The future of the Turkish NT

[Toruko]

Slowly but surely, the next generation of the Turkish NT is assuming a shape. We will be very strong especially in the both forward positions
and in the center position.

I am sure that guys like Sadik Emir Kabaca, Ercan Osmani, Berke Buyuktuncel and probably Demir Dogan will take the next step in the following years. Especially Sadik Emir Kabaca can be a very unique and difference making forward.

I didnt even mention names Like Furkan Korkmaz, Cedi Osman, (probably) Tarik Biberovic or Onuralpas Bitimas.

Taking into account that we have a big rotation like Adem Bona, Alperen Sengun, OFY and Samet Yigitoglu we have every type of player which is needed to be successful. Also the balance between defense and offense looks very promising. Considering that we were always a solid offensive team the additions of Buyuktuncel and Bona will entirely solve our defensive problems or lets say most of them.

The only remaining uncertainty is the PG position. Sure, we will survive with Sipahi but this team deserves a top guard and we have guard potentials but they are very young. I still hope that one or two of older guys will pop up in the future.

Emre Melih Tunca (05) is showing a very promising skill set but he needs to take the next step in the Turkish TBL. We cant be sure of any guard in the hands of FB or Efes. Derin Can Ustun has probably the highest upside of all guards and I am also very intrigued with the polishness of Kaan Onat.

Generally spoken, we still lack of a dominant scoring guard. Sure Korkmaz and Bitim can develop to this profile but we cant be sure of it. A solid decision maker and a dominant scorer and we can beat anyone.

[Toruko]

Much needed help for the future.

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[Straight forward]

Rough decade for Turkey so far schedule wise.

Off years:

2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026 (fiba brake which doesn't make sense BTW)

Playing years;

2022 and almost certainly 2025 (easy qualification group)

In the most scariest scenario, Turkey would show up in only 3 tournaments during 20s (assuming potential failure to qualify to WC 2027 and 2028 OG). In the best case scenario, Turkey wins something in 2027 and maybe even direct (and first ever) ticket to Olympics.

[Toruko]

Rough decade for Turkey so far schedule wise.

Off years:

2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026 (fiba brake which doesn't make sense BTW)

Playing years;

2022 and almost certainly 2025 (easy qualification group)

In the most scariest scenario, Turkey would show up in only 3 tournaments during 20s (assuming potential failure to qualify to WC 2027 and 2028 OG). In the best case scenario, Turkey wins something in 2027 and maybe even direct (and first ever) ticket to Olympics.

At first we need a good and balanced team. Success will come eventually.

[Camoka]

Our NBA guys started season really well. Even Korkmaz did not get enough opportunity, I like his physical condition. He looks like comfortable in the court. ( Sample size for Yurtseven and Bitim is very limited, so they are out of scope). Also, Bona has a monster game for the first game of the season.

I do not know whether it is possible but it would be so nice if we get wild card for olympic qualification. I heard that there will be wild card teams and generally T

[Toruko]

Our NBA guys started season really well. Even Korkmaz did not get enough opportunity, I like his physical condition. He looks like comfortable in the court. ( Sample size for Yurtseven and Bitim is very limited, so they are out of scope). Also, Bona has a monster game for the first game of the season.

I do not know whether it is possible but it would be so nice if we get wild card for olympic qualification. I heard that there will be wild card teams and generally T

It seems that we lack shooting abilities. If we play with Bona and Sengun the other guys need to be able to shoot. The problem is that we dont have many ready guys who can play on both ends of the floor. I am not happy with Furkan Korkmaz at all. He is straight in the direction of ruining his career entirely.

The backcourt is not as good as it should be. Osman is a good piece nevertheless, although his shot is not very promising. Bitim is far away from being effective in any way and the biggest problem is a play maker who cant shoot at all but with a guard who can create for himself and for others and we can beat anyone in near future.

[Camoka]

I agree the weaknesses you stated but I think playing with both Yurtseven and Sengun also hurt as this summer. It was a problem in offense but more importantly it was bigger problem in defence. Now, Sengun is playing bigger role in a competitive team. We lacked Osman. Korkmaz was not in good condition, he seems better now. Ataman is a smart coach. I believe he realizes his mistakes and will build a team around Sengun. Yurtseven as a back up center. This year, we do not have a BSL player to step up. Maybe Biberovic. Tunca played did stats in few games but it is too early for him. Again Sipahi plays well but he is a problem in important games. Arslan and Yılmaz started solid. I wonder why Can gives more minutes Altuntas than Demirel. I think Demirel is more ready and has more upside. Buyuktuncel is not cleared by NCAA but he seems fit and ready. I hope he evolves more small forward position in a UCLA with big stacked. Some improvement from Bitim maybe. I think we will be better next summer than this summer if everything goes in their way.

[Toruko]

Ergin Ataman anounced that he is gonna invite Tarik Biberovic to the NT in the upcoming window.

[slice me nice]

I believe that the addition of Biberovic to the NT will have a more significant positive impact on the court than anticipated. At this point, we lack a highly performing versatile shooter who can excel at the top level. Therefore, I expect Biberovic to provide a clear positive contribution especially in the upcoming two games and beyond. Setting aside shooters like Mahmutoglu whose expiration date has passed, Biberovic appears to be the player that the sets can be played on, thus easing the team's on-court parcelization. Particularly in the next two games, a potentially high-performing Biberovic could unexpectedly become an integral part of the team in the following period.

Addedly, Biberovic is a contender to become a serious Euroleague player, and especially with his performance this season, he is beginning to show promise for the future once again after that time he came into prominence as a high level prospect. However, I still believe that spending a season in a lower-tier team where he would take on more responsibility in offense and engage in more actions would be necessary for his career to progress more solidly. Although he has a role in the current Fenerbahce roster, he does not have enough opportunity to solve problems on the court. I believe that in a system where he would be the main actor in offense, he would thrive. While some players' performances do not necessarily increase in proportion to the minutes they play, I believe the opposite will happen with Biberovic, and he will evolve into a more scorer and effective player in more substantial playing time. In a scenerio that Biberovic having a season with let's say Karsiyaka, could elevate his game to a whole new level. Since he is currently a player whose offensive boundaries are sharply defined, experiencing a more relaxed atmosphere where he can break out of those boundaries will provide him with valuable experience that will contribute to his progress in the Euroleague in the future.

[Toruko]

I didnt expect to win in Italy in the first place but the first half was really embarrassing play making wise. Especially the time in the second quarter we gave Hazer the ball was horrible. This kid is raised and developed in a fully wrong way. Being too short for a shooting guard and not a shooter he was raised as a 2-3 guy by just being 190cm. Its only natural that he is struggling right now.

The only useful play maker with serious flaws is Kenan Sipahi. He did everything he could and with a solid lob target his true value will be more evident but Sanli - Sipahi doesnt work at all. Sanli cant even jump over a thick book.

In addition to that Sadik Emir Kabaca looked horrible. Letting aside his defensive weaknesses he is not playable right now since he is not ready to compete. Every of our fears about SEK became true.

I couldnt understand why Ataman seperated Ulubay and Biberovic. Ulubay is the best defender in this team with serious offensive upside too including play making. I am sure that they can play together. One thing is sure. We need more Euroleague proven player.

[Toruko]

For the near future there are some questions to be answered. It is clear that Kenan Sipahi is our only usable and competitive play maker but he has serious flaws on the offensive end. Sure his defense is a plus and he can really play make but without a serious scoring thread it is difficult to create. Even though I think that a lob target like Vernon Carey would underline Sipahis play making abilities more also with the NT we need the correct five to go with him.

Adem Bona is our lob target and I am sure Adem could profit from playing with Sipahi offensively. We could also park Sengun in the perimeter and let him attack close outs, finish, create whatever... In order to use a lineup like Sipahi - Bona - Sengun the remaining two guys must be able to create for themselves and must be deadly shooters.

I dont trust Cedi Osman and Furkan Korkmaz at his current state. Korkmaz is a horrible defender and always a target defensively. Bitim showed that he is not ready to carry that burden on do or die games. He cant cope with the situation how the Croatia game showed.

And thats the point. According to Ataman there is still a chance that Biberovic could be considered as a normal Turkish NT member rather than a naturalized player but I am against it. Ataman will surely try to add a new naturalized play maker to win a medal and to be honest we need one desperately but like I said I am against it.

For the time being I gave up on Sadik Emir Kabaca.

My team for 2025 looks like that:

Kenan Sipahi [naturalized American], Bugrahan Tuncer, Berk Ugurlu.
Tarik Biberovic, Onuralp Bitim
Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz
Alperen Sengun, Berke Buyuktuncel, Ercan Osmani
Adem Bona, Omer Faruk Yurtseven

The third ACL torn of Mert Akay hurt us very deep.

[janketa]

For the near future there are some questions to be answered. It is clear that Kenan Sipahi is our only usable and competitive play maker but he has serious flaws on the offensive end. Sure his defense is a plus and he can really play make but without a serious scoring thread it is difficult to create. Even though I think that a lob target like Vernon Carey would underline Sipahis play making abilities more also with the NT we need the correct five to go with him.

Adem Bona is our lob target and I am sure Adem could profit from playing with Sipahi offensively. We could also park Sengun in the perimeter and let him attack close outs, finish, create whatever... In order to use a lineup like Sipahi - Bona - Sengun the remaining two guys must be able to create for themselves and must be deadly shooters.

I dont trust Cedi Osman and Furkan Korkmaz at his current state. Korkmaz is a horrible defender and always a target defensively. Bitim showed that he is not ready to carry that burden on do or die games. He cant cope with the situation how the Croatia game showed.

And thats the point. According to Ataman there is still a chance that Biberovic could be considered as a normal Turkish NT member rather than a naturalized player but I am against it. Ataman will surely try to add a new naturalized play maker to win a medal and to be honest we need one desperately but like I said I am against it.

For the time being I gave up on Sadik Emir Kabaca.

My team for 2025 looks like that:

Kenan Sipahi [naturalized American], Bugrahan Tuncer, Berk Ugurlu.
Tarik Biberovic, Onuralp Bitim
Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz
Alperen Sengun, Berke Buyuktuncel, Ercan Osmani
Adem Bona, Omer Faruk Yurtseven

The third ACL torn of Mert Akay hurt us very deep.

It's ok more less, we lack of players. but Bugrahan Tuncer? Come on

[Camoka]

Both Berk and Bugrahan were joke against Italy. Especially Berk played like teenager, easy mistakes. I remember that some commentators complained about absence of Berk for 2021 olympic qualifiers. Guys like Sehmus as PG, Berk, Ozdemiroglu are just ordinary. They are playing some for eurocup, CL clubs because Turkish teams need Turkish rotation. They are even not enough for qualifiers stage. Kenan is good but not enough. At least, he can play defence, post up game, he is big. He offers somethink.

Someone needs to step up but it does not seem possible for short term.

The biggest candidate is Tunca but he is still playing against kids which he was already MVP of tournament last year. What a lost year for him. The others are Cengiz and Saran. They have limited potential but at least they are playing and I hope one of them can develop as a point guard which can secure ball and has ball handling skills.

[TurkfromGermany]

We need more Euroleague proven player.

Every turk must think this way. If we dont include Furkan and Cedi(both would play in EL if they were in Europe), zero EL-players from the 95-97 generation. This can only happen in turkish bb system. Melih Tunca & Efe Demirel are really great prospects, real high level prospects and very important ones because of the positions/styles(PG Melih Tunca and Efe Demirel a real over 210 guy with 2 way potential and above average offensive talent for turkish standarts). Look at how Efes handles both, that can only happen in Turkiye. If you dont show your players the right way, give them real chances and protect them, then you will not produce EL players.

[Toruko]

Great first game of Onuralpas Bitimas for the Bulls. In 24 minutes of pt he contributed 10 points and 6 rebounds with 3/4 from the field.