Lithuanian National Team 2014!

[Hepcat]

So which players should be invited to Team Lietuva's training camp late next spring and which do you think should be on the team for the 2014 World Championship?

[Shawshank]

kazlauskas in interviews yesterday said best: in depends.We want to fight for medal in WC or integrade more younger players in our national team.I believe our national team should always fight or medal so my suggestion gonna be on players that can help in 2014 not 2016-2017 summers.

PG:M.Kalnietis,S.Jasikevicius,A.Juskevicius,V.Cizauskas
SG: R.Seibutis,M.Pocius,T.Delininkaitis,M,Gecevicius
SF: J,Maciulis,S,Jasaitis,M.Kuzminskas
PF: L.Kleiza,D.Motiejunas,P.Jankunas,K.Lavrinovic
C: J.Valanciunas,R.Javtokas,D.Lavrinovic,A.Kavaliauskas

this is those 19 players maybe i missed one or two but basically thats all we have right now that can help our team in 2014 summer.Maybe there gonna be 1 or 2 players that gonna have break throught season but i doubt they level will suddenly become national team material.In bold the players i want see in national team next summer for sure about others im not sure in depends from other factors.

[Straight forward]

Kazlauskas blaming federation for some article that according to him was an effort to harm the NT. Personally, I was suprised how stressed, suspicious and nervous Kazlauskas was all this summer and specially september. Allways saying "there's more going on, but I can't say that", or "I have to change some bad things which happened after I left NT". He did his job and at the end of the day his view of the NT worked out, but all the time I felt we have a man who still lives by the rules of some authoritarian regime. It seemed like most players are not even used to this anymore. I know it's not kindegarden or anything, but I didn't like 2 things about Kazlauskas:

1. How he was handling the team in the group stage. There was only negative emotions that nearly lead NT to fiasko.
2. How current Kazlauskas is always paranoid and sees evil around. I'm wondering isn't he simply getting old.

As for the question should he stay in the NT - there's no such question. We simply don't have better coaches and that's very bad because Kazlauskas isn't that good as most Lithuanians think, IMO. The only serious option could be Kurtinaitis.

[mbenga]

kazlauskas in interviews yesterday said best: in depends.We want to fight for medal in WC or integrade more younger players in our national team.I believe our national team should always fight or medal so my suggestion gonna be on players that can help in 2014 not 2016-2017 summers.

PG:M.Kalnietis,S.Jasikevicius,A.Juskevicius,V.Cizauskas
SG: R.Seibutis,M.Pocius,T.Delininkaitis,M,Gecevicius
SF: J,Maciulis,S,Jasaitis,M.Kuzminskas
PF: L.Kleiza,D.Motiejunas,P.Jankunas,K.Lavrinovic
C: J.Valanciunas,R.Javtokas,D.Lavrinovic,A.Kavaliauskas

this is those 19 players maybe i missed one or two but basically thats all we have right now that can help our team in 2014 summer.Maybe there gonna be 1 or 2 players that gonna have break throught season but i doubt they level will suddenly become national team material.In bold the players i want see in national team next summer for sure about others im not sure in depends from other factors.

Any chance the federation considers John Shurna if he gets the lithuanian passport?

[Mindozas]

1. How he was handling the team in the group stage. There was only negative emotions that nearly lead NT to fiasko.
2. How current Kazlauskas is always paranoid and sees evil around. I'm wondering isn't he simply getting old.

1. Players to blame about that negativity. Some had really tough time to cope with changes in NT. I have my sources from inside about that, but anyway, it was clearly visible even during preparations. Luckily, players had enough brains to leave personal ambitions behind before it was too late
2. He is getting old, but he is right about our federation, there're some things/persons whom I really would like to go away as quick as possible. I won't write the names, but I have enough info to say that not everything is fine in our bball fed.

Any chance the federation considers John Shurna if he gets the lithuanian passport?

I don't know anything about his intentions to apply for Lithuanian citizenship, it's extremely hard to get actually. But if he would succeed with that, IMO coaches would consider him, but his chances would be really slim as both forward positions are quite overloaded in NT

[Hepcat]

1. Players to blame about that negativity. Some had really tough time to cope with changes in NT.

What were the changes in the NT other than the Jonas Kazlauskas becoming the new head coach?

Luckily, players had enough brains to leave personal ambitions behind before it was too late.

Huh? Ambitions? Other than perhaps playing time?

[Mindozas]

What were the changes in the NT other than the Jonas Kazlauskas becoming the new head coach?

It exactly was the major change which led to others, both on and off the court. I don't want to go into details, but this preparation camp was probably the most serious one since probably 2000 with the same Kazlas on helm. I know he was there in 2001, but then it all was ruined by stupid federation decision to come late, then to fly to South America to play friendlies and etc. Team was not ready and exhausted.

Huh? Ambitions? Other than perhaps playing time?

Playin' time, role in team, attitude towards NT, hard work during practises and overall behaviour. Even by watching games on TV it was obvious that team which played in preparation period, even 1st round and team that played in play-offs were different like day and night. And I'm not talking about level of bball, just in latest games it was visible that players are almost like one unit and not some self-centered individualities

[Shawshank]

It exactly was the major change which led to others, both on and off the court. I don't want to go into details, but this preparation camp was probably the most serious one since probably 2000 with the same Kazlas on helm. I know he was there in 2001, but then it all was ruined by stupid federation decision to come late, then to fly to South America to play friendlies and etc. Team was not ready and exhausted.

I dont have any info from inside but for me it was very strange when kazlauskas said in timeout: "ir vel rodysim savo ego" thats "vel" ... I believe that pocius was unhappy because seibutis played 30min,he played 10min when under kemzura it was all around renaldas was getting only 10min...Other player that could be unhappy was maybe Kleiza with minutes.In one of the timeouts he shouted at kleiza "as dabar sneku"...kemzura wouldn never had balls to say like that to kleiza...Linas just shut up after those kazlauskas words.Kunigelis also mentione before 1/4 game i n interview it would be very painfull to lose that game after we worked so hard in order to make this team as unit working together...I believe that lost against bosnia helped coaches and players begin to understand that we were one shot from catastrophe and than players ego disapeared atleast for some time.That lost game was very big win in team chemistry because not always after lost you gonna get second chance ...

[LuDux]

..and then Sabonis resigned from federation

http://www.basketnews.lt/news-65622-lkf-drebina-permainos-traukiasi-sabonis-kazlauskas-ir-guoga.html#.UkwO_1P0e1l

[LTbotd]

The fuck is happening in LKF?

[Straight forward]

I think Kazlauskas still about to announce his position.

Sabonis is leaving. I hope it is some real problems inside federation otherwise it's rather childish move. I mean you can't expect Lithaunian NT won't be discussed and criticized. You simply have to move aside from all opinions and to do your job.

It's sad to know that NT struggling to make a team. On other hand, such things happen. Basically all players in this team were ready to go and Kazlauskas had to make some decision which players he takes as priority. It's a hard task.

It seems like Sabonis and Kazlauskas overreacting. They simply needed to rest and to live with the fact we live in the society of free speech. Sometimes it sucks, but it won't change anywhere soon. But most likely there's more than that.

[madmax]

frankly, Kazlauskas resigning would be only for the best of our NT - let's not forget that we barely escaped a group stage in Jesenice, where one missed shot by Kleiza would mean a trip to airport and back to Lithuania instead of Ljubljana. I was also very dissapointed with his rotations and how he treated our two most talented big men Valanciunas and Motiejunas, using them as some scrub role players in favor of old horses like Lavrinovic and Javtokas. We badly need Kurtinatis to lead this NT - he knows the balance of psychology and discipline very well and he would surely know how to use young talented players. Good riddance LKF

[LuDux]

Actually Kazlauskas position is unknown so far, I updated initial post

I believe Kazlauskas was angry because according to his sources some Fereration officials actively participated in writing of those articles

[LuDux]

frankly, Kazlauskas resigning would be only for the best of our NT - let's not forget that we barely escaped a group stage in Jesenice, where one missed shot by Kleiza would mean a trip to airport and back to Lithuania instead of Ljubljana. I was also very dissapointed with his rotations and how he treated our two most talented big men Valanciunas and Motiejunas, using them as some scrub role players in favor of old horses like Lavrinovic and Javtokas. We badly need Kurtinatis to lead this NT - he knows the balance of psychology and discipline very well and he would surely know how to use young talented players. Good riddance LKF

I think Jonas' GF should be new Head Coach. Who's with me?

[Shawshank]

after sabonis and kazlauskas resign by themselfs,they put all presure on balciunas and co.That kazlauskas wont stay when sabas is out 100% there is no need to hear that.Like kazlauskas hates balciunas kurtiniatis doesnt like him too its was obviuos from press.Best choise would be Kurtinaitis,but until balciunas gonna rule federation i really doubt Rimas will agree to coach...sabonis was the reason kazlauskas came,he would be reason for kurtinaitis too.remember what federation ( with balciunas) did with kurtinaitis in 2009 ...he didnt forget that.If balciunas stays my pick is on Pacesas becoming new coach.Kazlauskas,sabas,kurtinaitis,marciulionis ir from same group ...if 2 of them resign i dont believe the 3rd gonna come....

After good performance and silver medal our best player and face of our basketball and our best coaches of all tiem resigns this is not normal...and its not just because comentators,there something going in federation inside...