2025 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward]

Tuomas Iisalo should be studied as in this video as likely the best BB mind today. He lifted his German club from the bottom, then dominated in French League and Eurocup and now made Grizzlies one of the best teams in the NBA as an assistant coach. How he did it? FOA, tons of Iverson's cuts, something that Saras used a tons in Barca (and probably using in Fener, but I don't watch them regularly so I can't say), then he uses intense rotation, like most guys playing extreme 5 minutes and then rotates and he uses 13 players rotation who playing at least 12mpg in the season. I checked Saras' Fener rotation and he has 13 players playing at least 10mpg, so Saras kinda uses the same tactics. So Lisalo's teams playing an amazing up tempo basketball, like Paris last year and this year (Spliter uses the same tactics that Tuomas Lisalo established). Another thing is screens, tons of various screens and smart cuts which always complicate defense. I specially love that screens became a trend in NBA cause it will make Jakucionis a genius of the game. You won't find better players with screens than Jakucionis and he will be killing it with this in NBA where the angles are much more wide than in FIBA/NCAA. He will be just tearing NBA offensively with this.

Regarding that extreme rotation I would also want NT to be made of 12 very solid EL/NBA players. Every players should play at least 10mpg, except Jakucionis, Buzelis, Sabonis. Those world class material and head and shoulders above other players should get their 25+ minutes and in KJ's case probably +30, but all others should play exactly this. Short rotation is yesterday. Today's modern ball is amazing intensity and that you can get only with very broad and intense rotation. We are super lucky to have multiple quality pieces in each position, and yes, even position 4 with say Buzelis/Murauskas/Sedekerskis/Tubelis/Butajevas. Current depth chart is amazing and that will allow us to use this model when finally Saras will take over (my gut feeling says Saras will take NT starting with 2029 and will have an amazing roster and all what he needs to do whatever the fuck he wants to do).

Take a look on this guy Tuomas Lisalo. I know which foreigner coach I would take for LTU NT And he's Finnish so basically like a Latvian or Estonian for us:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBmNEy0pJ2Y&ab_channel=TheEurostep%7CBaske tballAnalysis

[Straight forward]

Kings is 6-1 when they fired big mouth and Doug Christie doing a good job. Domas is crazy in this stretch, specially he unleashed his rebounding monster, 19ppg, 17rpg, 7apg and he shoots 61% threes. This version of Domas would be absolutely deadly. Rebounding and facilitating monster who can nail one and other three here and there. Biggest problem with Domas that his shot didn't develop like Pau's. People respected Pau's mid range jimmy and even three, so he would attract defenders and then beat them of the dribble. Domas would do it too, but he has to show opponents he can shoot. And in FIBA it's really hard to do. I'm not even sure Sengun will be good shooter in FIBA. Now FIBA is a boxing ring and that takes away your soft touch. A person who would rebound and assist like Domas and Giannis do and still can shoot would be unfair. And that's Jokic. In NBA he's unfair and best baller in the planet. But even he struggled with shooting in FIBA. FIBA is a tough cooky.

But still this version of Domas is very interesting and that he was able to shoot well this season all the time basically is also interesting.

https://x.com/DomasMuse/status/1878179300542959907

Another interesting moment, when Jakucionis was asked about NT, he answered he doesn't think about it now and concentrate only on the season. He doesn't say no, he doesn't say yes. I would kinda be sceptical knowing he's gonna be drafted very high, but then I realized that JV came to the NT after being drafted top 5 in 2011 and Domas played for the NT in 2016 when he was drafted 11th. Buzelis skipped it and probably wasn't all that ready. Jakucinis is ready for the NT and hope he will make NT debut as 19yo, just as JV and Domas did. Jakucionis is way more ready than Sabonis was and I would say more ready than JV (even though Jasikevicius utilized JV nicely in the second group stage). Jakucionis is just different, he reads the game like a vet already.

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Sabonis still good with his three this season Hard to expect him to shoot like that in the NT, but still nice to see. Who knows, maybe he'll few solid shooting FIBA tournaments. 44,4% now with 2.4 shots.

https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1876502388862804404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1876502388862804404%7Ctwgr%5E86d55cd89c700556a535aed73a1765bca2938e6b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.basketnews.lt%2Fnews-217552-sabonio-pasikeitimai-dvigubai-daugiau-tritaskiu-ir-solidus-pataikymas.html

[Straight forward]

It will depend a lot on Buzelis. He can be a beast defensively. Size, timing, IQ. Kirilenko was gluing degenerates NT amazingly. Buzelis can have nearly the same impact. He would come for a help D and would block the shit out of people. So I think Buzelis will bring us different gravity defensively. Our best shot blocker will be Matas, not our centers. Tubelis is vulnerable in the paint, but if next to him we'll have a shot blocker it's a different perspective. And with Tubelis we can switch all pretty well. In 2027/2028 we will probably go with Sabonis/Tubelis and maybe Krivas will join.

[Toruko]

He's injured and out for a season. In 2027 we'll see. I think he'll make a roster.

Oh ok.

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I saw Sabonis and JV many times when they were open in important games. They were too hesitant and decided to hand off the ball the the guards and most of the time it caused a TO. I think Krivas offers way more than Tubelis or JV atm but if you guys say he is not ready its ok.

He's injured and out for a season. In 2027 we'll see. I think he'll make a roster.

[Toruko]

I saw Sabonis and JV many times when they were open in important games. They were too hesitant and decided to hand off the ball the the guards and most of the time it caused a TO. I think Krivas offers way more than Tubelis or JV atm but if you guys say he is not ready its ok.

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Krivas can't shoot and he won't be able to shoot. Period.

[Shawshank]

Valanciunas and Sabonis also is capable to make one wide 3pointer per game when nobody 5 meters circle around them.


Im talking about shooting when oponent will need to defend it and wont double team our leaders from him.

Wemby was missing alot but nobody was leaving him wide open in 2024 olympics thats why France bruisers could do their damage inside

[Toruko]

Well, he was able to shoot with the U20 but the question is how it translates to Eurobasket level.

[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

[Straight forward]

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

[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]

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.

[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.