2023 Lithuanian NT

[Shawshank]

Normantas may not look sexy, but if Brazdeikis is out, he's top-12, honest minutes of defense from bench material

Hopefully semifinals loss will change Giedraitis' decision

Worst case starting 5 material: 5 Valanciunas, 4/3 Kuzminskas, 3/2 Butkevicius, 1 Jokubaitis and 4 Sedekerskis/ 2 Dimša

This roster is not top 8 material

Who gonna score in 2 pts diffrence game endings in last 3 min?

In 2022 coaches went to Grigonis and Brazdeikis it still didnt worked , but in 2023 take 2 best LTU isolations scorers from 2022 team its simply looks very problematic

[Straight forward]

Normantas may not look sexy, but if Brazdeikis is out, he's top-12, honest minutes of defense from bench material

Yes, in that case he's most likely in. He may make it even if Brazdeikis in. All I'm saying his defence is slightly overrated. F.e. compared to such players as Dimsa, D. Giedraitis (not even mentioning Butkevicius) Normantas makes more mistakes reading the defence and more mental mistakes (tends to be too excited). In other words his ball game IQ is not as high. Also his lateral quickness is worse than these guys.

On the positive side, Normantas has sturdy body which allows him to stay even with 3s pretty well. And he's cheeky offensively. If he gets going he can bring offensive sparkle. But that comes once in three games essentially. That was his LKL playoffs campaign.

I feel like Maksvytis may have a hard time choosing between Normantas, D. Giedraitis, M. Rubstavicius, knowing how fast Rubstavicius is progressing. But this summer Normantas is more ready than Rubstavicius. In such tournaments defence really matters and Rubstavicius still needs to get stronger. So far Rubstavicius is slightly more efficient in LKL playoffs than Normantas.

I see Jokubaitis, Brazdeikis, Dimsa as locks and D. Giedraitis, M. Normantas as main candidates for guards section. (Marciulionis and Rubstavicius as candidates to be taken with a little credit looking for the future more).

PS: I see Jokubaitis, Brazdeikis, Dimsa, Butkevicius as main guards generally. Butkevicius will be used at 2 a lot under such circumstances.

[Shawshank]

Current betting odds to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup:

USA -180
FRA +1100
AUS +1100
ESP +1200
CAN +1300
SER +1600
SLO +1600
GRE +2700
GER +4200
ITA +5500


international bookies dont see ltu even in top 10 and thats with Sabonis not confirming that he wont play

its seems next decade will be if LTU NT plays 1/4 makes top8 its good tournament

[Straight forward]

It's all logical for 2023.

[Straight forward]

According to O, Dangau! podcast (somehow missed any other sources) Eimantas Bendžius returns to the NT. Does he has a spot? I have big doubts. On other hand, another forward who can shoot which is good fit for NT if Sabonis comes. I would actually try to build around more defensively aware players instead of going with soft shooters, but that's one of the ways to construct NT. Put guys like Kuzminskas, Bendzius, Sirvydis, Dimsa around Sabonis and see what happens. If threes falling, it may look very well offensively.

[Shawshank]

Grigonis,Ulanovas,Lekavicius,Giedraitis is out

According to Pakenas that have his inside sources says that

Sabonis,Brazdeikis,Gudaitis also more out than in from what he is hearing


Federation president Gedvilas comes to media and telling people : Players that will not come this summers isn't effecting NT results

[Straight forward]

Yeah, Pakenas knows what Sabonis gonna do...

[LuDux]

Grigonis,Ulanovas,Lekavicius,Giedraitis is out

According to Pakenas that have his inside sources says that

Sabonis,Brazdeikis,Gudaitis also more out than in from what he is hearing


Federation president Gedvilas comes to media and telling people : Players that will not come this summers isn't effecting NT results

Your Soviet mentality is distorting reality. His excellence didn't say that. He said that absence of Sabonis theoretically may affect results a tiny little bit, maybe

[Shawshank]

Yeah, Pakenas knows what Sabonis gonna do...

what is bigger chance that Domas would decide to come not fully healthy for A.Sabonis as federation president to play or after president Gedvilas fake phone call ?

[Shawshank]

if talking about soviet mindset is hard to find more clear soviet mindset example than Lithuanian basketball federation president Gedvilas

He talks non stop his dream talks when he gets microphone that even his partner in crime Balciunas rolls his eyes sometimes sitting near him

[Straight forward]

what is bigger chance that Domas would decide to come not fully healthy for A.Sabonis as federation president to play or after president Gedvilas fake phone call ?

Yeah, all what current federation do is fake phone calls and media tricks

Sure, dad would push his son to play with the injury. Would force him to do that...

[LuDux]

if talking about soviet mindset is hard to find more clear soviet mindset example than Lithuanian basketball federation president Gedvilas

That's the joke

[Shawshank]

There is injuries where players can play and injuries where they no way he can. Domas injury is more from first example



Federation works with head coach and asks him what players u would like to see in NT camp.Head coach send the list and federation job is bring as much of those names as possible.

Federation hired i believe Chomicius for that to go in middle season and visit NT players


But i believe Chomicius was busy doing selfies/making short video for federation site than doing real heart to heart talks with players themselfs.


Bringing less than 50% of top 10 current players they all must be fired. But that not how world works we already start hearing Gedvilas talks how those players is not deciding NT result and so on

Cheap media tricks when work is done badly started and will come more in next 2 months

[Straight forward]

Conspiracy theory prone superstitious conservatives...may favorite kind of people in Lithuania

Yeah, Grigonis back issues, Sabonis broken thumb, Ulanovas being a nutcase winner (though still legendary 92 hero) is all huge conspiracy...

[Straight forward]

Compare awkward, lazy, bitching, talking back Ulanovas as Zalgiris captain with Jankunas... What a decline.