2025 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward]

Sabonis still shoots threes well. Increased to 43.3%. Taking 2.5 shots. That's legit, cause taking almost 3 shots per game is serious for a center.

Domas outscored Jokic. Stripped him and abused him offensively many times. Jokic outsdished Sabonis though.

Sabonis in absolute preak. Averaging career high 21.5ppg.

We need strong Olympic cycle from Domas. Can't wait for 2028 specially. KJ, Buzelis, Sabonis (prime Jokubaitis). We gonna kick some ass. The material is there. Wasn't that excited about NT since 2007-2008. God bless, we can build a powerhouse again. Not some boderline elite, not some good NT, not some top 10 NT. Legitimate force literally.

With all respect to 2010, 2013, 2015, the last time Lithuania was legit force - 2008. I get goosebumps thinking about 2028, like in some 2004 which was special.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhxi7_D4OcA&ab_channel=ZHHighlights

[Straight forward]

Domas says he's planning to play in EB.

https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/sportas/10/2448741/tik-lrt-sabonis-apie-sokiravusi-atleidima-vasara-ir-kodel-nekartotu-netflix-serialo

[Straight forward]

Federation got the answer from coach Underwood on Jakucionis' readiness to join NT:

https://x.com/glenn_kinley/status/1873501992460353549

[Straight forward]

I watch Butkevicius, Ulanovas, and even Iggy and I don't really like what I see. No wonder we were so low with the NT recently. I watch Sirvydis and he seems like the only players from Zalgiris that I really want in the NT (well, also Giedraitis, but more of offensively minded self, when he's attacking the basket and recently he's not attacking). How I imagine LTU NT, what kind of level players should play there, I have Sirvydis as passing the test. Taking all EL guys, I have 3 players that I want in the NT. Jokubaitis, Sedekerskis, Sirvydis. Those sustain the level. I watch Ulanovas, Butkevicius...dude, we ain't ever winning anything with that level...Nope, it's not what we need. I do believe that if Giedraitis will stay healthy he can make few steps froward still and be a role player that NT we need, but when he falls out with injuries he also takes his time to adjust and his development hasn't been as smooth as expected. He always struggles with minor injuries.

[Straight forward]

My ultimate NT power depth chart of mid season:

1. Jokubaitis, Jakucionis, Marciulionis
2. Sirvydis, Grigonis, D. Giedraitis
3. Buzelis, Radzevicius, Brazdeikis
4. Sedekerskis, Tubelis
5. Sabonis, Valanciunas

That's my roster if I'm heading to EB today. Why I leave Kuz/Bendzius out? To me too vulnerable defensively, already lost big part of athleticism and just doesn't have necessary toughness explosiveness. Yes, we are lacking more expressed stretchers at 4, but I'm OK with Sedekerskis who shoots 2 threes per game in EL and makes almost 50% this season. And I would use Radzevicius at 4. Radzevicius is a beast in CL this season, shooting 3 threes per game and makes 44%. Also Buzelis can play the 4, even if he has a long way to become consistent shooter, but he adds different things at 4 and still can make some open jimmies. So this problem wouldn't be all that big and yet I choose players who are athletic, intense, sharp and hustle players and can play defence, match top opponents physically.

Grigonis should be convinced that he's just a role player. Only this way he's positive for the NT. If he will be projected as some kind of leader again, we are dead fucked As always. I'm more for not even having him, but objectively he could still be great role player so I ranked him.

PG spot is burning. Jokubaitis ready to lead the team, Jakucionis ready to learn with the NT, just as Marciulionis. Jakucionis is BB prodigy, so you never know how good he would look with NT herseys instantly. He would surprise yet again, IMO.

Very likely though that Grigonis will miss it because of injuries and choking history, Jakucionis will skip it because of being drafted super high and D. Giedraitis would have some micro injury. In this case I would look at Rubstavicius, Normantas, and knowing Kurtinaitis - we'll see R. Giedraitis in the NT LOL...

We hear that Sedekerskis has an injury, but hopefully he'll be fully ready for Eurobasket.

Interesting team that would be among the strongest after top tier of Serbia, France, Germany. Most importantly, we would teach our carriers KJ and Buzelis. Yet in reality our redneck coaches will screw this. Like Pacesas said "man puchui" ("I don't give a fuck").

[Shawshank]

as always creating his like players fantasy team not lineups that can play together.

Jokubaitis+Sirvydis+Buzelis+Sedekerskis+Sabonis


defence will be just a joke .Who exactly from those 5 will be defending those fiba stars fast and skilled guards? PF Sedekerskis?

4 bigs that neither of them can shoot.This is horrible for 2020s basketball spacing.


For such clumsy team in shooting and such bad defensive players it will be miracle to make top 8.


Why 2023 only team that made top 8 and stylistically played beautifull basketball ? because pieces fit together and got real shooting from PF position.

[Toruko]

as always creating his like players fantasy team not lineups that can play together.

Jokubaitis+Sirvydis+Buzelis+Sedekerskis+Sabonis


defence will be just a joke .Who exactly from those 5 will be defending those fiba stars fast and skilled guards? PF Sedekerskis?

4 bigs that neither of them can shoot.This is horrible for 2020s basketball spacing.


For such clumsy team in shooting and such bad defensive players it will be miracle to make top 8.


Why 2023 only team that made top 8 and stylistically played beautifull basketball ? because pieces fit together and got real shooting from PF position.

This team would get 90+ points against most of the teams. Outside shooting and penetration would also be a serious issue.

[Straight forward]

as always creating his like players fantasy team not lineups that can play together.

Jokubaitis+Sirvydis+Buzelis+Sedekerskis+Sabonis


defence will be just a joke .Who exactly from those 5 will be defending those fiba stars fast and skilled guards? PF Sedekerskis?

4 bigs that neither of them can shoot.This is horrible for 2020s basketball spacing.


For such clumsy team in shooting and such bad defensive players it will be miracle to make top 8.


Why 2023 only team that made top 8 and stylistically played beautifull basketball ? because pieces fit together and got real shooting from PF position.

To certain extent, yes. But mind that Buzelis and Sedekerskis are good defenders. They would provide some help defense too. Sirvydis isn't that horrible at D as some-one would like to portrait. And he has size. So we have just 2 really bad defenders on that line-up, Jokubaitis and Sabonis. You exaggerated a little bit how bad defensively this line-up would be. As for stretching 4, I admit the problem my self, but I still take wings like Buzelis, Sedekerskis because of their athleticism and defense. We would shoot worse, but we would rebound, defend and score in transition better than with soft stretch fours...We need Murauskas to pan out. He's not soft and he can shoot. If he will develop properly, we will solve position 4 problem (as well as Buzelis will play there).

[Straight forward]

This team would get 90+ points against most of the teams. Outside shooting and penetration would also be a serious issue.

Lithuania was no.1 in threes 2023 WC. We will shoot solidly at least. As we always do.

[Shawshank]

This team would get 90+ points against most of the teams. Outside shooting and penetration would also be a serious issue.

Thats why im laughing how the hell to win basketball games in 2020s without no defence and with bad shooting with 2 non shooters in lineups ?


If you cant have both,so atleats have 1 of that... but if neither of those 2 elements... its hopeless fight in 2020s how modern game is played.

[Straight forward]

No-one said 2025 EB LTU NT will win medals But still we can fight hard for being best 4th team in the tournament. France, Serbia, Germany are different tier, unreachable for us ATM, but we can fight with Spain, Slovenia, Greece and others for what's remaining.

[Shawshank]

i repeat with no defence and no shooting from big position it will take a little miracle and lucky draw to make top 8

+ coaching staff with their 1990s mindsets...

Semifinal ? forget it in 2020s fiba really deep and strong competion

[Straight forward]

i repeat with no defence and no shooting from big position it will take a little miracle and lucky draw to make top 8

+ coaching staff with their 1990s mindsets...

Semifinal ? forget it in 2020s fiba really deep and strong competion

I wouldn't say we have zero chances to reach semis. Unlikely? Yes. But today aside Serbia, France, Germany (and even those depend on rosters) it's pretty open race. Don't forget that we nearly controlled the game against Spain for the most part in 8finals 2022 and lost only at the end. IDK, I feel like we might be better than it looks now. Just a gut feeling. To me 2025 EB is a good tournament without much pressure and sometimes we win exactly in that kind of environment when no-one expects much from us. To match your goals when expectations are high you can only having world class pieces. And today we don't have them yet, those pieces still too young. But the thing is Spain is not the same, Slovenia seems to be too short in quality, so is Greece. You never know if Porzingis will be available for Latvia and so on.

After FRA, SRB, GER it's a wild wild west...free market...call it whatever you want and we have chances.

[Shawshank]

interesting Pulkovskis article in knet about best ltu players age in europe and nba age by 2025 summer.

20-24 Buzelis,Tubelis,Rubstavicius,Jokubaitis,Sirvydis
25-28 Brazdeikis,Sedekerskis,Echodas,Normantas
29-32 Sabonis,Grigonis,Butkevicius,Radzevicius
33+ Valanciunas,Ulanovas


Bad signs is that really weak 25-28 age group. Usually players who is leading NT to medals is around 27-31 age players in most NTs. So in theory peaking players will be more from 25-28 age group in 2025-2028 olympic cycle.

Good sign that 3-4 good players are around 24 age in summer. So more less we can imagine them also as 25-28 age group for peaking players group in 2027-2028 by end of olympic cycle.


Looking at age right now critical importance players in 2025-2028 should be Jokubaitis,Brazdeikis,Sirvydis,Sedekerskis,Sabonis


They will be at age when brain and body both is at peak of basketball player.When body is ready and brain knows how to win playoofs games vs other good NTs.


I repeated for 2021-2024 cycle those 1992-1996 born players was critical and they played main parts like i predicted but was not good enough to win in their era fiba levels

Now for 2025-2028 cycle its time for 1996-2000 players to lead our NT. They will have brains and bodies that is working on max levels.


Others can be helpers but unlikely to be main actors in next olympic cycle looking at history.

Some 1-2 real tallent kids u-24 ale Jokubaitis,Brazdeikis from 2021-2024 that will play well early on and help NT.

+ 2-3 veterans to fill the holes of roster like Kuzminskas,Bendzius,Dmo was doing for 2021-2024.


Thats how historically constructions of our NT rosters looks in olympic cycles.

[Toruko]

I watched JV in the last game against Houston and he looked even more slower than he was. I dont think that JV is able to contribute much for the NT.

Considering the options, Motiejus Krivas is the way better choice rn and I dont see any better play maker than Jakucionis rn. He will surely make tons of mistakes but he should still be the best choice LTU has.