The future of the Turkish NT

[Toruko]

don’t think it’s possible to use both Larkin and Biberovic as they share the naturalised status.

The status of Biberovic is still unclear. According to the Turkish federation Biberovic can be accepted as a non naturalized player.

[TurkfromGermany]

If a player is really talented, talented the way no one is that talented in your team(his name is of course Melih Tunca) then you cant jugde about the situation with using season stats. Kenan Sipahi can make 5 apg, can play 28mpg but when it comes to the highest level things change dramatically, then real talent takeover. In unimportant and soft eurobasket games Melih Tunca would takeover and would shine because he has real talent, he knows how to play this game. In those soft games a talent like Melih Tunca could take almost all decisions at perimeter in a team like Turkiye because our players dont know how play bb. If Turkish NT will be a serious team in future then Melih Tuncas development is the most important thing, he must form the duo with Alperen. The goal for turkish NT must be 2029. In 2025 we will be again underdog but with the best turkish team since many many years.

Its really funny how people can overrate a player like Onuralp Bitim and overlook an usefull player like Sehmus Hazer. Sehmus Hazers place is almost safe if ataman has a bit brain. He always performed above average in NT. I would only find a spot in the team for Onuralp if he can show efficient minutes in EL, even then the chances that he could turn into an useless player for NT is not low because he thinks he has superstar talent. Anyway i would take David Mutaf day and night over him.

But the general development is pretty positive. The roles of David Mutaf, Sehmus Hazer, Yigitcan Saybir, Kenan Sipahi, even Bugrahan Tuncer in their teams would be only a dream some years ago. The only one what we lack are more EL-minutes and overall more EL-talent and too have the vision and mission to form a golden boy like Melih Tunca to a superstar.

[Camoka]

Actually, I am not happy with the usage of Tunca in Telekom. They are constantly adding new foreign guards. I understand that they can not truly trust Tunca and Erdem Can wants to be competitive in Eurocup but then Telekom is not right place for him. There are 3 foreign guards and Akpinar as Turkish but also he plays for Belguim national team. Also sometimes Bass gets some SG minutes. We need to give Tunca more minutes and responsibility. Maybe he should have gone one tier lower team like Bursaspor or Tofas or maybe more like Manisa or Aliaga. Or even sitting on beach with Efes and full time player for Anka might be a better option.

Something is for Demirel. I really like him as a prospect. Though he is raw but he is a real 7 footer with good physical tools.

Anka really needs some better players and both Tunca and Demirel could be them.

[Toruko]

Its true that Tunca is a talented guy but its also true that he is not ready playing BSL or Eurocup level. He is playing between 10-20 minutes in both competitions and we cant expect more than this from Erdem Can. Playing TBL in addition would be beneficial for his development but he is in good hands and changing environments is always confusing for players. Since we lack a solid play maker we are always inpatient but thats not the way he should be treated.

My eyes are more on Sarper David Mutaf rn. He has been showing great potential to be a solid combo guard. He has a bit of Sloukas and his defense despite being weak is not horrible. I would also prefer him over Bitim or even Hazer. Its still time for us to decide. We have plenty of options but its almost sure that Mutaf is going to land for Efes or FB next season (or a different EL team.)

[Camoka]

There is a realistic chance for Tunca getting important minutes in the upcoming window games. Larkin and Dogus are probably out. Our PG options are a real PG Sipahi and semi-time PG Hazer. I wish he was coming to national team with some hype like he did against Galatasaray but he is under performing lately. But this is a good place to show his talent. I hope he will play like 10 ppg and 5 apg.

[Toruko]

There is a realistic chance for Tunca getting important minutes in the upcoming window games. Larkin and Dogus are probably out. Our PG options are a real PG Sipahi and semi-time PG Hazer. I wish he was coming to national team with some hype like he did against Galatasaray but he is under performing lately. But this is a good place to show his talent. I hope he will play like 10 ppg and 5 apg.

No, there is no chance.

[Camoka]

Hazer also injured. Both Mutaf and Tunca probably will get chance especially for the first game.

By the way, Hazer was punished with remarkable amount last summer. This situation may be related with his injury.

[Toruko]

The chance that Sarper David Mutaf gets after these injuries is very precious. I wont be surprised even a bit if he shoots the lights out. He is most probably the most talented back court player after Furkan Korkmaz. It will work better than Kenan Sipahi and Sehmus Hazer. Thats for sure.

These window games are never easy but with OFY and Cedi Osman we have two anchors we can build on.

After Hazers injury there is indeed a realistic chance to see Melih Tunca for max 10 minutes but his defense is really bad.

[Toruko]

OK, obviously Furkan Korkmaz is injured again ( I am really sick and tired of him). Onuralp Bitim and OFY wont be with the team for the first game but Ercan Osmani worked with the team today. We will give tons of minutes to Sarper David Mutaf.

The starting five should be something like this:

Kenan Sipahi - Sarper David Mutaf - Cedi Osman - Ercan Osmani - Muhsin Yasar

The Bench should look like this:

Melih Tunca - Yigit Arslan - Goksenin Koksal - Yigitcan Saybir - Furkan Haltali

[Camoka]

Tomorrow gonna be a tough game. We are very limited. On the other side, Hungary is one of the worst teams at this stage of the qualifiers. They lost last 5 official games, including Portugal and Iceland. They have one above average player Hanga and he is aging and also very limited scorer. He is more like a role player.

For the second game, with the addition of Bitim and Yurtseven, I am sure that we can get an easy win. Yurtseven is monster for this kind of soft opponents. Greek league games stats prove that.

But for the first game, we need a good Osman. With two good performances with national team, he will have positive impact for his club performance. I wish we had Hazer for the first one. His hustle may be too much to handle for Hungary.

[Toruko]

It seems that Hazer is going to play tomorrow but I dont know if its a good thing or not.

[janketa]

Good to see NT without Korkmaz. I want to see younger players in position to play bigger roles, I hope Bitim will replace Cedi too

[Toruko]

Osman found rhythm in the second half but too many too wild shots. We must find better solutions. One more year at Eurocup level for Hazer is needed but he could also play Euroleague for a bottom team. Berlin would be a great spot for him.

Mutaf was very excited but ok game for him (considering its his first game). Osmani showed today that he is an EL player. Saybir was bad. Defense was bad though (understandably), we were always a bit too late, got beaten too easily. With Bitim and Yurtseven in the second game there should not be any problem.

[Toruko]

The Hungary game.

[Toruko]

A couple words about the NT before the Eurobasket 25:

The front court: Actually, it looks pretty good. We have a good balance between offense and defense, three very solid rebounders with Yurtseven, Sengun and Buyuktuncel a tall floor stretching power forward with Osmani. I really cant ask for more.

Wings: we will see about the Biberovic question. I expect a solution of the problem until Eurobasket 25. His defense is still not great but he developed a lot in the last two years. He is a great rebounder on top. With him we would have a deadly weapon on the offensive end.

Furkan Korkmaz looks he lost the track somehow. We only can hope that hell be ready to Eurobasket but his attitude is horrible to be honest. Still our most skilled wing offensively.

Cedi Osman: was never a fan of him but he is a very solid glue guy who does a bit of everything. We just shouldnt allow him to create shots. He looked very solid in the second half of the Hungary game.

Onuralp Bitim: I am not his biggest fan but he is enough for the bench I guess. I would prefer Sehmus Hazer though. Lets wait and see how he gets integrated to the Bayern system.

Sehmus Hazer: IMO has a safe spot in the Eurobasket roster. Looks he developed mentally and is equipped with enough composure and he always delivers for the NT.

Sarper David Mutaf: he was very excited but he delivered 7 points in his first game. For me the most talented scoring wing after Furkan Korkmaz and he has a lot of Kostas Sloukas in him. I dont see him being in the roster in case everyone else is healthy.

Conclusion: The guys who should take over scoring wise have not played bigger roles in their teams. Thats why we always lacked someone who could step up in crucial moments. Maybe the EL season help our other guys but we will need the help of a healthy Shane Larkin. His readiness and Furkan Korkmaz performance will determine our ceiling and Furkan Korkmaz does not look good at least for now.

The guard situation: Kenan Sipahi has not enough quality if we want to beat the best teams but hell be our bench guy so it seems for now.

It is clear that Melih Tunca wont be ready to outplay Kenan Sipahi. Offensively he offers more than Sipahi even now but his defense is bad. He hangs on picks too easily and gives up immediately. I was afraid of his ability to withstand to pressure bringing the ball but he looks good. I would prefer Tunca over Sipahi but this wont happen.

Shane Larkin: we need him to be ready that easy.

Overall conclusion: in case everyone is ready and eager to win we can beat anyone with this team.