The future of the Turkish NT

[Toruko]

Melihs role next season depends on his delivery this season. He must show that he gets better within the season. His frame is solid but he is too thin, his defense is because of his unfilled frame really bad but yes, it would be better if he played in the TBL big minutes beside BSL/Eurocup.

I am happy that he left Efes on loan and I think that he is really solid talent but it wont be enough for Eurobasket 25.

[TurkfromGermany]

No, there is no chance.

There is no chance because of ataman and because turks have no plan. People are too fixed in the 5 minutes and zero point stats.

For turkish bb, its not important if Melih Tunca will play 2025 or not, important is that turkish bb has no plan how important Melih Tunca is.

Turkish bb doesnt know how big chance has come with Melih Tunca. Melih Tunca is a bigger perimeter prospect for turkish bb as the 19 years old Furkan Korkmaz, he is a bigger prospect as the young Cenk Akyol(87) in all ways.

Turkish bb must create a star from Melih Tunca, there is no other way to become a serious NT. You cant be satisfied with his role at Turk Telekom, he must have the ball in his hands and must make the decisions, not the 10 foreign players. Even in the next season this will not end, this is the stupid, no plan mentality of turks. Erdem Can must give him the full control next season but he will buy 5 foreign in the same positions, this is the IQ of turks, sad but true. Therefore a lithuanian can come and lauth at you.

[Toruko]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCwS5Vtgfxw

[Toruko]

Horrible game today. We showed today that we cant make plays. We dont have a single play maker who could possibly let us hope for more. We just won with more quality thats all. I mean Hungary played like there is no tomorrow but still our decisions were horrible.

The worst move was to try Onuralp Bitim twice. This guy totally lost track of bb in the States. Attacked the rim without brain.

Cedi Osman, standing ovations for him, he finished the game in a perfect way. We won just because of him today.

[okanial]

The future of turkish NT completely depends on Cedi not going to FT in the last 2 minutes. Give him the ball first 3,5 quarter and he will score well or set up a play for others but in the clutch time we should always go Sengun or whoever has the hot hand that day. My heart cant take Cedi FT in the clutch time

[Toruko]

The problem with Korkmaz is mainly because of injuries and physical issues. Basically he is not ready. But he is very nationalist guy. I am telling it positive way. He is always willing to play for his country and he was ready anytime for our national team. Of course talent is still there. And we can expect much better version of him than now.

Adem Bona also looks better right now and we have plentty of time until EuroBasket. Philadelphia is losing too much. In case that Phila will be out of the play-off picture, we can see more Bona minutes. The one important is that he will probably play Summer League next summer. We will see whether he will be ready for the national team.

And after long time, we have a number one option on a winning team. I hope Alperen tastes the playoff atmopsfere but not winning to much there. First round exit may be good.

I think we are ready to compete right now. Of course it is really hard to beat that Jokic if he wants. And this France team. But we can be competitive.

I never questioned Korkmaz will to play for the NT. He is just a horrible professional, we still need him. For Bona Eurobasket is an amazing chance to play against top players. You cant find this quality in the summer league. I expect him to come over even though he wont play more than 15 minutes per game.

Our problem was never scoring or creating. Our problem is the defense and Bona is a guy who can defend all 5 positions and he also protects the rim on NBA level.

[Camoka]

The problem with Korkmaz is mainly because of injuries and physical issues. Basically he is not ready. But he is very nationalist guy. I am telling it positive way. He is always willing to play for his country and he was ready anytime for our national team. Of course talent is still there. And we can expect much better version of him than now.

Adem Bona also looks better right now and we have plentty of time until EuroBasket. Philadelphia is losing too much. In case that Phila will be out of the play-off picture, we can see more Bona minutes. The one important is that he will probably play Summer League next summer. We will see whether he will be ready for the national team.

And after long time, we have a number one option on a winning team. I hope Alperen tastes the playoff atmopsfere but not winning to much there. First round exit may be good.

I think we are ready to compete right now. Of course it is really hard to beat that Jokic if he wants. And this France team. But we can be competitive.

[Toruko]

No, you don't. I don't want to jump here and criticize, but your arguments simply don't make any sense. Larkin is worse than he used to be and he never ever was a true star in FIBA. And he's your best guard. In other words, your best guard is galaxies away from top FIBA players as Doncic, Bogdanovic, Wemby and such. Korkmaz is not existing basically this season. Cedi has been super meh or even trash for PAO essentially. Biberovic still goes up and down, he's upcoming, but no-where near to be consistent force yet and he is not a material of true FIBA star.

All in all - mediocre team. Just as say Lithuania now is also mediocre team. There's no objective claim that Turkey can beat Serbia, France and such. Simply worse. In every single position.

Well, lets wait and see then.

[Straight forward]

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

No, you don't. I don't want to jump here and criticize, but your arguments simply don't make any sense. Larkin is worse than he used to be and he never ever was a true star in FIBA. And he's your best guard. In other words, your best guard is galaxies away from top FIBA players as Doncic, Bogdanovic, Wemby and such. Korkmaz is not existing basically this season. Cedi has been super meh or even trash for PAO essentially. Biberovic still goes up and down, he's upcoming, but no-where near to be consistent force yet and he is not a material of true FIBA star.

All in all - mediocre team. Just as say Lithuania now is also mediocre team. There's no objective claim that Turkey can beat Serbia, France and such. Simply worse. In every single position.

[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.

[Toruko]

The Hungary game.

[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.

[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]

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

[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.