2025 Lithuanian NT

[Toruko]

I mean, you don't have essential piece. No ground for any optimism if you ask me. You don't even have answers for naturalization.

Maybe Turkey will be something in early 30s with Segun meshing with Omer.

No, the team is complete. Not even Serbia has the depth that we have on the forward positions. Just a creative play maker is missing. We will reach the quarter finals if not higher depending on the rosters of the opponents.

[Straight forward]

No, the team is complete. Not even Serbia has the depth that we have on the forward positions. Just a creative play maker is missing. We will reach the quarter finals if not higher depending on the rosters of the opponents.

Dude, your team is completely naked at the key position at basketball It's no-where near complete. Your most talented SG player Biberovic is at least yet inconsistent. At forwards you don't have a single game changer. At 5 you have prodigy Sengun, but he alone is unlikely to carry Turkey to big things as potential game changer. But I like him a lot.

[Toruko]

Dude, your team is completely naked at the key position at basketball It's no-where near complete. Your most talented SG player Biberovic is at least yet inconsistent. At forwards you don't have a single game changer. At 5 you have prodigy Sengun, but he alone is unlikely to carry Turkey to big things as potential game changer. But I like him a lot.

All of our player in the wing positions are difference maker in Europe but youll see it next year anyway.

[Straight forward]

All of our player in the wing positions are difference maker in Europe but youll see it next year anyway.

No game changers aside Sengun. No-one is even close. Reality.

[Toruko]

No game changers aside Sengun. No-one is even close. Reality.

OK, lets wait and see then.

[Straight forward]

Imagine Pacesas being head coach of the NT. He would invite Normantas, Radzevicius, Echodas, Birutis. Probably couple of others none EL Lithuanians.

Now that would be something.

[Hepcat]

Who knows? At this stage it's best to keep an open mind on the national team coach since Team Lietuva hasn't exactly distinguished itself under the last two coaches.

[Straight forward]

Well, I have to say I like the debate that is going on now. That's how federation elections should work. Now that P. Motiejunas actively commenting things brings certain balance, brings on discussion. In my opinion, Balciunas does many things right, like increasing league's budgets, refs salaries, probably coaches salaries and so on, the league's are growing, he's about to establish the head of national teams and so on, but the other side is right that the results of main NT is crappy and that "basketball" side is left in the shadow of "basketball management".

It's gonna be interesting and it's good for the future, because I think some adjustments of voting system may be made in 2028.

If Balciunas elected, I think we'll have Kurtinaitis as a head coach. Really hard to say how he would do. I would only ask to define roles properly in the first place. That alone would be huge achievement for Lithuanian coach.

If Javtokas elected...then what? Zibenas or Songaila? TBH, none of these deserve that yet, specially Songaila who didn't even work as a head coach and I think most likely would be another bad story. Maybe with Javtokas there would be more chances to see strong foreign coach? But, again, I don't know who he would hire. If it's foreigner, it should be absolutely elite coach. All of these have clubs in EL generally. Maybe some older American? Like some kind of Rick Pitino? IDK, the problem is that Javtokas has nothing to bring at coaching spot anyway. Saras won't go now. He has his hands full with Fener.

[Straight forward]

My concern with Kurtinaitis is that he might screw some relations with some players long term. Imagine he somehow screws Buzelis and ward off him from the NT. Imagine couple of key players skipping NT. That's my biggest fear with Kurtinaitis.

With Zibenas I'm afraid that he wouldn't be able to control the team. Like players would talk between themselves in timeouts and it would look like Slovenian NT a bit.

Stakes are higher with Kurtinaitis. But hopefully he would have a balance knowing how short preparation. Wouldn't try to wash up players with too intense physical preparation.

[Hepcat]

So will a new Team Lietuva coach be in place for the November qualifiers against Macedonia?

And which players are likely to be on that team? I think Martynas Echodas, Donatas Tarolis, Gytis Masiulis, Ąžuolas Tubelis, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Eigirdas Žukauskas, Gytis Radzevičius, Deividas Gailius, Arnoldas Kulboka, Laurynas Beliauskas, Ignas Sargiūnas, Martynas Arlauskas, Simas Jarumbauskas,
Matas Jogėla, Margiris Normantas, Vaidas Kariniauskas, Kristupas Žemaitis and Arnas Velička would have to be among the candidates.

[Straight forward]

I have to admit It's a pleasure for eyes to see Brazdeikis messing around with his beefy + size body at guard position. My goodness, specially after watching soft NT in the summer with soft Grigonis as our key player. We need physicality. Damn even Giedraitis is playing with intensity that has been missed. He's hustling, he's getting to the cup with contact. Off course, offensively he won't overdo and has limitations, but again 3 steals per game kinda dude instantly and I think he will make another step forward as a player this season. There's no way Sirvydis will me missing shots in all tournaments with NT. He's streaky and likely will remain so in terms of shooting, but he will be on a good shooting streak in some tournaments, I have no doubt. He's 24yo, in upcoming 2-3 years he still can be come more consistent and dominant player by all means. So far he looks great under Trinchieri and doesn't seem that he's backing off from competition from anybody. Lekavicius is probably done, at least for EL more or less, and I'm eagerly waiting for physical, athletic Marciulionis taking Lekavicius role. Another bulldog who can have 3 steals per game, can pass the ball and can SLASH IN and facilitate.

The addition of Brazdeikis, Marciulionis, Buzelis and better Jokubaitis can be huge step forward in terms of offensive creation. The fact the we been carried by a guy who can't slash against physical defense as lead guard is really pathetic. If those 4 guys what I mention will come, we will already be playing different basketball. Plus, I think Sirvydis will deliver. He won't be missing all the shots again and that's not the only way how he can score. He will show this season in EL, at least in some stretches. Also D. Giedraitis should be in the team and Rubstavicius as well (I think he will be huge in Eurocup this season).

This Trinch Zalgiris will reflect well what we will be season in 2025 in the NT also. A lot solid options, a lot of guys who can create with the ball (not on elite level yet maybe, but on a solid level). I want in the NT to see the same intense deep rotation that Zalgiris will show this season, something like that with the backcourt:

Jokubaitis 24min, Marciulionis 16
Brazdeikis 18, D. Giedraitis 14, Rubstavicius 8
Buzelis 22, Sirvydis 18

I expect something like that, and if that's the key, we are WAY more physical, stronger, versatile and incomparably more dangerous than in 2024 with Grigonis chucking against real D.

Jokubaitis, Brazdeikis, Buzelis taking key offensive roles of the backcourt in 2025 would be a nice step forward. All can get in, all are physical slashers. Not what we need to win big yet most likely, but still very nice improvements.

[Hepcat]

I'd suggest restraining our enthusiasm until we're at least six weeks into the regular season.

[Straight forward]

I'd suggest restraining our enthusiasm until we're at least six weeks into the regular season.

That has nothing to do with enthusiasm. It's about tracking down our situation which I permanently do. I don't think our backcourt will be strong enough to cope with big boys games yet, but compared to 2024 we can make a strong step further.

[Hepcat]

his Trinch Zalgiris will reflect well what we will be season in 2025 in the NT also. A lot solid options, a lot of guys who can create with the ball (not on elite level yet maybe, but on a solid level). I want in the NT to see the same intense deep rotation that Zalgiris will show this season, something like that with the backcourt:

Jokubaitis 24min, Marciulionis 16
Brazdeikis 18, D. Giedraitis 14, Rubstavicius 8
Buzelis 22, Sirvydis 18

Only Rokas Jokubaitis and Ignas Brazdeikis from that list are basically guaranteed spots on next summer's team. The other five players must show enough this season to be invited to camp and must then play their way onto the team. And there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.

[Straight forward]

Good news, there's a legitimate possibility that Dainius Adomaitis comes back to the NT as a head coach. Basketnews.lt podcast announced that. To me Adomaitis > Kurtinaitis, without question. In 2019 Adomaitis basically did almost everything that he could and NT looked attractive and competitive. First of all, he picked exactly those players that had to be taken. Second, he defined the roles properly and we played effective simple basketball. He made a mistake with keeping JV in last seconds, but objectively looking we were not even close in terms of talent to France and Australia and yet we were super close to take them down. Maksvytis in 2022 had much more talented roster f.e. than Adomaitis in 2019.

With Kurtinaitis I still don't like the rumors that some players would skip NT if he's the coach. I don't care about soft winners/chokers who should already retire essentially in my book, but you don't want to gable with that. Imagine one of those upcoming stars not showing up and we are literally screwed. Each true stand out for us is essential. Actually for any NT now the case is the same. Was there no Curry in Olympics, USA would be enjoying their bronze at best.

Essentially, I only trust 100% Jasikevicius, but second most reliable option at the moment to me seems to be Adomaitis.