another story. Oly was ready to pay him a lot not just to be sum a small role player. I consider Evans a better player than Canaan who was one of the main Oly's players who averaged 11 pts and who is a worse defender. But again, injury sucks.

[Straight forward]

Evans was top4 EL scorer and a solid defender. It's no question that Jokubaitis instead of him would bring a certain downgrade. The question only how big it would be. Just compare their points and percentage. It's a huge gap. Have in mind that Evans was guarded a lot by rival teams (who do scouting of course) and still he could handle that greatly. While Rokas struggled a lot even being open. I don't even say that Rokas can't create a 3pt shot by his own. Those 2 players are simply not comparable scoring wise.

You project too much optimistically saying Rokas would average 14 pts. I don't believe in his shooting abilities so much during a whole season. I would say it would be smth like 12. Also, 6-8 assists is too much as well. The best EL passer had 7. I would predict around 5, but not around the best result in EL. At the same time, you underrate Evans who averaged almost 4 assists - that's not bad.

To sum up, you overrate Rokas and underrate Evans meaning that downgrade is slight or not-existent. In reality, at the moment Evans is clearly a better player making a difference way more obvious than you think. Injury fucked up Evans but that's another story. Oly was ready to pay him a lot not just to be sum a small role player. I consider Evans a better player than Canaan who was one of the main Oly's players who averaged 11 pts and who is a worse defender. But again, injury sucks.

I think Rokas capable to go after 14pts being No.1 option. For the NT, playing 25mpg he averaged amost 13ppg, and delivered 6apg. In Zalgiris, under polished system, and having shooters as Sirvydis and Manek around, he can really dish many assists. If he plays 27mpg as Evans he can go after numbers I wrote, cause in 2024/2025 season he will be stronger than ever. He's getting better, you'll see.

I don't underrate Evans. He was great, but he is not a very good passer and I'm not sure he could easily adjust to top teams. While Jokubaitis showed sever seasons that he can be great piece of the bench for contending team and since he's a young player he can grow into one of the keys for contending team. You both guys missing a bit on elite IQ, precise decision making, huge fundamentals and ability to make others better. Rokas can do it. Evans no. But as you said, Evans ability to go against prepared game plans and still score was off course priceless in his own right.