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I have a dilemma. I see 5 pretty much elite or boderline elite at the very least (depending on your criteria) SGs in the horizon and I can't definitely decide on their upside, so I think this place will be proper spot to discuss these matters explicitly. I will add the poll and will very much be interested in your opinions, since I know some foreign guys have opinions on the too:
Here's how I rank top emerging players/prospects, but I have a huge doubts and controversies in my mind. Yet here we go:
1. Nojus Indrusaitis. IMO, most complete and potentially the best SG. Has nearly perfect combination of athleticism and smoothness/skillset. Three ways scorer without any drag up. Very shifty and very scoring minded (sometimes looking for his shot in the traffic too much just as Iggy), but differently than Brazdeikis he plays with his head up and can dish other, very natural feel for the game, including team communication and decisions. He has equally strong profile defensively. Changes directions well, his IQ allows him to be solid help defender, despite not elite lateral quickness he has everything to be good defender with those long limbs and IQ. Issues: so far slender frame (same issue as Rubstavicius'), a bit hesitant cutter and mover without the ball, three point shooting consistency. Yet all those concerns are nearly reductionist, he basically has it all. Maybe I would yet question his willingness to be No.1 guy mentally. He seems competitive, but generally calm guy.
2. Mantas Rubstavicius. And here's where the tricky part starts. I have no idea who is better - Rubstavicius or Lelevicius (or even Buika). Rubstavicius established himself as legitimate NBA prospect, at least when it comes to the tier of international guard prospects, and exceeded as top scorer with relentless motor offensively and defensively. Offensively I would ask a bit of more mid range game from him compared to all the tricks Nojus provides in this area or even Buika (specially nearer the basket), but he probably exceeds with his explosiveness and grittiness and go get to attitude even more than Indusaitis. Has elite first step and feel for easiest ways to score. Elite athlete for Euro at his position. And where Rubstavicius exceeds Indrusaitis is passing. He is nearly perfect passer for SG position, can initiate p'n'r plays and so on. Defensively he is not so naturally gifted as Indrusaitis, but he has even higher motor and wilingness to hustle, so with his long limbs and tremendous motor he will at the very least be solid defender. IQ wise I even give an edge to Rubstavicius, he has more team play fundamentals than pro American school Indrusaitis, and I think on the court he has leader's mentality, plays with a swagger, but overall I still think that talent wise Indrusaitis still has an edge.
3. Liutauras Lelevicius. He may be the best athlete of all three and has the best size. This is very big advantage. His three point shooting seems to be developing into really reliable form. He is very explosive with his first step from perimeter. Very comfortable with mid-range games, multiple jimmies. Can dunk on people and probably lives with the contact in traffic just as well as Rubstavicius (Indrusaitis here should still work a bit) if not better. However, I believe Lelevicius has a little less craftiness finishing nearer the basket, a little bit less true guard skills than Indrusaitis/Rubstavicius/Buika have and most importantly he's a bit worse defender than both Indrusaitis/Rubstavicius. At the end of the day Lelevicius may be the best offensive player of all three, it's possible, and that may exceed his little inferiority defensively compared to players above, but that will be seen later. Again, intelligent, talented player with some leadership qualities. Not 100% leader's mentality, but shows some traits of the leader nevertheless.
4. Ignas Brazdeikis. Everything is already said. He is elite slasher and physical guy for his position. He can score three ways, but struggles with shooting sometimes. He's not a good team defender, even bad probably. He struggles with decisions sometimes, not a good facilitator (even though improving obviously). The best news about Iggy that he showed he's learning, improving. Yet natural IQ, feel for the game and shooting limitations make you wonder whenever he will truly become elite SG in Europe and will be important player of top EL teams. Essentially I see him more as a role player of top teams in EL and NT, sort of instant offense from the bench, but I will be happy of Iggy gradually improve and become something more than that.
5. Dovydas Buika. His development in one year has been sensational. 15yo he was one player, 16yo already different animal. Added a lot of explosiveness and sharper skill. Super shifty and slippery, has sensational fingers for difficult lay-ups and trick shots. Has elite body control in off balance situations, finishing with a contact. Shows sensational handles for SG position if that will truly happen to be his natural position, can really pass the ball and create (I would say has a chance to be elite in this part), but tends to make too risky passes yet so turns the ball a lot (which is OK for now). Has too main issues ATM - questionable shooting (even though I think he will be solid) and a bit of a tweener positionallly. 194cm. is more of PG size. It will depend a lot whenever he will add some height more or not. He's so young that it's hard to say yet how his athleticism will pan out, but I see him as more agile, shifty and explosive than Grigonis f.e. Buika may lack a degree of athleticism to become legitimate NBA prospect, but he may be just as talented to become such in upcoming 2-4 years. I put him at 5th position only because he's still so young and will take many development arcs in upcoming years. Iggy's floor probably always was and still is higher, but I have Buika as the guy with higher upside. Great combination if skill, IQ, and relentless scoring thirst. Can be a bit of a ballhog, but that's very much fixable.
Three guys who I like a lot, but are one tier lower - D. Giedraitis, M. Jogela and I. Sargiunas (not including Sirvydis as I think he's 3). Those most likely will remain as valuable boderliners of NT and if that's true, our talent will be going off charts in 20s, cause D.Giedraitis is barely worse prospect as some R. Seibutis f.e. Yeah, probably half a step smaller prospect, but you can easily go for pros and cons comparing those 2.
Give me your opinions in the poll and the thread. Who's gonna be the best LTU SG this decade.
Here's how I rank top emerging players/prospects, but I have a huge doubts and controversies in my mind. Yet here we go:
1. Nojus Indrusaitis. IMO, most complete and potentially the best SG. Has nearly perfect combination of athleticism and smoothness/skillset. Three ways scorer without any drag up. Very shifty and very scoring minded (sometimes looking for his shot in the traffic too much just as Iggy), but differently than Brazdeikis he plays with his head up and can dish other, very natural feel for the game, including team communication and decisions. He has equally strong profile defensively. Changes directions well, his IQ allows him to be solid help defender, despite not elite lateral quickness he has everything to be good defender with those long limbs and IQ. Issues: so far slender frame (same issue as Rubstavicius'), a bit hesitant cutter and mover without the ball, three point shooting consistency. Yet all those concerns are nearly reductionist, he basically has it all. Maybe I would yet question his willingness to be No.1 guy mentally. He seems competitive, but generally calm guy.
2. Mantas Rubstavicius. And here's where the tricky part starts. I have no idea who is better - Rubstavicius or Lelevicius (or even Buika). Rubstavicius established himself as legitimate NBA prospect, at least when it comes to the tier of international guard prospects, and exceeded as top scorer with relentless motor offensively and defensively. Offensively I would ask a bit of more mid range game from him compared to all the tricks Nojus provides in this area or even Buika (specially nearer the basket), but he probably exceeds with his explosiveness and grittiness and go get to attitude even more than Indusaitis. Has elite first step and feel for easiest ways to score. Elite athlete for Euro at his position. And where Rubstavicius exceeds Indrusaitis is passing. He is nearly perfect passer for SG position, can initiate p'n'r plays and so on. Defensively he is not so naturally gifted as Indrusaitis, but he has even higher motor and wilingness to hustle, so with his long limbs and tremendous motor he will at the very least be solid defender. IQ wise I even give an edge to Rubstavicius, he has more team play fundamentals than pro American school Indrusaitis, and I think on the court he has leader's mentality, plays with a swagger, but overall I still think that talent wise Indrusaitis still has an edge.
3. Liutauras Lelevicius. He may be the best athlete of all three and has the best size. This is very big advantage. His three point shooting seems to be developing into really reliable form. He is very explosive with his first step from perimeter. Very comfortable with mid-range games, multiple jimmies. Can dunk on people and probably lives with the contact in traffic just as well as Rubstavicius (Indrusaitis here should still work a bit) if not better. However, I believe Lelevicius has a little less craftiness finishing nearer the basket, a little bit less true guard skills than Indrusaitis/Rubstavicius/Buika have and most importantly he's a bit worse defender than both Indrusaitis/Rubstavicius. At the end of the day Lelevicius may be the best offensive player of all three, it's possible, and that may exceed his little inferiority defensively compared to players above, but that will be seen later. Again, intelligent, talented player with some leadership qualities. Not 100% leader's mentality, but shows some traits of the leader nevertheless.
4. Ignas Brazdeikis. Everything is already said. He is elite slasher and physical guy for his position. He can score three ways, but struggles with shooting sometimes. He's not a good team defender, even bad probably. He struggles with decisions sometimes, not a good facilitator (even though improving obviously). The best news about Iggy that he showed he's learning, improving. Yet natural IQ, feel for the game and shooting limitations make you wonder whenever he will truly become elite SG in Europe and will be important player of top EL teams. Essentially I see him more as a role player of top teams in EL and NT, sort of instant offense from the bench, but I will be happy of Iggy gradually improve and become something more than that.
5. Dovydas Buika. His development in one year has been sensational. 15yo he was one player, 16yo already different animal. Added a lot of explosiveness and sharper skill. Super shifty and slippery, has sensational fingers for difficult lay-ups and trick shots. Has elite body control in off balance situations, finishing with a contact. Shows sensational handles for SG position if that will truly happen to be his natural position, can really pass the ball and create (I would say has a chance to be elite in this part), but tends to make too risky passes yet so turns the ball a lot (which is OK for now). Has too main issues ATM - questionable shooting (even though I think he will be solid) and a bit of a tweener positionallly. 194cm. is more of PG size. It will depend a lot whenever he will add some height more or not. He's so young that it's hard to say yet how his athleticism will pan out, but I see him as more agile, shifty and explosive than Grigonis f.e. Buika may lack a degree of athleticism to become legitimate NBA prospect, but he may be just as talented to become such in upcoming 2-4 years. I put him at 5th position only because he's still so young and will take many development arcs in upcoming years. Iggy's floor probably always was and still is higher, but I have Buika as the guy with higher upside. Great combination if skill, IQ, and relentless scoring thirst. Can be a bit of a ballhog, but that's very much fixable.
Three guys who I like a lot, but are one tier lower - D. Giedraitis, M. Jogela and I. Sargiunas (not including Sirvydis as I think he's 3). Those most likely will remain as valuable boderliners of NT and if that's true, our talent will be going off charts in 20s, cause D.Giedraitis is barely worse prospect as some R. Seibutis f.e. Yeah, probably half a step smaller prospect, but you can easily go for pros and cons comparing those 2.
Give me your opinions in the poll and the thread. Who's gonna be the best LTU SG this decade.
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