Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) 2022-23

[Dreamcatcher]

Lietkabelis wasted a more than real chance to win series loosing +17 margin last game. Ii would be almost a miracle to win 3 times in a raw against Zalgiris when you are Lietkabelis.

Maybe there is a conflict between Maksvytis and Brazdeikis. The latter's body language wasn't bad at those 6 min. You don't treet like this one of the main players and most paid one.

[Straight forward]

Rubstavicius is more efficient in LKL playoffs with 9eff than Normantas with 8.8 And Rubstavicius going against much stronger team. I realized what Normantas is. Streaky, emotional player who is a bad decision maker, but can get hot. That's all.

Regarding Brazdeikis...It will be interesting to track his attitudes. In Eurobasket i like him. During the season...not so much. His dedication to LTU BB is questionable, but I still hope everything will be OK.

Maksvytis may overdo with screaming sometimes, his timeouts are a bit chaotic, but I can't justify player's disrespect to coach. All this talking back is a low class. Ulanovas shouldn't set that kind of example. On other hand, I think BB should move towards other ways of motivating players. So it's tricky.

[Shawshank]

It's interesting what happening with Maksvytis

He always was considered players coach and don't recall anybody being unhappy with coach Neptunas/Lietkabelis days

Now question is Ulanovas and Brazdeikis is problematic personas or Kazys have changed and become more demanding less friendly coach?

I didn't see anybody else shouting back at coach only those 2

Kazys was doing coaching with shouting at everybody else this season too including Polonara who is emotional well established Italian but even he put his head down and sit on the bench

Zalgiris season was fantastic results wise it shouldn't be reason by anybody being upset

[Dreamcatcher]

What a good steal Butkevicius has been for Zalgiris.

[Straight forward]

What a good steal Butkevicius has been for Zalgiris.

Butkevicius is a starter for the NT ATM. There will be times when he will stop the offense, but he brings that A+ defence all the time. And these days he is pretty smart at offense too.

Ulanovas for example sleeping on the defense this season. I'm not too pissed he's skipping NT.

Normantas doesn't seem to me like NT material. If he's not hot offensively he looks random overall. Dimsa at least has certain fundamentals, even if he's cold shooting wise, he provides certain value.

[Dreamcatcher]

Ulanovas for example sleeping on the defense this season. I'm not too pissed he's skipping NT.

Even if Ulanovas is loosing sometimes concentration in defense, he's still a strong player. This season has been great for him - statistically he's the best Zalgiris player after Evans. The best EFF in EL (after Evans) and the best one in LKL. Also he's the 3rd scorer in EL (after Evans and Brazdeikis) and the best one in LKL.

[Shawshank]

If Brazdeikis would be not NT player but foreigner with 700k contract all fans would say dont bring him back

This is unacceptable such princess attitude what he shows in lkl playoofs and how he disrespect head coach


Dude how was cluesless in team defence in september same is in June and it worse now because he puts zero energy even in offence last month,just shooting random stupid shots and coach sends him to bench again and again

[Straight forward]

Zalgiris entered playoffs not being in a good physical and mental stage. Chasing PO ticket and PO series it self took a lot. Players are tired physically and morally. Rytas is much fresher which makes this series interesting. Brazdeikis is emotional player and I think ATM he's not only mentally off, but physically too. He went through huge exposure in terms of attention and expectation from day one when he landed to Lithuania and started to work with NT. He has certain immunity since he's LTU player and so young and with good upside.

For Maksvytis it sucks that Giedraitis got injured. He already was very useful rotation player. Perfect fresh piece to throw on Marcus Foster. Lekavicius and Taylor can barely guard him. Not only Brazdeikis sucks, but also Smits, Ulanovas didn't show up. The good thing is that Dimsa, Cavanaugh, Butkevicius (not tonight) look good. These role players are very important now. They have more energy than key players. To some extent grinding team as Zalgiris can't go on the same level. Long EL season definitely plays a role here.

[Dreamcatcher]

.
For Maksvytis it sucks that Giedraitis got injured.

Like it would have happened 1st, 2nd or 3rd time. But no, he is constantly off from time to time for years. It seems his body can't handle it.

[Straight forward]

Like it would have happened 1st, 2nd or 3rd time. But no, he is constantly off from time to time for years. It seems his body can't handle it.

Unfortunately. He can't deal with this. Interesting what Zalgiris will do with him. Will they give him another year. I think there's condition in the contract that he should remain healthy or something like that.

[Shawshank]

Gintaras Krapikas pykčio kupinu žvilgsniu ieškojo auklėtinio, kuris jau buvo bepasiekiąs tarnybinę arenos zoną. „Žalgirio“ štabas pasisuko į komandą ir be Brazdeikio susirinko bendram šūkiui po 71:94 skaudaus pralaimėjimo LKL finalo serijos.

situation is worse than cameras shown.


I would be very suprised if this summer Brazdeiksi will be in NT camp. Im not even sure what is more likely coach wont invite him or Iggy himself will reject invitation

Situation last month looks that bad.Brazdeikis shows no respect to coaches and doing and saying what ever he wants

I was calling him wild mustang,but from good side.This is bad side of wild and angry mustang

[Straight forward]

I'm actually thinking that respect can be earned without unleashing hell like Jasikevicius does, but in these cases you wonder No way Brazdeikis would be having talk back to Jasikevicius. Maksvytis doesn't have the same respect. I only wish the season to end soon. Maksvytis needs rest badly. Players too.

And partially we should thank Ulanovas. He sets the example of talking back as captain...

[Shawshank]

Yeah 45 old coach must earn respect of 24 old youngster

24 old newcomer should shut his mouth comming to new country/club and not making his own rules

Firstly win and prove something before making your own demands.


Right now Motiejunas,Krapikas,Maksvytis should go very hard on Brazdeikis putting his ego down or otherwise that wild mustang will never become trustworthy team work horse.

[Straight forward]

Right now Motiejunas,Krapikas,Maksvytis should go very hard on Brazdeikis putting his ego down or otherwise that wild mustang will never become usefull team work horse.

Brazdeiks will never be system player. He's ISO scorer. Sure, he can add things that will help him to become better player in Europe, but he will never be team hard worker. Even in NT I see him as instant offense from the bench. Much like Kleiza was in 2007-2008. I think this is Brazdeikis' role and he should perfect that. He doesn't have fundamentals of team play. He always was volume scorer - high school, NCAA, G League (even in Summer League went off for 30 points kinda game). That's what he is. To some extent having such character is good. He just needs to learn to avoid completely stupid shots and super harsh defensive mistakes. Other than that it's good to have ISO scorer who doesn't care.

F.e. Rubstavicius has incomparably higher BB fundamentals than Brazdeikis. He's terrific passer for 2, can initiate p'n'r, he reads the passing lanes defensively nicely, his overall motor is very high at both ends (super active long arms too). That's why I say I see Rubstavicius as a true starter. Brazdeikis doesn't have it, but he has that scorer's mentality and ISO mentality which will be useful (already was in 2022).

[Straight forward]

Brazdeikis woke up. Again, it all depends on how consistent he can get with time and how much he's willing to learn. ATM, he's pretty hard to coach and inconsistent. Very talented though. Not many European players can dance with the ball like that and create it's own shot:

https://twitter.com/BasketNews_lt/status/1666120347966484504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1666120347966484504%7Ctwgr%5E57dcfc01366350ed3bd4a8397a58bf4cd50d469f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.basketnews.lt%2Fnews-190391-namu-faktorius-ryta-supanciojes-zalgiris-priartejo-prie-lkl-titulo.html

Tell me whatever you want I don't see how Margiris can really help in major tournament as WC. One thing is to have one good game out of three in FIBA windows, other - real deal level. Again serious Zalgiris' defense, he has nothing to offer.