2023 Lithuanian NT

[Hepcat]

D. Giedraitis/Nirmantas, Radzevicius, Sirvydis, Tubelis

On the basis of their recent play I'd go with Matas Jogėla, Normantas, Radzevičius, Sirvydis and Tubelis.

[Straight forward]

So the rumor is that Sirvydis looks good with reserve NT. Exhibition will show more, but I think he's nearly a lock since Radzevicius out with an injury. Maybe Sirvydis can at least partially solve the lack of true shooters since Grigonis out. It's good that Tubelis will join NT. If he won't prevail against Maldunas and Tarolis it will be very disappointing case let's face both latter guys are not even close to be true NT material and definitely have no future. The lack of such defenders as Butkevicius, Radzevicius at 3 will force Maksvytis to push Sedekerskisa at 3 when he will need more defense and hopefully these days Kuzminskas feels more natural at 4.

I see 4 main problems of this upcoming NT. No proper back up PG (most annoying to me). Lack of true shooters (lack of Grigonis). Lack of defensive glue guys (Butkevicius), no definite answers at 4 (specially if Sedekerskis will have to play 3 a lot).

Nevertheless I'm very satisfied with the outcome. At some point it seemed like it's gonna be complete collapse. Now we have obvious leaders, solid role players and a chance to incorporate new young talent.

My pre-exibition stage prediction of final roster is this:

Jokubaitis, D. Giedraitis
Brazdeikis, Dimsa, M. Normantas
Sedekerskis, Sirvydis
Kuzminskas, Tubelis, Bendzius
Valanciunas, Motiejunas

I just refuse to incorporate Kariniauskas, even if he has basically red carpet under current conditions being the only nominal PG after Jokubaitis (assuming coaches will afraid to go with 21yo Marciulionis as a back up for still 22yo Jokubaitis). I hate the idea of such players running the NT.

[Straight forward]

I wanted to say that it's the first time when NT truly draw all possible young talent to the NT that deserve it, but somehow Velicka slipped (strange that no-one from media asked about this). Rubstavicius declined the invitation and that's it for now. All others who had to be invited are invited.

[Straight forward]

I think it's time to take a closer look at this. A smell a big bandwagon fans once Sirvydis will get hot in one of these friendly games:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dqJqHfr1rA&ab_channel=BasketNews%E2%80%A4LT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnwIJ5RQ0Gw&ab_channel=NBAGLeague

[Straight forward]

I think it's time to take a closer look at this. A smell a big bandwagon fans once Sirvydis will get hot in one of these friendly games:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dqJqHfr1rA&ab_channel=BasketNews%E2%80%A4LT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnwI...nel=NBAGLeague

Sirvuha the biggest enigma in LTU basketball this summer. He can really go from being meh to being an X factor of EB. It's good that he'll get properly exposed in those 2 first games. All eyes on him generally. From recent workouts I like his physical development. He added strength, but remained agile and flexible:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhYxgD2P9Vg&ab_channel=Richardsskills

[Hepcat]

So the rumor is that Sirvydis looks good with reserve NT. Exhibition will show more, but I think he's nearly a lock since Radzevicius out with an injury. Maybe Sirvydis can at least partially solve the lack of true shooters since Grigonis out. It's good that Tubelis will join NT. If he won't prevail against Maldunas and Tarolis it will be very disappointing case let's face both latter guys are not even close to be true NT material and definitely have no future. The lack of such defenders as Butkevicius, Radzevicius at 3 will force Maksvytis to push Sedekerskisa at 3 when he will need more defense and hopefully these days Kuzminskas feels more natural at 4.[

I see 4 main problems of this upcoming NT. No proper back up PG (most annoying to me). Lack of true shooters (lack of Grigonis). Lack of defensive glue guys (Butkevicius), no definite answers at 4 (specially if Sedekerskis will have to play 3 a lot).

I agree. While it's tough for me to be optimistic at this point, we'll see.

My pre-exibition stage prediction of final roster is this:

Jokubaitis, D. Giedraitis
Brazdeikis, Dimsa, M. Normantas
Sedekerskis, Sirvydis
Kuzminskas, Tubelis, Bendzius
Valanciunas, Motiejunas

I just refuse to incorporate Kariniauskas, even if he has basically red carpet under current conditions being the only nominal PG after Jokubaitis (assuming coaches will afraid to go with 21yo Marciulionis as a back up for still 22yo Jokubaitis). I hate the idea of such players running the NT.

Uggghhhh. I can't let you continue spouting nonsense about Dovis Giedraitis unchallenged. On my part I hate the idea of such players as D. Giedraitis being anywhere near the national team let alone at a key position at which they don't normally play. The 0.8 EFF Giedraitis registered over an average of 8:30 minutes per Euroleague game in 2022-23 is why he got only the 8:30 minutes of court time per game from his coach. And 4.6 EFF over an average of 15:54 minutes per LKL game isn't exactly impressive either. He may have the potential to get better of course. If and when he does, I'll change my mind.

But why you keep touting him bewilders me. (I'm not impressed by scout speak, good release, good first step, etc.) Yeah, yeah, he has a good game every once in a while but so what? You can't extrapolate from a good game while ignoring a multitude of bad ones. Effectiveness/quality comes out in the numbers over time.

[Shawshank]

From most podcasters they see same 9 players as locks

Jokubaitis,Kariniauskas
Brazdeikis,Dimsa,Normantas
Kuzminskas
Sedekerskis
Valanciunas,Motiejunas

This top 9 men playoofs group is weakest LTU NT main group since when? 2009?


remaining 3 tourists places can go manny diffrent ways and every summer tradition for ltu fans will begin guess who will be 10,11 or 12th bench player


Did Zemaitis,Zukauskas,Echodas played big roles in eurobasket 2022? basically none , final result its all about NT top 8-9 playoofs guys

[Straight forward]

Kariniauskas, Normantas locks...god help us...Specially Kariniauskas...I'm sure Sirvydis is searching NKL market heavily or Romania's leagues market..

Our playoffs run will be huge if we are counting on Kariniauskas and Normantas. Serious take.

In my opinion this roster is on the same tier with 2017 roster and it could even be better depending on how good will be role players as Sedekerskis, D-Mo (who should be better than in 2017 when he was out of shape generally), Kuzminskas, Sirvydis.

Hepcat, bro, BB is not stats, it's actual performance. You can't measure D or BB IQ by stats.

[Straight forward]

Kariniauskas in FIBA WC 2023 qualifaction 4 games - 5.5ppg, 4apg, 32% FG (20% threes) in 19mpg. I'm sorry, but I can't see how can Marciulionis be worse than that. Or even anyone from Giedraitis, Dimsa, Normantas playing at 1 in these minutes.

Normantas didn't do much better in qualification. 5.8ppg, 35.7% FG, 6.1eff in 18 minutes.

That's our playoffs material...At least Normantas plays some D and hustles. IDK what Kariniauskas do.

PS: I'm not saying they won't make. I say it's funny to call them locks and some reliable options for PO. They barely could play in FIBA windows.

Rubstavicius outplayed both in 13mpg, with 7ppg, 6.5eff and 71% from the field.

[Shawshank]

When all of them says same things that make living from writting,talking about basketball they cant be all wrong

But that such lkl players is locks it shows how weak 2023 NT is.


2017 had peak nba Kuzminskas version , Ulanovas best tournament, Kalnietis was only 31 and one year from averaging 18pts in olympics,Dmo was still moving his feet in 2017.

I take 2017 overall this very average NT of 2023


There are reasons why Sirvydis and Giedraitis are in student camp and Normantas,Dimsa,Kariniauskas in main camp right now.

[Straight forward]

They are not locks. Just as Dimsa wasn't lock last summer. Maksvytis will have a tough decision. Last season he took a scrub Zemaitis just to have another nominal PG? How much that helped? Off course we had Grigonis who played with the ball a lot, and even Lekavicius, so the situation was different, but I still don't think Kariniauskas and Normantas are entirely locks. Kariniausaks will have to show something against stronger opponents during the exhibition stage...

Ulanovas was rather mediocre in 2017, he had his best tournament in 2019 with 10eff. Motiejunas actually was really bad in 2017, completely out of shape. Couldn't do anything. Was just a shadow of himself after chaotic years without much of basketball basically after fatal injury in 2015. Now he has been playing at higher level last 2 season in EL. His legs was all gone after 2015. Actually now he probably still can move better than 2017 cause he has been working a lot on his physical status and was taking care of himself tremendously. Don't expect much, but he should be better than his pathetic 4,7eff in 2017. Kalnietis on the decline compared to 2016.

3 leaders - Kalnas, JV, Kuzminskas + solid role players in Maciulis, Ulanovas, Juskevicius.

3 leaders - Jokubaitis, JV, Brazdeikis + solid role players in Sedekerskis, D-Mo, Kuzminskas, Dimsa, Sirvydis (I think Sirvydis will surprise people in terms of his current level).

Both teams to me more or less on the same tier.

[Shawshank]

From Dimsa,Kariniauskas,Normantas only 1 dimsa should have made the team in 2022

Now in 2023 backourt is so limited that people who living from basketball are predicting all 3 will make it.


Guards decide 70% of team results in 2020s basketball.Thats why im calling this very average NT , worst since 2009.


I dont believe coaches would put players they see in final roster in tottaly diffrent camp that would make no sense.

In order for Sirvydis or Giedraitis make the team they obviuosly have to look way better and show coaches that they were wrong about them.


Sirvydis is shooter type player that doesnt do anything more well. He is enigma nobody has any clue what kinda level is,but history for rookies at shooting is bad in first NT summer.

I would believe way more that Giedraitis defensively will help NT than Sirvydis will make shots in his first summer with NT.

[Straight forward]

It is simply much more open than most people expected. If we had Grigonis, Lekavicius there wouldn't be much talk about the backcourt...Maybe 1 unknown piece. Now we miss plenty of players in 1-3 positions.

Sirvydis becomes very realistic because of Butkevicius and Radzevicius losses alone...He's like the only pure 3 in the roster now and NT badly lacking shooters. So basically a red carpet...He already played solid minutes in Eurpcup for 2 years before leaving Rytas. In the Summer League NBA he was dropping 15ppg. That's not easy to do as we know. Around 4 EL clubs were interested in him after that. We'll just have to wait and see.

As for Giedraitis, his main weapon is that he's the best perimeter defender in the country now. Like guarding small agile guards. I don't see how can we exclude this when "guards decide 70% of the team results". And what EL PO showed and LKL final that he's not shitting his pants and can make shots. If I'm the coach, to me Giedraitis with his stellar D and more consistent decision making is more reliable than say Normantas who is very streaky at all what he does, even defense...

[Shawshank]

Summer league is a joke not real basketball, everybody there shoots just to shoot.

Guarding small guards I agree, but guarding multiple position players not just small guards Dimsa and Normantas simply have better bodies for that

Not every NT even have that small guard.2 main possible opponents in 2023 Greece and Serbia dont even have such type, after Sloukas is out.


I repeat coaches desicion putting Sirvydis and Giedraitis in other camp makes zero sense if coaching staff would see them in top 9 playoofs rotation

Radzevicius and Sajus got injury and coaches calling to main camp not Sirvydis,not Jogela but 2 PF-C types instead?

That's says to me coaches sees more problems in frontcourt positions than SF.

My guess they see Brazdeikis,Sedekerskis,Kuzminskas filling SF position minutes in main top 9 playoffs rotation

[LuDux]

Radzevicius and Sajus got injury and coaches calling to main camp not Sirvydis,not Jogela but 2 PF-C types instead?

That's says to me coaches sees more problems in frontcourt positions than SF.

My guess they see Brazdeikis,Sedekerskis,Kuzminskas filling SF position minutes in main top 9 playoffs rotation

JV will join later so they need big bodies for training more than SF. And Sirvydis needs playing practice on FIBA court