2023 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward]

I think it goes like this:

1. USA: Curry, Lillard, Irving, T. Young, Ja Morant, Booker, Mitchel

2. Canada (fully packed): Murray, SGA, Wiggins, Dort, Barret

3-4

Serbia: Bogdanovic, Micic, Guduric, Teodosic, Nedovic, Marinkovic

Australia: P. Mills., J. Goddey, Simons, Ingles, J. Green, Exum, Thybulle

5-7:

Germany: Schroder, Wagner, Lo,
Slovenia: Doncic and whatever (at least ATM cause soon Slovenia will have some new guard studs, but so far it's about Doncic)
France: Fournier, Okobo and so on

The rest:

Greece: Calathes, Sloukas, Dorsey
Lithuania: Grigonis, Jokubaitis, Brazdeikis

But that's only backcourts. F.e. France is probably the best team after USA, or even the best team if you USA won't bring their best, because of possible bigs as Embiid, Victor Wemby, Gobert.

Australia became a bit old, that might be an issue. As well as Greece.

Canada's problems well known despite how deep their potentially are.

Slovenia seemed vulnerable in 22 EB and Doncic ain't getting any more rested with each season.

Lithuania still lacks true guy to go in perimeter.

Serbia is bipolar kinda NT.

This makes me believe USA, France, Spain, Germany and Serbia are top 5 contenders. Others have legitimate chances too, but a bit less than these 5, but Australia probably being the best here (Mills and Ingles getting old is a real concern).

[Straight forward]

When Brazdeikis mature and learn when to slow down,when to go 100mile speed he can have 2-3 summers in NT as main leader that coaches gonna give the ball in endings and in difficult situations.
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I don't see this way. Iggy can and I hope will be among key perimeter players this decade, but most important perimeter players long term are Buzelis and Jokubaitis. This decade is different than say 00's and 10's. We have super prospect who potentially can be the best player on the court as say 22yo. I wouldn't be surprised if in 2027 WC Buzelis and not Brazdeikis, Jokubaitis will be the best and most dominant perimeter player.

I see Iggy more in a 6th man kinda role long term. Instant offense from the bench, specially if he will remain wild. Comparison with Kleiza is very good cause when we were really stacked in 2007-2008 it was Kleiza's role exactly. I see guys as Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius, Buzelis as starting line-up material. All have superior IQ and team culture than Iggy.

[Shawshank]

Backourt is most important position in 2020s basketball



Thats why im not blamming Domas and Jonas that they go bad hand dealt in most critical positions of 2020s basketball


Those heartbreaks comes Mills,Fourniers,Browns,Doncic makes plays for themselfs or teammates in last 2-3minutes and ltu guards dont



Guards must finish the games or no semifinals.

Nobody will allow Sabonis or Valanciunas to post up in last 2 minutes.And if after double team ltu guards dont make shots thats on them,not on centers.

[Straight forward]

Sure, but Embiid, Wemby, Gobert rotation would be nasty. Embiid and Wemby playing in the same line-up would be pretty nasty. They would even play great defense essentially. Would cover amazingly a lot of space defensively and offensively they are also huge force. And there still Gobert who is very impactful.

France can lock any team basically.

[Shawshank]

Embiid maybe will play in 2024 Olympics.

He is not playing insome random eurobasket closing to 30 old age with his health history and huge body he need to prepare for nba playoofs runs


Decolo got old,Huerter is basically non grata after playing for russian club. From 4 main guards that France won all those game endings and got medals left Fournier and Batum

And both of them are veterans,if somebody is getting old is France backourt

Without good guard play they got, those 2 center lineups France was playing 2019-2022 wouldnt have worked

[Straight forward]

Couple new thoughts about NT.

Lekavicius' minutes in EL dropped from 24mpg to 15mpg. In Eurobasket his role was also shaky, only 15mpg. It's safe to say there's no great connection between Lekavicius and Maksvytis. This makes me think A. Marciulionis may be closer NT than bball community realize. I see Lekavicius in 2023 WC as a lock, but it may be the last season in the NT (and most likely Zalgiris as he has contract) when he's a lock. Off course, Lekavicius' renaissance is possible, we seen it many times with vets, but knowing his size and reliance of quickness it may be his last years with solid roles at the highest level. I think the main issue is that Maksvytis doesn't want to gamble with Luka size at D. One of things that NT is lacking is defense. Zalgiris is successful because of defense. In 2023 I see Dimsa making as combo who can play solid D. But long term we need real answer as back-up PG. Let's face it. Dimsa sucks at facilitation. D. Giedraitis sucks as facilitator at the high level too (even though when EL will slow down for him he will be better facilitator than Dimsa for sure).
So my point is that in 2024 we may already be looking at A. Marciulionis as serious PG option for the NT. Next season he should finally start most likely and play big minutes in NCAA. After that he may be a strong 22yo candidate to make Olympic team. At least I see an opening spot with Lekavicius' role constantly declining. We can throw Dimsa or D. Giedraitis at 1, but that's a gamble offensively. None of them feel really comfortable at 1. So we need ready to go Marciulionis for serious play making.

Another thought. Paulius Murauskas gonna be ritch man's Kuzminskas. Both stand at 204cm, both are around 101kg (I think Murauskas will be around 104-105kg as finished product). Both are combo forwards (here I admit that I was wrong thinking that Murauskas will be devloping as forward center when he was 16-17yo, he's gonna be combo forward, I'm sure Ludux celebrating tonight ). Offensively Murauskas is rather similar to Kuzminskas, but even more versatile. Both can shoot and drive with athletic ability, but Murauskas is much tougher and has polished post moves too (while Kuz post game is rigid and limited). Maybe Murauskas won't be as reliable shooter, but that's not a fact. Overall, Murauskas should be more dominant offensively as I project and that's a lot cause Kuz is gifted offensive player, let's face it. He was dropping 15.3ppg in 2017EB. But the good news is that Murauskas will be much better defender, much better, compared to Kuz.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp-zWJZgv_u/?hl=en

Lastly. Imagine there's no Sabonis (maybe injuries or whatever) and JV (age) in the NT. A problem? Not really. Tubelis, Krivas, Blazevic (+prime Birutis or Echodas as side options). 3 studs to make our 5 position one of the best out there. With that said I hope Sabonis to be active for 10 more years knowing his working ethics and healthy lifestyle.

[Shawshank]

Grigonis again got injury,bad news for NT

It seems his body have hard to survive those proffesional loads

Thats why im saying Grigonis maybe/hopefully will play in 2023 and 2024 summers

I woudlnt bet that Marius will play in summers when his body will turn 30+ in 2025-2028 thats usually not the case with injury prone players.



I like how Kuzminskas looks well at 33.His skinny body has minuses in defence,but such built athlete can play longer and still be effective in his 30s.

I feel Kuz still can give smart veterans 15min of the bench in 2023 and 2024.

[Straight forward]

No Slovenia in our group. That's the start.

[LuDux]

No Slovenia in our group. That's the start.

Recently he said that one of reasons of his poor performence in NBA this season was that he has no rest last 3 summers, so there was no 100% guarantee he would play

[Straight forward]

Recently he said that one of reasons of his poor performence in NBA this season was that he has no rest last 3 summers, so there was no 100% guarantee he would play

Luka confirmed his participation just when Slovenia got the ticket, in November. Unlikely that he would change his mind, specially that next summer no-one will guarantee the spot in Olympics. Likely empty summer. As a matter of fact, we allowed Slovenia to play for the first time in 2021.

[Toruko]

Its not about being ready or not. The question is what he can give NBA teams on the court. He looks like a decent low post scorer with a good touch, can excel in transition and he looks like to be a good passer in transition and thats pretty much everything he can deliver RIGHT NOW. Considering how old he is a draft in the early second round is impossible.

He looked in his early years to be a very versatile defender but you can forget such a role in the NBA. If he decides to stay in the NBA he will have a bench role all his career long. More probable is that he will try and return to Europe unless he turns to a shooting big a la Lopez.

[Shawshank]

This zalgiris game was 1/8 playoofs type game from emotional standpoint,who played well in this one puts big big plus to his name

Lukas shown me and NT coach with this game he cant be left from from NT roster in 2023- 2024.

His experience,his calm eyes shown he can really help in some games,when NT will struggle in offence.


All 5 zalgiris players i would take to final roster Lukas,Dimsa,Brazdeikis,Arnas,Ule

Normantas as 6th guard being in camp till last moment incase some injury will happen and see overall how Margiris looks with best ltu players

[Straight forward]

Now it's obvious that Maksvytis made a mistake cutting Dimsa. He's a solid role player. It's a must to integrate Dimsa and Sedekerskis. 2 hustle players. I really looking forward to see how Maksvytis will handle NT after this season. He must start Domas and tighten up defense. I would reduce JV, R. Giedraitis and if possible Kuzminskas roles (Sedekerskis stealing minutes).

[Shawshank]

Domas started in every single NT game since 2019

Reading your comments its always seems Sabonis is 15min backup player

If Sabonis gonna shine nobody will decrease his minutes.Kazys played today Lukas all 4querter over Taylor,because he was balling.


Maskvytis is players coach if player is balling he will play him.If not he will search for other candidates is that simple

Sabonis was nr 1 option in 2022 all preparatiom untill he didnt delivered in first 2 games and he had other good option and he went there. In Spain game it was other way around and Domas played way more.


Thats why players like this coach and fights for him because players feels its fair for everybody.

If player is performing that day he is playing over more established teammate.

[Straight forward]

You don't get, don't you? Sabonis, as 2 times all star, didn't start a single game in his NATURAL POSITION. Not a freakin' one game. There's literally no reason why mediocre NBA player JV should be starting instead of NBA MVP candidate at his position - 5. Besides, with JV we have super crappy defense. He is attacked all the time brutally.

Sabonis has to be our starting center without any f...conversation. He earned, deserved it, he's better. You can't push over the star player Sabonis to 4 or whatever positions. He's not effective there. Play him at 5, as point center which he is. End of the story. Time to take the best of Domas. He makes others better, the team play faster, plays better D.