2023 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward]

For 2023 I dont see much difference from 2022. Play making will be in the hands of Jokubaitis, Grigonis and Lekavicius. Ulanovas is probably the biggest plus in comparison to 2022 but he has a very Russian sounding name so I am not sure if he is gonna play. Butkevicius should take a bigger role since he is the best defender who brings a minimum of offensive threat.

A plus will be the coach and many LTU players who play for the same team.

I dont see LTU team separate the two bigs since there is no adequate power forwards with talent and to utilize the full power of the bigs you need to stretch the floor so Kuzminskas will be a must again. Overall its a bit better team with Ulanovas but not significantly better. The defensive problems of Jokubaitis are one of the biggest concerns when I simulate the teams game in my head.

In my opinion the problem of 4 is overrated. I mean we can add Sedekerskis, Ulanovas, Tubelis at 4. None of them should be key. Just adequate pieces. Ulanovas is 13,5eff, Sedekerskis 11eff kinda EL players. That's solid role players. ATM, Sedekerskis and Tubelis are underrated in Lithuania. I've seen enough of Sedekerskis, he can make quick decision with the ball, he can cut, he can be tough. My recipe would be playing even faster. Making stops and running. And in the halfcourt it should be around Sabonis. Him facilitating and playing p'n'r with Jokubaitis.

In 2022 we still had too little stops and not enough of fast brakes. Building around Sabonis, running to transition more, being more athletic (Sedekerskis, Tubelis definetely add athelticism), playing tougher and mobile defense. That's the main adjustments.

Jokubaitis D? Yeah, to certain extent it's a problem but lesser than you claim. Our problem is that the back-cup is Lekavicius, so it gets from mediocre to bad. I think Maksvytis will take one of Dimsa/D. Giedraitis and we will have good defender at 1 for some 10-15mpg depending on the game (later Jokubaitis/Marciulionis PG section makes a lot sense to me as they compliment each other nicely).

[Toruko]

In my opinion the problem of 4 is overrated. I mean we can add Sedekerskis, Ulanovas, Tubelis at 4

All of them cant stretch the floor even a bit. You need a problem solving scorer if you want to play without stretching the floor and you dont have any.

[Straight forward]

All of them cant stretch the floor even a bit. You need a problem solving scorer if you want to play without stretching the floor and you dont have any.

Ulanovas unleashed 50 threes, made 21. 42%. He shoots differently this season.

[Toruko]

Ulanovas unleashed 50 threes, made 21. 42%. He shoots differently this season.

I wouldnt trust it. The approach is different. Zalgiris has nothing to fear and they know that F4 will be in Kaunas. Its a totally different story in do or die games if you are in a 50 50 position. The only four you can count on shooting wise is Kuzminskas.

[Svajunas]

I wouldnt trust it. The approach is different. Zalgiris has nothing to fear and they know that F4 will be in Kaunas. Its a totally different story in do or die games if you are in a 50 50 position. The only four you can count on shooting wise is Kuzminskas.

We don't care that you wouldn't trust him. I don't trust you, simulate your ass out of here.

[Straight forward]

We don't care that you wouldn't trust him. I don't trust you, simulate your ass out of here.

Svajunas, I think the whole idea about international forum is to exchange ideas with fellows from different countries. I personally enjoy when foreigners give their insights even in Lithuanian subforum. Besides, Toruko is right. It's not like we can fully trust Ulanovas to shoot well in WC or that he can survive against bigget PFs defensively. Generally, we don't have a good answer at 4 ATM, even if I think this problem is a little bit overrated.

[Straight forward]

Balciunas: "Last decade was Valanciunas' decade, this decade will be new talents (Matas Buzelis) decade"

Even our head of federation can't wait to move on while JV is still in his prime

We gotta say it was a rough decade since we build around JV, since 2014. One medal and lot of disappointments. It's not on JV entirely. Maybe a bit more luck or one sharper guard at the right time and it would be different story, but I really hope we'll never building again around traditional center.

[Shawshank]

Ulanovas is not good shooter,neither is Sedekerskis or Sabonis.

Their stats shooting wide open 3points (that opponents risk by coach plan) on low attempts is misleading to real shooters that is shooting half of their shots contested ones.

In NT 2 weeks competion is more important how players is handle his emotions/brain inside him in this media era than his true shooting ability.

Put in empty gym with no cameras all NT players im telling u that ale 15% shooter from 2022 Giedraitis would outshoot every single NT player at minimum will be top 3.

Brazdeikis is bad 3point shooter overall (thats shows his usa and euroleague practise ) but he hit shots in those 2 weeks and i believe because he dont even got in 2022 how important NT is for lithuanian people and had way less pressure in his head compare to *real* lithuanians

[Straight forward]

This season Ulanovas shoots some contested threes, some step backs though. Not that he now suddenly "a shooter", but it gives some promise. His confidence level is at the new high.

Sedekerskis shoots 38% in EL. Tubelis shoots 47% in NCAA. Both are open threes kinda shooters, but it's still OK. Jankunas was that kind of shooter and in some tournaments he was very useful. Like in 2015 where he shot 43.8% (7/16). That spreads the floor a little bit. Yeah, who wouldn't want Markkanen at 4, but it's not like we are completely naked at 4. Far from it. If Maksvytis wakes up, I believe Sedekerskis will surprise. He's pretty good already. I keep my hopes reserved as you can't trust or ask much from Tubelis, but he's also very interesting piece.

I mean when you have Sabonis, Kuzminskas, Sedekerskis, Ulanovas, Tubelis, you're not in the worst situation via 4 position in the world Despite not having one unquestionable and natural stud there.

Brazdeikis is pretty bad shooter, but also he is streaky. In College he shot 39%. He can randomly shoot like a nightmare or shoot the lights off.

PS: Maksvytis is the hostage of being Valanciunas' coach, IMO. He would barely reduce his role and that's gonna be his tragedy of he do that. The only success he's having is with 2 agile and good defending bigs. He can simulate that to certain extent with Sabonis, Sedekerskis, Tubelis. I hope he'll do the right thing.

[Toruko]

This season Ulanovas shoots some contested threes, some step backs though. Not that he now suddenly "a shooter", but it gives some promise. His confidence level is at the new high.

Sedekerskis shoots 38% in EL. Tubelis shoots 47% in NCAA. Both are open threes kinda shooters, but it's still OK. Jankunas was that kind of shooter and in some tournaments he was very useful. Like in 2015 where he shot 43.8% (7/16). That spreads the floor a little bit. Yeah, who wouldn't want Markkanen at 4, but it's not like we are completely naked at 4. Far from it. If Maksvytis wakes up, I believe Sedekerskis will surprise. He's pretty good already. I keep my hopes reserved as you can't trust or ask much from Tubelis, but he's also very interesting piece.

I mean when you have Sabonis, Kuzminskas, Sedekerskis, Ulanovas, Tubelis, you're not in the worst situation via 4 position in the world Despite not having one unquestionable and natural stud there.

Brazdeikis is pretty bad shooter, but also he is streaky. In College he shot 39%. He can randomly shoot like a nightmare or shoot the lights off.

PS: Maksvytis is the hostage of being Valanciunas' coach, IMO. He would barely reduce his role and that's gonna be his tragedy of he do that. The only success he's having is with 2 agile and good defending bigs. He can simulate that to certain extent with Sabonis, Sedekerskis, Tubelis. I hope he'll do the right thing.

Its not a question of quality but chemistry. The point is you roughly get half of your points from two big and in order to operate freely they need space and the other guys must stretch the floor. It would be another question if you had someone like De Colo or Fournier a three level scorer but there is nobody in this class in your backcourt so you must play the right place, create open shots and they need to make them and therefore Kuzminskas is inevitable since he is the only combo forward he can make shots.

At least you should defend better with Ulanovas and Butkevicius.

[Straight forward]

Its not a question of quality but chemistry. The point is you roughly get half of your points from two big and in order to operate freely they need space and the other guys must stretch the floor. It would be another question if you had someone like De Colo or Fournier a three level scorer but there is nobody in this class in your backcourt so you must play the right place, create open shots and they need to make them and therefore Kuzminskas is inevitable since he is the only combo forward he can make shots.

At least you should defend better with Ulanovas and Butkevicius.

More or less agreed.

But that half points from two bis is not true. JV and Domas combined 28,7ppg from 89ppg total. They combine as much as Markkanen does by himself alone With better spacing they would probably score more. In a way it's actually an advantage to some extent. Many players can step up, like Kuz dropping 18pts in 8finals, or you never know when Lekavicius will drop 18pts. Almost 6 players were in double digits for LTU. But this "egalitarianism" is also a problem when we have to close games. We need leadership from the perimeter and we will barely have that this Olympic cycle.

Anyway, it's only a matter of time. We have too deep talent pool coming. Lithuania will climb back to top 5 FIBA NTs this decade.

[LuDux]

My Euro, born 1998 and younger, Žalgirisless, Window NT:
Marek Blaževič
Danielius Lavrinovičius
Gytis Masiulis
Paulius Danusevičius
Arnoldas Kulboka
Paulius Murauskas
Lukas Uleckas
Matas Jogėla
Mantas Rubštavičius
Ignas Sargiūnas
Marius Valinskas
Arnas Velička

'Forgot' Kulboka because he never played in LKL. Out goes Mineikis

[Shawshank]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ergB3nIQ1E&t=639s

At this element from todays ltu players Butkevicius and Sedekerskis is best in my opinion.

In theory they can do that moving without the ball around Domas even not being good shooters.

Dont wanna see coaches friends in PF as 11-12th players like 2019 Bendzius 2021 Masiulis 2022 Zukauskas

Its time even my formula says Tadas at 25 should be ready to help NT already in 2023-2024

[Straight forward]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ergB3nIQ1E&t=639s

At this element from todays ltu players Butkevicius and Sedekerskis is best in my opinion.

In theory they can do that moving without the ball around Domas even not being good shooters.

Dont wanna see coaches friends in PF as 11-12th players like 2019 Bendzius 2021 Masiulis 2022 Zukauskas

Its time even my formula says Tadas at 25 should be ready to help NT already in 2023-2024

That's the area were we can surely improve further. We have plenty of good cutters. Aside mentioned, Kuz, Ulanovas, Brazdeikis, Tubelis are all good cutters. I remember Jokubaitis saying this summer "Domas always asks us to cut". It's the legacy of our turtle bb last decade. We were either playing p'n'r or watching JV posting up while everyone else remain stationary. I think Euro ball is not really about good cutting basketball, it's more American school, but we should polish this better. Lithuanian school used to be like driving in kicking out for shooters. But now we need to add much more cutting and movement without the ball around Sabonis and Jokubaitis. This duet is the key and will determine our upside in upcoming 2 tournaments. So far Jokubaitis had the best connection with Sabonis. They already played together in 2021 and 2022 and hopefully they will have even better chemistry in 2023. Fox and Ox game tapes is a must as Jokubaitis is also lefty and fits the narrative well.

https://twitter.com/caine_purnell/status/1410076927621091330

https://twitter.com/ltu_basketball/status/1560676804939378688

https://twitter.com/ltu_basketball/status/1559615183299006468

Three things that NT is surely capable to do it:

Improve chemistry with Sabonis (mainly cutting action and coming from the top)
Improve defense (reduce JVs minutes, add Ulanovas, Sedekerskis)
Play faster (most players love to run)

[Svajunas]

Thats why Toruko saying that He doesnt trust Ule is bs. He havent seen all the games that we did.