2023 Lithuanian NT

[Hepcat]

I agree! Mantas Rubstavicius really had a hot hand today and put up some impressive numbers.

So though did little praised Donatas Tarolis.

[Straight forward]

I agree! Mantas Rubstavicius really had a hot hand today and put up some impressive numbers.

So though did Donatas Tarolis who rarely draws much praise.

Look, all guys deserve credit, they fought well. I'm only saying that only 2 players have things to do with A team.

[Shawshank]

+25 blowout games at home shows nothing.

We gonna see something in away game versus France.

Who will play well in that chalenging atmosphere that what i would think inviting in summer camp from this B team.

[Hepcat]

I agree. The game against France will tell us the real story.

[Straight forward]

I don't see what the game against Franca can reveal. In my opinion non of these players, except Kuzminskas, will get invitation to the main camp of WC unless Zalgiris guys and other EL players (Sedekerskis, Grigonis, and unfortunately R. Giedraitis) will be opting out. When I say Rubstavicius is NT material I mean more distant tournaments, not 23.

God help Kariniauskas and Normantas suiting for the senior NT...Their trash with all due respect

Rubstavicius' highlights - https://www.instagram.com/p/CpCkm9IInSy/?hl=en

[Shawshank]

For coaches such away games versus elite NT shows/answers way more questions , how players reacts in chalenging situations versus high level opponents

Similiar chalenging things awaits in fiba tournaments

At home with +20 most LKL player can play well such games dont answers those questions

[Straight forward]

In this roster there's no NT material, except Kuz, period. Scrubs as Zemaitis, Zukauskas made NT not because they deserved it or because they are NT material, but because of absences as Ulanovas, Sedekerskis, Gudaitis or even Motiejunas (and Maksvytis made a mistake releasing Dimsa too soon). I don't know where the idea is coming from that complete mediocrities can actually help senior NT and this some kind of test before WC for some of them. This roster doesn't even have Dimsa's level guards (Rubstavicius soon will be incomparably better than him, but not now) or prime Juskevicius' (probably the last mediocre player who truly helped NT, but that was just an exception, not the rule). This window has nothing to do with senior NT 23 except Kuzminskas. Players as Zemaitis and Zukauskas were complete tourists in the NT. Anyone but Kuz in this roster would be the same, so it's funny to hear that this game "shows/answers" something when it comes to WC 23 If Normantas will have a good game then he's NT material and deserves to be in the main camp? God no. This camp is very much about this game and that's it. The only answers coaches will get is what's Kuz current shape and a glimpse at future stud Rubstavicius.

[Hepcat]

Rather than going with your pre-ordained notions about the players, why can't you just let their results on the court speak for themselves? Players need to play themselves onto the national team. They don't get their on the basis of first principles or scouting reports.

[LuDux]

Rather than going with your pre-ordained notions about the players, why can't you just let their results on the court speak for themselves? Players need to play themselves onto the national team. They don't get their on the basis of first principles or scouting reports.

Too late, SF is his deep wisdom already decided how it shall be, every coach that dares to contradict it will be shamed and punished and worse in these very pages. Amen

[Giannis34GOD]

Wow, a 55,000 capacity arena! That has to be the biggest in the world.

Kudos to the Philippines! I always cheer for the Philippines in Asian tournaments.

Yeah... I have plans also to go there as well, I been now based on Middle East (In Dubai) but i will buy tickets after the draw of the main competition on April 29... I want that experience watching big Arena like that...

[Giannis34GOD]

Solid win. Hungary was trash tonight just as their politics, but LTU looked really dynamic. There's 2 serious players on this roster - Kuzminskas and Rubstavicius. They are separate breed compared to all others and it felt. Rubstavicius had amazing debut, not only 12pts in just 16min, but unmatched offensive intensity, sharpness and best +/- 18 on the team. Very bright future ahead of him. His debut reminds me Jokubaitis' debut in windows, just played aggressively and confidently. In 2025 he most likely will be a starter of senior NT if Grigonis won't be available. Iggy ain't got his decision making, IQ, balanced in and out game. Iggy is a scorer, Rubstavicius is complete SG. After Grigonis I see Rubstavicius starting, Iggy coming from the bench.

https://twitter.com/FIBAWC/status/1628827751376646145

I can't imagine Hungary will qualify for the WC, If they need 41 pt win over BIH just to take the spot... They can't even win lopsided games even against Austria, Portugal, etc... maybe against India.... hehehehehehehe....

[Shawshank]

Nobody said anybody from this b team will be in main top 9 rotation in world cup.

But coaches invite players to summer camp like 16-17 players.

In coaches eyes when they gonna built list for for those 10-17 nt camp players list away game versus France is way more serious indicator coaches will remember than some easy blowout game at home.

Everywhere there is steps of competion.Coaches can't think we have top 10 and other players are trash.

Those ale trash players won ticket to world cup and best of them like 5 of them I would reward them by invite to main camp.

[Straight forward]

=

Those ale trash players won ticket to world cup and best of them like 5 of them I would reward them by invite to main camp.

Not exactly. Kuzminskas played 6 games, Dimsa 6, Butkevicius 6, Grigonis 4, Brazeikis 4, JV, Domas, Jokubaitis, R. Giedraitis, Sedekerskis, Lekavicius 2 games in WC qualification to secure the the ticket. So A team players made an important impact too.

Now let's see Jokubaitis, Lekavicius, Dimsa, Grigonis, R. Giedraitis, Brazdeikis, Ulanovas, Butkevicius, Sedekerskis, Kuzminskas, Tubelis, Valanciunas, Sabonis and maybe even Gudaitis/Motiejunas and you have already around 13-15 players. Maybe you can add 1 or 2 mediocrities, that's all. One of those likely will be D. Giedraitis who is better than such as Normanas/Kariniauskas/Zemaitis if healthy. I would rather invite few young most talented players like Rubstavicius. Make tourism meaningful long term. Zemaitis and Zukauskas participation in EB gave zero benefits to Lithuanian BB.

[Hepcat]

Now let's see Jokubaitis, Lekavicius, Dimsa, Grigonis, R. Giedraitis, Brazdeikis, Ulanovas, Butkevicius, Sedekerskis, Kuzminskas, Tubelis, Valanciunas, Sabonis and maybe even Gudaitis/Motiejunas and you have already around 13-15 players. Maybe you can add 1 or 2 mediocrities, that's all.

First of all every team in every sport needs role players (which may be among your "mediocrities"). A team full of super stars is often exposed by more balanced teams with role players when the chips are down.

Secondly from your list above even Tadas Sedekerskis let alone Ą?uolas Tubelis has yet to demonstrate that he can bring something valuable to the team. Yet you already want to lay out a red carpet for them. My attitude is "So here's your chance! Show us what you've got."

One of those likely will be D. Giedraitis who is better than such as Normantas/Kariniauskas/Zemaitis if healthy.

That same Dovydas Giedraitis had a decent, though not excellent, PER of 7.9 over 22:43 minutes of play in LKL action for Lietkabelis last year. This year for ?algiris his PER is 4.9 in 18:13 minutes in LKL action. And it's a miserable 0.2 in 9:43 minutes of play during 11 Euroleague games! Yet you throw all objectivity aside and continue to view his play with rose tinted glasses.

Quite simply the three players you dismiss, Normantas/Kariniauskas/?emaitis, have had seasons in the past three where they've been vital cogs to their team's success. Dovydas Giedraitis has only had a game here or there which you then crow about while then ignoring a run of games where he's been ineffective.

I don't understand your fixation with D. Giedraitis. You keep touting him on some subjective basis. Is he a distant cousin of some sort?

Me I'm open minded. If and when Giedraitis demonstrates on the court that he belongs in camp, I'll be happy to see him there. But so far he's done no such thing.

I would rather invite few young most talented players like Rubstavicius. Make tourism meaningful long term.

Uggghhh. And you deride other posters as "passport experts".

You continue to incorporate factors in your assessment of "talent" that aren't derived from game performance. Mantas Rub?tavičius should be invited when he demonstrates with his play during games that he's among the twenty or so best Lithuanian players. How he plays today against France should and probably will be one of the things the national team coaches take into consideration.

[Straight forward]

Our point guards - Kariniauskas and Zemaitis - look so helpless against active on ball French defenders. It's our BB school stigma. Slow feet and handd work of guards and inferior physical preparation. Only Normantas with his beefy ass feels more comfortable, against France you need athleticism. I believe Velicka would be the best PG today against France.