2023 Lithuanian NT

[Dreamcatcher]

Why Ulanovas is crippled? He didn't miss a single game in EL this season.

[Straight forward]

Why Ulanovas is crippled? He didn't miss a single game in EL this season.

I meant that he can't handle both season and the summer with NT. He needs empty summer to be able somehow (with a lot whining and frustration) to handle club season.

[Shawshank]

2024 Olympic qualification tournament starts in 12 months

Todays under 23 youngsters have zero chance to be even close to be ready win olympic qualification tournament


Coaches obviuosly will go with that 1992-1996 group 28-32 old experienced euroleague/nba players that give best fighting chance.


Even federations machinator Balciunas understands that and openly says in interviews now is that group time ,i can bet NT coaches/federation will try to bring 2022 gang back to olympic qualification tournament

Wouldnt be suprised even persona like Ulanovas will think long about playing in 2024 summer because that his last chance for Olympics.



Rettooling/refreshing roster new NT head coach will start after Olympics as always

[Straight forward]

My post wasn't about what's gonna happen in 2024. My post was about - what the fuck has been happening with LTU basketball for last 14 years...

[Shawshank]

Small 2,5 million country is loosing tallent battle to big countries that open their basketball academies 20-25 years ago and we see results last 10 years


Even average coach will find more diamonds in 5 million kids pool than very good coach will at minimum 10 times smaller pool


Competion level is very high in 2020s with multiple modern nba players on rosters

[Dreamcatcher]

I meant that he can't handle both season and the summer with NT. He needs empty summer to be able somehow (with a lot whining and frustration) to handle club season.

I think he simply doesn't want.

[Straight forward]

Small 2,5 million country is loosing tallent battle to big countries that open their basketball academies 20-25 years ago and we see results last 10 years


Even average coach will find more diamonds in 5 million kids pool than very good coach will at minimum 10 times smaller pool


Competion level is very high in 2020s with multiple modern nba players on rosters

As I understand Lithuanian basketball was at the top in 80s with Jovaisa, Chomicius, Kurtinaitis and already good Sabonis, Marciulionis. Then it keep being good in 90s and 00s. And then the decline in 10's. There's a good chance that in 70s Lithuanian basketball was also good with Paulauskas, Jovaisa and some others (not a specialist though). If that's true, we had an elite basketball for 4 decades and only in 10's a decline. We should be coming back to the top in the second half of 20's, so, again, 10s is an exception that should be studied closely.

10s may be just a simple fluke when we didn't develop any elite guards. Also we didn't have elite coach for majority of the time. Only 2013-1016 stretch. Elite coach wouldn't hurt.

[LuDux]

We had lots of players in Soviet NT until 1957 (Then Stonkus was 2nd in scoring). Paulauskas played 65-73. Jovaisa and Chomicius made debuts in late 70s. Basically we had one elite player for almost quarter of century

[Straight forward]

Fact is 80s, 90s, 00s stacked. 10's not. 20s should be stacked too. And the way things developing I think it will have continuation for 30s, at least first half.

[Shawshank]

Before claiming and dreaming that lithuanian basketball making comeback maybe lets start with making top8 1/4 game first time since 2016 ?


so far this ale stacked 2020s decade started just horribly 2021 shit,2022 shit 2023 will be shit


2010s decade started way better with unforgetable 2010 team that group brought 2 more medals later on.


Somehow im not seeing that 2020s results way being any better but its just me.

[Straight forward]

It's not a dream. The talent (prospects) are there. We never had so many high level prospects in all positions basically. But not sooner than second half of decade. NT should be stacked in 2027 and 2028. I see France still having couple of non EL players in roster 2023. I think from 2027 there won't be such players on LTU roster.

It's normal that the decade starts better or worse. Usually we start strong like in 90s - 92, 95, 96. In 00s we were even the best European NT in 2000-2004 stretch (despite the choke in 04, I think we had the most talented and best scoring power NT, we took down USA, complete trashed and demoralized stacked Greece), but finished the decade relatively poorly. Everyone who watched 2000 Olympics knows that Lithuania, not France, was the second best NT of Olympics and we contested USA as no-one else before ever. So this stretch is probably the best for Lithuania, cause we were the best NT in Europe. Better than Spain that we beat in 2003 EB final. In 10's also good start, but crappy second half (the key here however, that we can't get to top 4 in Olympics, obvious decline).

I'm not projecting that we gonna get medals necessary in 2027, 2028, but I project that we will have the team which will be able to go against anybody for realistic aim for winning, including A USA team, like we did in 2000 and 2004. Semis should be the goal minimum for that team, even knowing how competitive and deep FIBA competition became.

[Shawshank]

Im still sure how 2000 olympics will help NT will win basketball games in 2020s decade


Im projecting that u living in the past and simply refusing see reality what happend in last 10 years


Im sorry dude but with all those projections how every tallented kid will become euroleague star and NT will again comeback to great times suddenly from 10 years being nowhere its fans illusions not reality

[Dreamcatcher]

I project that we will have the team which will be able to go against anybody for realistic aim for winning, including A USA team, like we did in 2000 and 2004. Semis should be the goal minimum for that team, even knowing how competitive and deep FIBA competition became.

Are you obsessed with those talents or what. It's simply crazy and out of the world.

[Straight forward]

Im sorry dude but with all those projections how every tallented kid will become euroleague star and NT will again comeback to great times suddenly from 10 years being nowhere its fans illusions not reality

So your logic is: if we are bad today for 10 years, it's gonna be like that forever? Legit logic, indeed dude...

If there's prospects I see them (some will emerge from no-where being super late bloomers as always as R. Giedraitis or Butkevicius who now seem mediocre too), If there's none or just scrubs, I will point that out too. I say what I see, that's all. Some won't prevail, maybe their dedication will be different, but we have to many legit ones not to expect good things. I have no doubt that's the deepest prospect pool historically.

What I don't see it is an elite defensive big man, like sure fire as young Javtokas. I don't see shooters of Macijauskas, Stombergas level. I also not sure we will have as reliable and good stretch 4s as Kleiza or the same K. Lavrinovic were (main candidates for now Murauskas and Buzelis while I treat Kulboka too soft).

But many good players will prevail from all this new wave. Some of them will be EL stars (primarily candidates are Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius, Jakucionis, Indrusaitis, Murauskas, but Iggy and Lelevicius may also have that upside), few NBA players (at least Buzelis for sure), and tons of quality EL role players.

PS 1: Now, interesting question - would Kleiza today be first rounder or even drafted at all? In college he was shooting only 29% threes. He looked pretty heavy and needed to polish himself more to become reliable SF for NBA standards. Knowing how Vukcevic stands only at 44 spot today with terrific jumshot, I don't know how many teams would risk on college Kleiza profile. Here's the story what was happening with Kleiza in draft year and first seasons with The Nuggets:

Kleiza showed great touch and potential as a small forward in terms of skill set, but needed to re-shape his body and work on gaining the quickness and court awareness necessary to play full time on the perimeter. Over the past two seasons, Kleiza has really molded himself into a valuable wing player for the Nuggets.

https://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Linas-Kleiza-168/

PS 2: Buika resembles Grigonis at magnificent level indeed. That comparison came earlier here from a guy who didn't stick here, but he was absolutely right. There's a lot of similarities in Buika's overall profile, even their shooting mechanics are very familiar. Probably the upside may be rather similar too.

[Hepcat]

Butkevicius is injured and is out too

Lekavicius,Grigonis,Giedraitis,Butkevicius,Ulanova s,Gudaitis,Sabonis 6 euroleague players and 1 nba player OUT

Balciunas again gonna come and talk his nonsenses how younger and more hungry players will replace 6 out of top 10 curent best ltu players and NT will fight for highest positions

Oh groan. Very depressing.