2024 Lithuanian NT

[Shawshank]

Looking how Sumner offensive 1vs1 brilliance light up entire arena,watched all season long Evans tough shot making to 2million contract offers.

Saw how D.Giedraitis or Dimsa struglled to score in switching defence versus opponents centers and later click on Barcelona and Olimpiakos games. Brazdeikis DNP,Jokubaitis got couple minutes and their coaches clearly dont trust their desicion making especially in euroleague away chalenging games


Euroleague stats after 30+ games


M.Grigonis 10,3pts 61made 3pointer on 44,2%

R.Giedraitis 10,1pts 43 made 3pointers on 35.8%


R.Jokubaitis 5,7pts 12 made 3pointer on 30%

I.Brazdeikis 3,7pts 6made 3pointer on 20,7%

T.Dimsa 6,6pts 37made 3pointers on 38,1%

D.Giedraitis 4,5pts 21 made 3pointers on 43,8%

L.Lekavicius 5,1pts 21 made 3pointer on 42%



Grigonis all season long plays only SF without a ball. R.Giedraitis also play basically only SF this season


All best Lithuania guards who played PG-SG this season in Euroleague averages just from 3,5 to 6,6 pts per game


Simply sad situation with best lithuanian guards offensive tallents .

[Straight forward]

Jokubaitis would be 14pts, 7as player in Zalgiris, 13-16eff. Brazdeikis would be 14pts player with 10-12eff.

But, yeah, at the moment it's not enough as for LTU.

[Straight forward]

We have a trashy coach. That has to be said openly. After Italian took over Zalgiris is completely, I mean completely different team in EL and it's sustainable. Then Maksvytis screwed in windows, not being able to utilize any of Sirvydis (best scorer of Eurocup) and Tubelis who totally dominate LKL. Totally. Maksvytis off course is preoccupied with Maldunases who are trash even in LKL (4eff points in last 5 games). It's nothing but horrible. Maksvytis has been stuffing NT with scrubs and ignoring the talent with the eyes of the big. No wonder he got booed by LTU fans. It's disgusting and low and frustrating. Such provincials and limited minded coaches as Maksvytis shouldn't be allowed to coach NT. He simply can't handle it. Mentality wise he's Neptunas/Juventus/Lietkabelis level coach and never will be anything else. He just works with scrubs and that's his water and bread. He doesn't know any better and can't handle anything better than that. Period.

Maksvytis has to go. Even if he would win a medal in Olympics (which is not happening) and would stay, his legacy would still be way more harmful for LTU basketball than positive if he stays for another 4 years. He already did tons of shit and harm for the NT long term, it's even hard to count. It's would be a tragedy for NT if he continues.

[zalias]

i think maksvytis simple basketball is fine for short national team tournaments. if there was a better option then sure get rid of him, but considering lkf will always go for lithuanian coaches he might be the best option available

[Straight forward]

I disagree. His roster selection has been horrible. He wasted tons of talent as Sedas, Sirvydis, D. Giedraitis, Marciulionis, Tubelis, Rubstavicius. He never is able to close games (in Zalgiris too). His decisions in LTU vs Spain game was bad, specially throwing JV in to OT and putting Brazdeikis to guard perimeter while Brown already was on a feasting mode. That decision alone killed NT.

Current NT needed precise push talent wise in certain positions and tighter grip tactics wise, specially in crunch time, and Maksvytis exactly can't offer that.

Nore Butautas, nore Sireika, Kemzura, Adomaitis ever wasted as much talent as Maksvytis already did and he will continue to do that as we seen in windows. I tend to treat his coaching as the worst ever thus far.

[Straight forward]

I don't see how any other mediocre scrub could me meaningfully worse as we have a fundamental issues with Maksvytis now and continuation will only increase current problems. I would want Jasikevius or elite foreigner off course, but I would accept Adomaitis any minute too. No way he would be so bad with roster and talent, at least.

[Dreamcatcher]

considering lkf will always go for lithuanian coaches he might be the best option available

That's the point. When i see that Balciunas considers Zibenas as a good and promising coach and doesn't want to listen about foreigners i get afraid a bit.

[Straight forward]

We have to admit that in coaching we are under-developed and suck. Denying this will only hurt. Thus we have to take foreigner if Sara's not available to show how the work is done and that young coaches could learn from him. It's really sad, but but have to admit. Repeating 'we have our own strong coaches' is stupid and harmful. We have one elite coach and none other is even close.

[zalias]

i doubt adomaitis will ever go back to coaching the national team after all of the hate he got, im sure he's happier coaching in japan where no one bothers him.

[Straight forward]

So Tubelis carries Neptunas to another win over Liekabelis. Another huge 26eff game. And Maksvytis' stud Maldunas with 0eff. I mean...It's literally inexcusable. Maksvytis has to go. Maksvytis literally was treating Tubelis as a scub and Maldunas as a stud while Tubelis is 3-4 times better player, easily. It's fucking pathetic and when Maksvytis in press comf said that "I'm sorry, but it's nonsense" when asked the reasons of being booed, I can say it was 100% and plus deserved. Eat that to your deepest bone Makvytis. Tired with this provincial scrub and shit that he does with the NT.

Maldunas played almost 18min. against Poland, Tubelis 3min. Then Maksvytis loses the game against Estonia, official freakin' game, Tubelis the most efficient big in the game with 14eff, but he is being thrown only in the middle of second quarter when Lithuania already down -10 pts. It's unexusable.

I'm not even talking about Blazevic who was started only because he was OLDER. Literally. The guys sucked balls as hell. I mean he couldn't play, a nightmare, it was all obvious, but Maksvytis kept him starting just because the guys is older. This is plain stupid. Hands down idiotic. Blazevic literally had 0 eff in both games against Poland and Estonia, but Maksvytis simply kept starting him because that's his fucking mindset. This guy is older, I start him. This guy is vet so I take him, who cares that he's 3 times worse than a young talent, I'm fucking ID nutcase coach...

I'm sorry, but I can't stand this shit. And Maksvytis managed to lose against Estonia while Lithuania had Ulanovas, Dimsa, Lekavicius, Normantas and well a scrub (LKL MVP) Tubelis...

Passport coach should go. Tired and sick with him. Look how amazing now Neptunas looks with foreign coach. The ball is moving, the team fired up, hustling. Tubelis actually playing D and that's all about Georgios Vovoras. Under Brazys Tubelis was sleeping in D, just like all Neptunas team. I'm sick and tired with provincial scrubby coaches in the NT. This has became fucking nightmare. If we can't have a fucking normal coach who would at least have somel common sense (prioritizing LKL MVP instead of Maldunas would be a good start), I don't really understand what's going on with LTU basketball.

[Straight forward]

Dovydas Giedraitis is a game changer. He locked Rytas tonight. The main aggression was coming from Foster, he was super active and looking to lead the game in various was and multiple attempts and yet there was Giedraitis in front of him. He shut him down. That's it. It made the game. And whoever Giedraitis happened to guard in certain situation, he caused trouble.

If Maksvytis still has any adequacy in his bag, which is really a question these days, he should pack Giedraitis to Puerto Rico with A class. He can be the key player of Lithuania qualifying to Olympics. Whenever it's volume scoring midgets of Puerto Rico, or Italia's Divinzenco, he's No.1 guy to throw on them.

I sincerely bet that if it was Giedraitis thrown of Bogdanovic or Avramovic in the game against Serbia, we had played much better and much competitive game than we did. Nothing shorter than that. The loss wouldn't had been that bad.

[Straight forward]

I will say this. Lithuanian community was too sleepy on D. Giedraitis. He was really really good in ACB being 20-21yo in ACB. He was already elite defender, good decision maker and solid shooter and I preached to pay proper attention (which off course LTU coaches didn't) and I was right. Then when I followed Sirvydis in G League, I knew he can offer great things and will be very good player in Europe. People doubt that while I never doubted Sirvydis is a baller. Later I said that people who were saying Tubelis would be just a bench player of Rytas bluh bluh are wrong. I knew Tubelis instantly would be a beast in LKL, MVP anywhere aside Zalgiris (and even in Zalgiris he would have monster games in LKL already).

Now I clearly see what's going on with Augustas Marciulionis. He would instantly become the best LKL PG if today he would play there. Depsite Lekavicius hitting his shots against Rytas, I don't like my eye test on his physicality already. He started to decline physically. It's visible by eye test. He's not as explosive and fast as he used to be. Velicka turns the ball over and he doesn't have elite IQ and is not as good defender. Kariniauskas is a scrub and I always will say that. He barely can play and that always was the case except one season and he's the most overrated LTU PG of all time. No other scrub made NT Olympic and WC team in history. His 4.8/2.2 (LKL) and 3.5/2.3 as/tos ratio (Eurocuo) is trash. Zemaitis is meh. Mediocre by all means. Bickauskas lacking more expressed facilitation and overall offensive versatility. Janavicius is too old to be consistent at this age and also has certain limitations offensively which he never was able to fully overcome in his career. Marciulionis today is the second best PG in the country after Jokubaitis. I say this and I have no doubt I'm right on this again.

And I will say one more thing. Rubstavicius any minute is much better player in the NT than R. Giedraitis. No doubt. Book it. He would be much more efficient scorer, way better passer and incomparably superior in terms of absorbing the contact inside and making contact lay ups.


All these 5 players should be in the camp. If it's not the case, Maksvytis is sleeping on talent again and wasting NT coach position again and hurts LTU basketball. ATM I have him as the worst NT ever. No-one else ever made so much harm and wasted so much talent than Maksvytis did in 2.5 years. However you watch Garastas, Kazlauskas, Sireika, Kemzura, Adomaitis and even Butautas (he took 22yo Maciulis in for 2007 EB which wasn't necessary, but he still did it, even though later he screwed with 2009 EB and was on Maksvytis mode) were not wasting so much talent and were not so miserable in terms of constructing the roster and bring all sorts of trash and cringe in terms of NT memebers (Cizauskas, Griciunas, Zukauskas, Maldunas and so on and on). Even if I think Butautas was on the same tier being bad as Maksvytis and even similarly cringey (Prekevicius into 2008 OG, braught on his own srubs), he still get away with better results winning medal and reaching semis in 2008 OG. Adomaitis at least didn't make any absolutely cringey moves regarding roster selection. He wasn't selecting absolute scrubs and his 2019WC campaign is slightly underrated, he really took a lot from very mediocre roster. Just look how Lekavicius alone played under him and super mediocre backcourt of Lekavicius, Grigonis and washed out Kalnietis almost took down France and Australia. Maksvytis so far is the worst coach overall and I've seen enough in these 2.5 years to be completely disgust with him and his pathetic scrub choices. The way he handled FIBA window was the bottom. When NT coach gets booed (first time in NT history), boy, we have a problem...Being clueless alert.

I don't think this will be the roster of NT this summer (Maksvytis or any other mediocre LTU coach simply wouldn't have balls to do, and I don't know if any coach would have to cut JV), but that's the most logical thing to do and I'll explain why:

PG: Jokubaitis, Marciulionis

Even when Lekavicius scores, he's too vulnerable defensively these days. And his scoring profile declined. I want to see Marciulionis physical and defensive presence. IMO, that's a must.

SG: Grigonis, Brazdeikis, D. Giedraitis

We bring 2 best offensive and one best defensive shooting guard. Knowing that Sirvydis can play some 2 as well, there's no need of one single more offensive player. If Grigonis or Brazdeikis out, consider Rubstavicius higly. IMO, he's better than R. Giedraitis, Dimsa, Normantas offensively already. He's ready to be higher level role player at the highest level. His offensive efficiency is staggering (61% and 43% in physical Australia's league), his ability to attack close outs is unmatched and he has more ISO game and explosiveness already than these 3 average players mentioned.

SF: Ulanovas, Butkevicius, Sirvydis

Since I don't believe Buzelis will come, I think these 3 players should be in.

PF: Sedekerskis, Kuzminskas

We need Kuzminskas and his shooting at 4. To stretch the floor and run to transition. And this position is the reason why I think Tubelis should already be in. He can play the 4, he can run the floor as deer and he can even try to spread the floor.

C: Sabonis, Tubelis

I know JV won't be cut, but that would be most logical option. If there's Sabonis, there's nothing JV can offer which Sabonis can't do it. Sabonis brings fundamentals, post game and much more. Tubelis bring energy and even higher tempo off the bench, and more shooting than Domas/JV at 5. He showed he can play D when he wants to too. Valanciunas can score, but he slows the game down and defensively he struggles. Milutinov ate him alive in WC and Milutinov was better player overall in the tournament. That's when you know JV is done. He can't guard nobody and he's slower and slower. Now he will be taken only because of name, but he has been contra productive for a long time now. Tubelis is the only true 5/4 guy on the roster. That's why it would be logical decision. That would be the move towards modern basketball and we would play faster with a better defence.

Knowing Maksvytis, we will see something like that:

Jokubaitis, Lekavicius/Kariniauskas
Grigonis, Brazdeikis, Dimsa
Ulanovas, Butkevicius, Kuzminskas
Sedekerskis, Bendzius
Sabonis, Valanciunas

He will inevitably will fill the holes with mediocrity. He will waste yet another NT season, locking him down as the worst NT coach in history. That's the most realistic scenario when Maskvytis under the rule and he will make zero impact for the brighter future.

[Shawshank]

Neptunas vs Zalgiris

old Neptunas veteran guards Girdziunas 28pts.Janavicius 22pts

D.Giedraitis in 27played minutes 2 pts in game with score 114-112. What kinda shooting guard is scoring just 2pts in 27 minutes ?

Giedraitis must learn and play PG position not SG.He is not just too small for todays SG position + also his offensive playing mindset is more of PG player.

By playing style and their mindsets D.Giedraitis should be PG, Lekavicius SG


Its like some curse two lithuanian elite defenders D.Giedraitis or Butkevicius all they can do maybe hit wide open jumper and can be invisible in offence all game long.

Such passive offensive players thats from who fiba opponnets will send double team Sabonis and Valanciunas


NT head coach again will have same problem go with offensive or defensive players .Because find 2 way players is very problematic in 2020s LTU basketball

[Straight forward]

Giedraitis ATM is 3&D player. He shoots 42.6% in EL and 43,4% in LKL. He can make open threes with great %. With time he will be more aggressive closer the basket as well. ATM he's still 23yo.

I don't see any problems with Giedraitis. He will make right passes and will shoot when he has a good shot. Playing next Sabonis, he would see some really good open looks and from 2 position he has superior pick and roll initiation game compared to others pure SGs. Giedraitis is SG with semi pure PG skills. He has more pick and roll game and facilitation than nominal SG players.

I would say 2024 season is about Jokubaitis and Sabonis. Can Jokubaitis be that true lead guard? That's the biggest question. No other player can be that guy par exellence. Only Jokubaitis can be full time lead guard with the ball in his hands. In other words, we need guard who brings true energy and constant splitting force with the ball in his hands.

If Jokubaitis ready and brakes out big time (like Jasikevicius did in 2000) and Sabonis looking good, then we might look pretty nice. Cause Grigonis will be making shots, Ulanovas will deliver, Sedekerskis will deliver. But to me it's on Jokubaitis and Sabonis to carry the main load of aggression. 2 key players. If Jokubaitis still not there, we will lack constant elite aggression from the perimeter.

[Shawshank]

I see problem that even in lkl Giedraitis is outscored badly by lkl guard veterans 3 months before olympics.

Giedraitis scoring skills compared to modern fiba competions Shooting guards is very weak. Defensively he defends mostly PGs and offensively i see him there.How he mindset works he is not Shooting Guard at all.

If i would be coach i would be pushing to make D.Giedraitis as backup PG in NT.


If anybody is ready to be leader in 2024 olympic summer is Grigonis according to euroleague season.He looks like player at his peak at this moment in time.

Jokubaitis made no progressions in Barcelona rotation only lost minutes compared to last season.

Brazdeikis is biggest dissapointment this season.Elite euroleague coach tottaly lost trust in him.


NT dont have Evans calibre scorer when SG can be just defender like R.Giedraitis in zalgiris. NT 2024 will need SG that will score more than 4pts in 20min.

NT 2024 will have bunch of one sided players and how to make from them working mechanism very problematic