2023 Lithuanian NT

[Hepcat]

Here's a table of the comparative performance of the top players over the three games:

PLAYER	POSITION	MINUTES	EFF
Ignas Sargiūnas	PG/SG	21	18.3
Matas Jogėla	SG/SF	19	15.0
Einaras Tubutis	PF	19	14.7
Laurynas Beliauskas	SG	20	14.7
Augustas Marčiulionis	PG	20	14.3
Deividas Sirvydis	SG/SF	19	11.7
Danielius Lavrinovičius	PF/C	17	7.6
Dovydas Giedraitis	PG/SG	19	8.3

Sargiūnas and Beliauskas outshone Giedraitis by miles.

In an effort to understand the thinking of the coaching staff I decided to undertake the exercise of comparing the play of Ignas Sargiūnas with the play of Dovydas Giedraitis over a longer and thus more statistically significant period of time. The most exact and thus best comparison available is their averages per game from the 2021-22 LKL season:

PLAYER	GM	MIN	PTS	2PT%	3PT%	FT%	AS	ST	T/O	EFF
Sargiūnas	29	26:49	12.4	55.8	29.6	84.8	3.0	1.3	2.9	11.2
Giedraitis	36	22:43	8.0	53.7	39.6	85.0	2.5	0.8	1.3	7.9

The only measures in which Giedraitis looks better are ball security, i.e. turnovers, and three point shooting accuracy. Sargiūnas three point accuracy was in fact so low in the 2021-22 season that I'm tempted to label him more than a bit of a chucker which perhaps gives us a clue to the thinking of the coaching staff. But then again if they wanted to eschew chuckers, why did they take Deividas Sirvydis who's been toiling in a league which encourages chucking for the past three seasons? Their thinking still still doesn't make any sense to me.

What's clear though is that the three players who graduated to the main camp were preselected before the friendlies against Jordan.

[Hepcat]

But when it comes to guarding true agile skilled guards 1-2 positions then D. Giedraitis is the best in the country. He's the stickiest, most agile and flexible, highest IQ, most consistent with it. Dimsa and Normantas cover more positions with their D presence, like 1-3, because of their better size, which give them the edge in terms of completeness, but they are slightly inferior at guarding pure guards in comparison with Giedraitis.

So you're saying that Dovis Giedraitis is sufficiently sticky to defend a quick and agile runt like Lukas Lekavičius. But Lithuania is about the only team that was desperate enough to field such a runt on its team! Certainly no other contending national team has done so in recent years.

Role players will get 5 minutes and coach will say just dont f*** up those couple minutes and help in anything you can and defend.

I like Jogela and Giedraitis as 5 minute deep bench players in 2023 for special matchups

Right now Giedraitis is just a poor man's Tomas Dimša. He has basically the same skill set as Dimša, but he's not nearly as good. Why then would you take Giedraitis?

[Straight forward]

I'm wondering if Tubelis is joining in 29. Very interesting to see this youngster. Sirvydis slightly disappointed me personally. Expected him to be more secure and consistent. Marciulionis exceeded expectation, looked very comfortable as true floor general, good D. Jogela slightly exceeded, looks really well. Now Tubelis left as an enigma.

Fun to see Iggy joining. He's personality, instantly gives more colors to the NT. Maksvytis says Ukraine game will be more to test those guys who compete with each other for the spots. Too bad Tubelis is not available. To me it's really important to solve small ball 5 option somehow (I would go with Tubelis if he well and Sedekerskis).

[Hepcat]

I agree. I'd like to see what Ąžuolas Tubelis can do in camp.

[Hepcat]

Taiwan asked few friendly games, so he just collected random team which would gladly go there.

Are you talking about the games in Taiwan on August 19th against Puerto Rico and August 22nd against Latvia?

[Shawshank]

Spain,Australia,Usa playing like 5 friendly games in total and have 3-4 seriuos opponents


LTU NT plays 10 friendly games and have like 3 seriuos opponents


Those elite NT dont waste half preparation time for 10-18th guys. Some of them just name 12 players and that it.

I agree with them what player can show in 2 weeks what he didnt show in 9months club season?


We making every summer reality show who will be 11th and 12th guy on the team and play marathon of friendly games

[Straight forward]

I agree with them what player can show in 2 weeks what he didnt show in 9months club season?

But look how people's attitude towards Marciulionis changed instantly with few games. Many people forgot about him and no-one talked about him. He came, got a chance and we see his actual level better.

I personally all in for testing the talent well and playing more games. Specially that we are not (at least yet) in position of France, USA in terms of having complete teams. They just take what they need and lock the roster. We yet are not in that position even if all players available. F.e. we don't have definite answers at 4, we don't have defensive 5, we don't have legitimate pure PG back-up. So we must keep searching to pieces to fill these positions.

[Straight forward]

Seems like no Tubelis. JV joined, but no Tubelis.

[Shawshank]

That u are in im sure,u writting about 15-25 best ltu players way more than about top 10 players that makes the diffrence in final result


There nothing about to talk for podcasters now so they searching ,real NT games will start and everybody will forget about those Marciulionis,Bieliauskas,Sargiunas performances againts joke Jordan NT.


Im telling what best NTs is doing.They dont waste time for uleb level players because they know its wont lead anywhere


After making all that reality show about 11-12th players, real tournament comes and our those 11-12 dont even play


I rather follow what elite NT does instead of this reality contest

[Straight forward]

Seems like no Tubelis. JV joined, but no Tubelis.

Corrections. Tubelis' agent Bulotas says that Tubelis had sprained ankles in both legs in Summer League, but should be ready to join NT camp at the beginning of next week most likely:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUz7fcFS_Yc&ab_channel=Delfi

[Shawshank]

So NT gonna wait 11-12th player like he would ale nba star Domas would come last one?


Inexperienced kid have zero clue about Maskvytis playing systems and he will show up next week maybe?


Or Balciunas again not telling real truth about Tubelis health or making circus of NT camp like he did with reserve team.


Coach with bones like Kazlauskas would wish Tubelis together with Balciunas enjoy holidays and dont even dare to come close to my practise gym with such lazy attitude.


No wonder seeing new federation nonsenses right now , no bullshit coach like Kazlauskas managed to stay on same team with lieing manipulator Balciunas one year

And after that year coach said me or him.

[Hepcat]

I rather follow what elite NT does instead of this reality contest

Be nice of course to have such an elite NT.

So NT gonna wait 11-12th player like he would ale nba star Domas would come last one?

Inexperienced kid have zero clue about Maskvytis playing systems and he will show up next week maybe?

I agree.

[Straight forward]

L0L, dude, stop being pathetic old man Tubelis agent, Maksvytis both said Tubelis had to heal injuries. But yeah it's all big Balciunas conspiracy...can you be more pathetic than that?

[Shawshank]

From when exactly any NT is waiting so long for rookie like he would be main countries player? Thats why its smells Balciunas


Veterans Kuzminskas,Dmo is working hard to prepare last 2 weeks,nba player Valanciunas is around team since day 1 too. That trio needed least preparation,but they preparing seriuosly in order to be on same page with teammates.


NT is still waiting for rookie that have no history or experience playing for NT? so he will need way more time than other players to adapt .He will miss those first 2 games that is made for those rookies in the first place.


If such inexperience rookie also comming with some injury all this situation looks like anecdote and far from real players training that preparing to play in.world championships.

[Straight forward]

Maksvytis didn't bother with Marciulionis, meaning he doesn't see him as serious candidate. If he waits for Tubelis, he thinks he potentially can help. I think it shows he looks at at small ball 5 option serious. Let's face it, Smits at 5 was huge reason why Zalgiris had a good season in EL. Tubelis is most similar player to Smits from all Liths. Potentially that solves one of NT problems even for Olympic year. I understand why Maksvytis wants to test him. I smell Songailas 2000 case, specially for the next 2024 season. Tubelis played some in SL, but had sprained ankles, so he will come more or less in shape physically cause rehab was mixed with physical activity. Tubelis could join NT only in 28 by the rules. All seems logical to me. Im only disappointed that he won't be in his absolutely top shape from day 1, but his competition is freaking Maldunas...