2023 Lithuanian NT

[Shawshank]

Dinosour expert i would be so optimistic nba healing programs takes double time frame than in europe of same injuries.Nba have long injury healing protocals players must finish before comming back to play some 3 vs 3 and so on.


That coach knows already in april,i have feeling its injury related more than anything else

Grigonis and Sabonis are 2 main candidates.


JV didnt miss a single tournament since 2011 including window games in summers,unless he will break one of his bones doing his fishing trips i feel more sure of his participation than any other top 9 NT players including some zalgiris lkl stars


So one more summer seeing Jonas leading NT in scoring awaits you

[Straight forward]

Domas destiny this summer will depend a lot on how far Kings will go. Tonight we'll know whenever Kings advance to second round. Barkley predicts that Kings will be in Western finals. With deep run Sabonis probably would have to miss WC.

[Straight forward]

OK, so Sabonis didn't have a good series. Couldn't establish usual dominant glue guy's presence. Tough series for him, but I think he learned a lesson or two and after all lost to current and likely next NBA champs. Sabonis still has to shoot more confidently from mid range and I thought that Kings run way too little pick and rolls. Looney was staying low and Sabonis just needed to mack a pick to create a look for Kings guards. For some reason this was played not nearly enough. In the NT Sabonis will receive much more good passes from Jokubaitis. On Kings roster no-one is even close to Jokubaitis pick and roll game and passing overall. No-one is even close. The best passer on the team is Sabonis. Best pick and roll passer is Monk. Kings needs to run more pick and rolls, they played too wildly in PO. Should share the ball more. Overall, they have to be proud to go so deep with champs.

Now I think Sabonis should be ready for WC as season finished relatively early. If Sabonis somehow out, Tubelis is must to integrate. There's no way we can stay without a single seriously mobile body at 5. JV, Motiejunas, Gudaitis, Birutis. We can't survive with this "walking" center position in modern bb. If Sabonis out, throw damn Tubelis ass out there for some "brisk walk" cause all other old school centers can't do it. We have only 2 agile and mobile centers - Sabonis and Tubelis. I Sabonis out, we should have Tubelis even if not 100% ready. He still would provide nice hustle, some easy points and adequate defensive attempt which is impossible with pieces as JV, Motiejunas, Birutis and I'm afraid Gudaitis too.

Really hope Maksvytis can somehow take home Sabonis and Grigonis. If Ulanovas wants rest, I won't be too disappointed. But without Sabonis and Grigonis it would be super rough tournament...

[Shawshank]

If Sabonis is defended by Green/Looney doesnt matter who passes him the ball , untill Domas improve his jumper.


Looney won in this series 106-77 on rebounds in less played minutes vs leading regular season nba rebounder Sabonis . If team give so manny extra shots for warriors that team gonna lose.



Doesnt matter Tubelis will be taken or not he isnt seeing minutes in Greece,Serbia type games. NT must choose players in 2023 having Greece NT in mind


Maskvytis have very little to say here about Grigonis and Sabonis situation.Coach can give extra week rest or something,but if body is not healthy and player feels he need entire summer to be ready 100% for next season coach can do very little.here.


In podcast people mentioning same 3 names Sabonis,Grigonis,Giedraitis that most likely they are the ones NT coach gave hints about from 2022 roster

[Straight forward]

Nope, playing more pick and rolls and finding Domas in his motion better is what Jokubaitis can offer. NBA is more ISO game. In FIBA Sabonis can be more often awarded by guards than in NBA. American guards are usually not as good p'n'r guards than Euro star players. IMO, Jokubaitis pick and roll game in NBA offensively would be very hardly stoppable. With that space...Maturing Jokubaitis will be great news for Domas. It will be dominant duet.

Podcasters at this point (this time) just simply speculated. It was not based on inside info. So they worth as much as our discussion here. But, yes, Sabonis, Grigonis abvious suspects. I don't care much abiut Giedraitis.

Tubelis would actually be good fit against Greece. Imagine if Domas out. What would you put against Giannis at 5? I would bet Tubelis and Sedekerskis as best options. You need big, real bodies that can movie. Giannis would be eating such as JV, Motiejunas, Gudaitis in terms of quickness alive. Tubelis and Sedekerskis would fair better. As I said big lumberjacks plays little role in stopping Giannis.

[Giannis34GOD]

Nope, playing more pick and rolls and finding Domas in his motion better is what Jokubaitis can offer. NBA is more ISO game. In FIBA Sabonis can be more often awarded by guards than in NBA. American guards are usually not as good p'n'r guards than Euro star players. IMO, Jokubaitis pick and roll game in NBA offensively would be very hardly stoppable. With that space...Maturing Jokubaitis will be great news for Domas. It will be dominant duet.

Podcasters at this point (this time) just simply speculated. It was not based on inside info. So they worth as much as our discussion here. But, yes, Sabonis, Grigonis abvious suspects. I don't care much abiut Giedraitis.

Tubelis would actually be good fit against Greece. Imagine if Domas out. What would you put against Giannis at 5? I would bet Tubelis and Sedekerskis as best options. You need big, real bodies that can movie. Giannis would be eating such as JV, Motiejunas, Gudaitis in terms of quickness alive. Tubelis and Sedekerskis would fair better. As I said big lumberjacks plays little role in stopping Giannis.

Yeah... DeAaron Fox is too ballhog, he's a "Points guard" not a Pure PG.... I see many time he make most of questionable basketball IQ, But Sabonis was badly outplayed by Looney, especially in rebounds... He can't outjump Looney...

[Straight forward]

Yeah... DeAaron Fox is too ballhog, he's a "Points guard" not a Pure PG.... I see many time he make most of questionable basketball IQ, But Sabonis was badly outplayed by Looney, especially in rebounds... He can't outjump Looney...

True. As for Sabonis rebounding and overall performance, I think he wasn't at his best. Long season and he didn't enter PO in his best shape. I wouldn't overemphasize Looney. He's trash offensively. Even 70% Sabonis outplayed Looney offensively, it's not even a comparison. Looney plays at one end - defensive. When you do it only at one end, you have much more energy. Sabonis does at both end and at very high pace. His usage is incredible, but he couldn't handle this. In some games he was manhandling Looney, overpowering him, I think game 4, but overall Looney's and Green's physicality and how much Sabonis tried to do at both ends...That was too much. In PO physicality it's too much. Sabonis needs to learn where is his best spots, where he can save energy and where to go full force. In regular season he can be more careless, but in PO you have to be smart. You can't do everything.

[Giannis34GOD]

True. As for Sabonis rebounding and overall performance, I think he wasn't at his best. Long season and he didn't enter PO in his best shape. I wouldn't overemphasize Looney. He's trash offensively. Even 70% Sabonis outplayed Looney offensively, it's not even a comparison. Looney plays at one end - defensive. When you do it only at one end, you have much more energy. Sabonis does at both end and at very high pace. His usage is incredible, but he couldn't handle this. In some games he was manhandling Looney, overpowering him, I think game 4, but overall Looney's and Green's physicality and how much Sabonis tried to do at both ends...That was too much. In PO physicality it's too much. Sabonis needs to learn where is his best spots, where he can save energy and where to go full force. In regular season he can be more careless, but in PO you have to be smart. You can't do everything.

Or Kings should find a good partner for Sabonis in PF position... His backup big man in Sacramento has no benefit at all especially in Game 7.. Another thing, coach Brown should need a veteran player to guide especially the young backcourt of Kings... I see many time Fox, Monk hitting low average shots that most of those shots are forced one... If they will not fix it, they will be another version of Memphis, Good in regular season but flop in playoffs....

[Straight forward]

Or Kings should find a good partner for Sabonis in PF position... His backup big man in Sacramento has no benefit at all especially in Game 7.. Another thing, coach Brown should need a veteran player to guide especially the young backcourt of Kings... I see many time Fox, Monk hitting low average shots that most of those shots are forced one... If they will not fix it, they will be another version of Memphis, Good in regular season but flop in playoffs....

True. In regular season Sabonis' presence was massive and he creates quality ball movement and decisions, but when his facilitation was reduced in PO Kings offense looked wild and unorganized. Too much ISO, too much stupid attempts to increase the pace in transition.

[LuDux]

Yeah KIngs should have abbanoned game that got them to number 3 and start playing astyke that STraightForward decided is best for them. Oh and bench starting PG in favor of Jokubaitis

[Straight forward]

Yeah KIngs should have abbanoned game that got them to number 3 and start playing astyke that STraightForward decided is best for them. Oh and bench starting PG in favor of Jokubaitis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-r-V0uK4u0&ab_channel=SmashingPumpkinsVEVO

[Giannis34GOD]

True. In regular season Sabonis' presence was massive and he creates quality ball movement and decisions, but when his facilitation was reduced in PO Kings offense looked wild and unorganized. Too much ISO, too much stupid attempts to increase the pace in transition.

One play when they were on momentum in later part of 2nd, Fox shoot two ill - advised shot, And he can't play D against Curry... But anyway, that will be "Learning experience" for Kings..... They were underdogs vs GSW anyway..

[Shawshank]

Kings guards was too inexperience for playoofs run . Max such young team could do is win one round.

Team wont come with almost zero playoofs experience and start winning multiple series.


Either way Kings gave fantastic fight,but when mattered most Curry and warriors experience took over.



Looking at nba playoofs bracket basically left no teams that is leaded by young stars after round 1.

Wanna win in playoofs its must to have multiple experienced battle tested dudes to survive that emotional rollercoaster

[Shawshank]

about Giannis defence what u say it doesnt mean its correct. Look with who chechs defended him.He cant shoot, slow big player can stay 2meters from him and try to limit his penetration and dont care about his jumper.

Tubelis on Giannis? put raw scared ncaa NT rookie on best player in the world i dont think our coach is that crazy Just seeing Giannis in person Tubelis asking autograph is more likely than being super physical with Giannis


Sedekerskis obviuosly will be real option and Sabonis also real option .Slowing Giannis is not one person job,is entire teams job. Put on him strong body,but put other waiting from him inside and suround with bodies .With just ono defender and no help he will go for 40pts.


Thats why i repeating NT need 3 centers after fiba draw is known, not because always directly put them on Giannis,but in that game rim protection is maybe most important thing from defensive side

[Straight forward]

https://www.basketnews.lt/news-18892...zaideju.htmlSo it seems NT may have major absences. Basketnews says it may be Grigonis, Giedraitis, Lekavicius, Ulanovas (Echodas) and some other absences possible. Sabonis case is closely followed, but I think now he has plenty of time to get ready, surgery or not.

Not having Grigonis, Ulanovas, Lekavicius would probably be a hit to our potential medal expectations. One of our advantages in EB 22 was very deep bench which can score a lot, like Lekavicius, Brazdeikis/Grigonis, Kuzminskas. Without these guys the bench would be shorter and obviously Grigonis loss alone would hit as hard.

I expect Sabonis to be in however.

To be honest I don't see an answers at back-up 1. Please, don't even mention me guys like Margiris, Zemaitis, Kariniauskas. They are TRASH at 1 literally. Trash. Velicka unfortunately is also trash cause he turns the ball over and too wild. He's incomparably more talented than mentioned formerly, but too wild - thus trash. Most likely we will have to go with Dimsa and D. Giedraitis as back-up 1, and Giedraitis showing some life is a good sign cause he's more talented facilitator than Dimsa, but unfortunately even Dovis and Dimsa are borderline trash at 1 and not the answer. So we won't have good solution at 1 and it will specially hurt if Grigonis out, cause he can give decent 10mpg at 1. IMO, it's a must to test A. Marciulionis if Lekavicius out.

Bold ones are locks in my case.

If Lekavicius out - I invite Dimsa, D. Giedraitis, Margiris, A. Marciulionis as candidates to back Jokubaitis (30mpg in that case kinda player) up. All other options are even worse.

If Grigonis, Giedraitis out. Brazdeikis is 30mpg kinda SG. As for back-ups, Dimsa is a lock in that case and D. Giedraitis, Margiris, Rubstavicius as candidates to make it.

If Ulanovas out, than Butkevicius is a starter, Sedekerskis backs him up (unfortunately Tadas also kinda questionable remembering his answer) Radzevicius, Kulboka, Sirvydis.

If Sabonis out, Tubelis is a must, IMO.

We don't know how it will end up, but it's likely that we will see something like this:

Jokubaitis, D. Giedraitis, M. Normantas
Brazdeikis, Dimsa
Butkevicius, Sedekerskis, Sirvydis
Kuzminskas, Tubelis
Valanciunas, Gudaitis

PS: Few other absences also expected.

Seems like we might go with B+ team generally and to forget about bigger ambitions to make noise. This would make 23 season as preparation for 24 Olympics essentially and even might be seen as certain work out for new Olympic cycle if some players as Marciulionis, D. Giedraitis, Rubstavicius, Sirvydis, Tubelis make the roster.