2025 Lithuanian NT

[Shawshank]

Valanciunas days as of the main contributers is over. I see him like Motiejunas was in 2021-2024 for backup center 10 minutes role in 2025-2028

Or like Javtokas 2013-2016 he barely played but was just team captain that control loockeroom that team chemistry would be in rigth place.


All eggs will be put on Sabonis in next cycle in C positions.


If Valaniunas wont be around in 2027-2028 Tubelis should be our backup C. He is not PF in 2020s basketball who understand basketball knows that.

Tubelis sucks at PF position ( he cant shoot) and looks good only as undersized Center even in lithuanian basketball league

[Toruko]

I would put Krivas anytime over Tubelis even if Tubelis is readier.

[Shawshank]

I would put Krivas anytime over Tubelis even if Tubelis is readier.

Tubelis will be already real proffesional at 25-26 by 2027-2028 i dont see how Krivas will be more ready with just 1-2 season in men levels.

Overall more and more teams tendency in 2020s euroleaugue is 20min with real center and 20minutes without real center and small lineups

[Toruko]

Tubelis will be already real proffesional at 25-26 by 2027-2028 i dont see how Krivas will be more ready with just 1-2 season in men levels.

Overall more and more teams tendency in 2020s euroleaugue is 20min with real center and 20minutes without real center and small lineups

I dont look only at the readiness but what the guys offer for the team. Tubelis cant even shoot fts with high percentage. He is not a roller and he does not offer much in post up situation. He is just a face up player and too short for being impactful under the rim.

Krivas gives you rim protection, he is very nimble for his size, can score in many ways, is a superb ft shooter and you can even stretch the floor by letting him pop.

[Shawshank]

What do you mean he dont offer much in post up? he is monster in lithuanian basketbal league in post ups

There were game were Zalgiris had problems stopping him. Trinchiri played tricks to put euroleague experience PF Ulanovas on Tubelis.Tubelis just buleid him without no chance


Lithuania C position in NT always is like hardest position to make the roster. Every year good euroleague center isnt making roster.

Krivas can end being good,but if NT will have Sabonis,Tubelis and maybe Valanciunas still around... such centers like Birutis,Gudaitis,Echodas,Dmo,Krivas simply wont make the roster like dindt made in the past too

[Toruko]

What do you mean he dont offer much in post up? he is monster in lithuanian basketbal league in post ups

There were game were Zalgiris had problems stopping him. Trinchiri played tricks to put euroleague experience PF Ulanovas on Tubelis.Tubelis just buleid him without no chance


Lithuania C position in NT always is like hardest position to make the roster. Every year good euroleague center isnt making roster.

Krivas can end being good,but if NT will have Sabonis,Tubelis and maybe Valanciunas still around... such centers like Birutis,Gudaitis,Echodas,Dmo,Krivas simply wont make the roster like dindt made in the past too

I dont follow the LKL, need to watch him.

[Shawshank]

in 2024 summer he was standing for 10minutes as backup at PF near 3 point line playing with Sabonis. He is not productive playing as PF

But when he is put C in lkl he is pain in ass to defend inside

He won lkl MVP 2024 as C and was top 10 Ncaa players list in 2023 scoring not with jumpshots

[Toruko]

in 2024 summer he was standing for 10minutes as backup at PF near 3 point line playing with Sabonis. He is not productive playing as PF

But when he is put C in lkl he is pain in ass to defend inside

He won lkl MVP 2024 as C and was top 10 Ncaa players list in 2023 scoring not with jumpshots

I know that he is useless as a PF and better suited as a center but I dont remember him being a great post up player. If he became better in time good. He should be someting like 206cm and LKL or NCAA means nothing against the Milutinovs, Poirriers or many other bigs. A center without a shot needs to be a beast in the painted area in Euroleague.

[Straight forward]

I know that he is useless as a PF and better suited as a center but I dont remember him being a great post up player. If he became better in time good. He should be someting like 206cm and LKL or NCAA means nothing against the Milutinovs, Poirriers or many other bigs. A center without a shot needs to be a beast in the painted area in Euroleague.

He's a good post player and he's more agile, smooth than absolute majority of centers. Just would get killed by bigger and stronger centers defensively.

Butajevas development interests me a lot. I think Domas will play long years and will have his best seasons as a vet, like Marc Gasol did. Just a gut feeling.

[Shawshank]

I know that he is useless as a PF and better suited as a center but I dont remember him being a great post up player. If he became better in time good. He should be someting like 206cm and LKL or NCAA means nothing against the Milutinovs, Poirriers or many other bigs. A center without a shot needs to be a beast in the painted area in Euroleague.

Thast why for me Tubelis is like mini Sabonis

They are collecting individual stats often,but their defensive limitations with no rim protection is real problem and isnt proven to work in winning games in playoofs basketball yet.


Thats why i keep repeating our best NT players simply dont fit together and is real puzzle how fit them for any coach.

Our 2023 NT roster was way less talented but they end up 6th place in world champ because pieces fit together.

We brought our A roster players in 2024 and its was catastrophe roster fit wise.

[Toruko]

Thast why for me Tubelis is like mini Sabonis

They are collecting individual stats often,but their defensive limitations with no rim protection is real problem and isnt proven to work in winning games in playoofs basketball yet.


Thats why i keep repeating our best NT players simply dont fit together and is real puzzle how fit them for any coach.

Our 2023 NT roster was way less talented but they end up 6th place in world champ because pieces fit together.

We brought our A roster players in 2024 and its was catastrophe roster fit wise.

This is not a secret that your front court does not suit well. Thats why I was suggesting Krivas.

[Straight forward]

It was catastrophe coaching too. My biggest concern why in LTU's coaches hands the gold turns into sand. Sirvydis had an amazing season, but was trash in NT. After a month he was balling for Trinchieri. Jakucionis had a good, but not an amazing performance as previously with Barca and later with Illini. Why?

We need to win something big to regain faith in our own system. Or we need to get Saras back. Either way it seems like it will be up again on players. Talent and heart always lifted us in the first place and not BB school and coaching.

[Straight forward]

This is not a secret that your front court does not suit well. Thats why I was suggesting Krivas.

Krivas is mystery. Better defender, yes, but he's stopping the ball with the ball in his hands (not enough passing and decision making). Maybe as D and p'n'r center he could be a decent fit. For my tastes I want something more dynamic.

Maybe this guy who is pretty good at everything and can shoot threes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9FJ...sketCantera.TV

And long term I think Stombergas is the next best big after Sabonis, but it's a longer shot, early 30's material.

[Straight forward]

Also when we speak about NT centers we shouldn't forget Vokietaitis. He's pretty good.

[Shawshank]

This is not a secret that your front court does not suit well. Thats why I was suggesting Krivas.

How exactly Krivas helps in anything? Can he shoot ? i dont think so. So its same problem,only in defence we add very raw rim protection but getting way worse switching defence than with Tubelis.

You trying to solve one problem and adding other one.


How France 2024 saved their summer? They stopped playing Gobert+Wemby together.

They put Wemby at 3point line and let 2 bruiser brothers literally destroy Canada and Germany inside and everything open up,when teams were forced to send double teams.


We can put 2 non shooters + bad shooter at Sf and imagine it will work.

2023 roster worked and won most games than any other ltu nt in last 10 years because they had real shooting from PF position and Valanciunas and Dmo could do their post up things.


Puerturico was juts laughing at Butkevicius,Sedekerskis,Tubelis standing near 3 point line didnt even tried to defend them,just double teamed Sabonis and Grigonis