2024 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward]

Maksvytis made only one huge mistake this summer. He says Dovys was injured, but I think it was more about his pior decision to go with Dimsa. Not only Dovis plays way better D, he can make open three with 40-50% consistently. Our offense will be great. Our weak links only is such players as Butkevicius and guys like Motiejunas who can't make open three and defense will try to always leave him open there. We scored 92pts without Sabonis and shooting threes only 26%. Offensive upside is massive. And if we would change some ball stoppers like Butkevicius, Lekavicius, we would be even better. Lithuania always have fundamentally sound, strong decision makers and very selfless team players. That defines our offense, that's why we good - plus, this team has tremendous defensive upside. Sedekerskis looks amazing. Such at athlete, everyone should lear from him how to work out.

Ulanovas was MVP and Sirvydis second with 17eff. That's very important. These 2 guys is great addition. Grigonis brought inefficient points. He has to play like he did in 2022, in efficient way, Jokubaitis with time will be sharper and off course he's the best decision maker in the team. Overall I believe that with few corrections, like Marciulionis in Lekavicius out, Buzelis in and Butkevicius out, and having one true GUARD star, Lithuania would be the top scoring team in the planet. The way it looks now, if everything will click, this team has an upside to put up 92ppg or something like that. Which would mean we are almost on the same tier with teams like USA, Serbia and such. With a star guard Lithuania probably would top in scoring cause in FIBA you need fundamentals and sens for a team play which Lithuania is the best NT country in the world at this part.

Offense will be very good with Sabonis coming back.

[Shawshank]

in 2020 basketball level not enough to be just elite offence as Slovenia with Doncic in 2021-2023. They were scoring also over 90pts

And at the end day why they lost critical games vs elite opponnets? they couldnt make no stops . Slovenia were loosing bronze medal game and semifinal or 1/4 when they score 90+pts

Scoring on Slovenia 90s pts nothing special at all.Most elite teams managed to do that too.


In 2020s elite teams is universal and can win games both ways.

There will be games when ball isnt going in and only defence can win that game.

I dont think LTU have this option win with defence and thats why very likely ltu will lose some critical game and will be eliminated.


But all we can hope make olympics 2024 and enjoy our offensive team.But dont expect great results in 2024 Olympics.


Lithuania 2024 is like Kings 2022-2024 sexy offence,no defence and first playoofs round exit team

[Straight forward]

I wanted to write great rebounding, not defensive upside. Off course this team won't be good defensively. But my point is, if had true guard star, big time creator - +20/10 kinda guy, we likely would be best offense in the world. In FIBA you need fundamentally sound selfless team players and couple more expressed ISO stars or one. Sometimes USA struggle cause they have a lot of individual talent, but not enough of that. I feel like we will outscore most NTs when Jakucionis, Buzelis, Indrusaitis, Rubstavicius will be present. LTU has a bit of special gene in offense, special team culture which helps us to be better offensively that only sheer names would suggest.

Still no medals in 2024, but the team will be pretty fun. The key is to qualify.

[Shawshank]

But you still gonna blame the coach when he gonna lose some playoffs game versus top 4 elite NT right ?


2023 was good tournament for our NT making 1/4 in world championship. What is happening with ltu basketball last 8 years.

If NT 2024 again gonna make 1/4 game i will have no complain towards coaching stuff.


I see with what they are working with and against what level opponents they are playing.

[Straight forward]

I want NT to have the BEST CHANCE to win. Sedas in 2022 could improve our chances a bit. So could Dovydas instead of Dimsa in 2024.

[Shawshank]

I want NT to have the BEST CHANCE to win. Sedas in 2022 could improve our chances a bit. So could Dovydas instead of Dimsa in 2024.

You are wrong thinking that 10-12th players is making diffrence final team results.


I dont wanna see D.Giedraitis playing Grigonis or Sirvydis minutes at SG.

Unless Giedraitis would be put at PG over Lekavicius,but if he cant be PG,he wouldn get minutes in 2024 roster.

Same Dimsa will be DNP in real games .



In order to fix this team defence atleast 30% roster must be replaced and even Jrue Holiday put with ltu jersey wouldnt fix defensive holes everywhere in 2024 roster.

Imagine that some 5minute of 5th rotation guard player would fix defence is bar level talks after 3 beers

[Straight forward]

The game is played 40 minutes, not 4 minutes. Dovis would surely improve our D, be it 15 minutes, he would slow down some key players and that could be a momentum for the NT. As well as Sedas could be great choice against Garuba. Stop trying protect Kazys by any cost. Cutting Sedas and ignoring best perimeter D in the country who shoots + 40pr.threes in EL is insanity.

[Hepcat]

I dont wanna see D.Giedraitis playing Grigonis or Sirvydis minutes at SG.

Unless Giedraitis would be put at PG over Lekavicius,but if he cant be PG,he wouldn get minutes in 2024 roster.

Same Dimsa will be DNP in real games .

I agree.

[Svajunas]

Giedraitis could be put in the game for the sole task of defending small guards. There are no better options today in Lithuania.
He could be used for 10-15 min during the whole tournament, but he would deliver whats specific task is asked from him..

Dimsa on the other hand can do a bit of everything and nothing at the same time. He will be DNP.


However I believe that Giedraitis really has some injuries. He was not shooting well in LKL playoffs and even HC mentioned that. Why would he say something like that if it wasn't true.

[Straight forward]

I already see 2 mistakes of projecting game plan. Too much freedom for Grigonis. He can't be No.1 ballhanlder cause he's not that kind of player. Any time Grigonis will try to do too much, he will hurt NT. He's a finisher, not creator. Strictly catch and shoot player in EL can't run NT. Jokubaitis was off the emphasis second game in a row, but when he started to play with the ball in the second quarter NT looked like a team again. Jokubaitis must run this team. If not we're trash. Main creation should come from Jokubaitis and Sabonis. Grigonis can slash here and there, but when he acts like true No.1 option with the ball, in most cases we're in trouble and he takes many bad shots.

Sabonis off playing experience and on FIBA jet lag. It wasn't nice what he did before this game. It will take time again to feel the court of fiba. But he must receive the ball deeper. There he instantly will attract double team or will cause the trouble. In NBA he's very effective near the thee point line but not in FIBA. He must get the ball deeper.

Again, players as Grigonis and Sirvydis should be primarily finishers, shooters, specially Grigonis who is soft inside and can't deal with contact. Main aggression all the tools of game should be in Jokubaitis hands. If that's not the case, we're not competitive in OG.

Sabonis I think can be already great in Olympics, but we should get there. Now I see that Butkevicius is unplayable (as well Dimsa) and Maksvytis will be in trouble guarding PR guards and even Italian guards. If will have a good offensive game, we will win. But if it will be messy, edgy, Maksvytis will be in trouble. Butkevicius and Dimsa don't seem to be capable to guard anyone now and that's the best perimeter defenders on this team.

I think these 5 games (hopefully) and some 3 exhibition games before Olympics (if we qualify), should be enough for Sabonis to get into the rhythm. He is a super system player. Once he creates a chemistry with teammates he can be super impactful. But I don't think he will be very good in qualification. It takes time for him. In 2022 he started to play well only at the middle of Eurobasket.

[zalias]

what an awful performance against a low level slovenia team.maybe sabonis should've been practicing instead of partying

[Hepcat]

So rokas gedraitis out?Why?I think he'one of the best players in your NT

Ignore Straight forward. He has the unfortunate personal habit of labelling players not among his darlings du jour as "trash". He's been advised repeatedly to work on this character flaw but ingrained habits can be tough to break.

Rokas Giedraitis is a very good player indeed. Unfortunately he's never been at his best with Team Lietuva:

Rokas Giedraitis Stats - Basketnews

It's tough to explain since it's uncharacteristic for a Lithuanian guard. So many of the others, e.g. Rimas Kurtinaitis, Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Renaldas Seibutis, Mantas Kalnietis, have reserved and then delivered their best for the national team. Even lesser lights such as Martynas Pocius, Adas Juškevičius and Vaidas Kariniauskas will be forever remembered in Lithuanian basketball circles for legendary moments with Team Lietuva, Sadly Rokas Giedraitis has proved to be an anomaly and is at his best with club teams. Perhaps he's slow to adjust to new teammates and schemes. Or maybe green just isn't his colour. I don't know. But "trash" he isn't.

[Dreamcatcher]

"Amazing" defense by Sirvydis...I'm not sure about him. He has been stuggling from three recently a lot and defensively he sucks.

[Straight forward]

Couple of things. Sabonis will be OK if we will qualify. He's a beast and Sabonis/Sedekerskis frontline is one of the best in the world. Jokubaitis has to be more aggressive and have tools in his hands. If it's not the case, we'll be very chaotic team. I guess that only coming, but it should be the case. Grigonsi has been inefficient and taking tons of crappy shots. The worst thing, he showed complete tunnel vision. Offensively Sirvydis was better and more efficient. I specially like how he creates for others so far. Very quality passing, he creates open looks. I think so far he has been the best guard in 2 games. Made some mental mistakes defensively, but he will never be good defensive player, but he can lift NT offensively.

Overall, I want a bit more aggression from Sedekerskis and Ulanovas offensively too. Kinda feel that Maksvytis don't have good ideas how to utilize this roster optimally, but also I can't blame him that everything looks rusty. NT had not enough practices.

2 first games will be like practice. I hope in 3rd and 4th games we already will play better.

[Shawshank]

This was bad entire team performance. Signs is not good. But is better have bad taste in players mouth after last friendly,that go to tournament after impressive win.


Sabonis have same problems in fiba. But ok let give him more time.After comming from chilling entire weekend,maybe he wasnt in best shape.


Coach tried for last 50 seconds Arnas out and Sirvydis + Grigonis together and then obviuos question who is guarding best opponents perimeter player in that lineup ?

Sirvydis playing defence on perimeter with straight legs,Grigonis with bad back cant run after fast guards at this stage of his career.


Butkevicius will play alot again like in 2022. Because he is SF player that can defend guards and alow Grigonis/Sirvydis hide on opponents SF in defence.