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  • #31
    Originally posted by Straight forward View Post
    Call me optimist, but I still reservedly stick around this thread, after this summer even more (U-18 talents particularly). If we can have such a "steal" tournaments with limited rosters as we had in 2013-2015, we can expect a leap in terms of the quality in upcoming 10 years.

    C: Valanciunas, Gudaitis
    PF: Motiejunas, Sabonis
    SF: Sedekerskis, Kuzminskas, Giedraitis
    SG: Varnas, Grigonis
    PG: Lekavicius

    These kind of speculations (projecting 18-22yo player's abilities in the first place) always tend to confront the reality, details, and so on, but you have to agree the picture looks intriguing. All bigs of C, PF section are NBA material and now it is pretty much a fact. We already witnessed Kuzminskas can be a strong player for NT and can get only better next 6 years. Sedekerskis is another clear cut NBA talent with a skillset we didn't see for a long time from SF player. There's no huge prospects at PG, but the wings like Varnas and Grigonis have enough of ability to read the game and to create to compensate that and I still think Lekavicius is a real player. In terms of the roster and individual talent I can see a leap. Some food for optimism
    Gudaitis for Rytas is playing as a PF. Also NBA told him that with his height he could only play as a PF. He has no chance entering NBA as a Center. But it looked like Gudaitis is a pure Center so i Dont know...His goal is NBA so he will do what ever it takes.
    Lithuania

    Olympic Games: Bronze 1992-1996-2000.
    FIBA World Championship : Bronze 2010.
    FIBA EuroBasket : Gold 1937-1939-2003. Silver 1995-2013-2015. Bronze 2007.

    Comment


    • #32
      Lithuanian national team results 2010-2015 was really good,we do not need to bounce nowhere.We need to be able to hold our positions .

      Of all those youngs prospect that STF written (not including national team players valanciunas,motiejunas,kuzminskas) is long way to go and will make our national team level max 3-4 of them,other wont make it im sure.How good 1992 generation looked and where they are now ? its impossible to predict such things.

      I like what Kurtinaitis said,its better to have fighters,than lazy talents around you.Tallent doesnt mean your team will achieve better results,players have to have characters,THIS IS SOMETIMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.Our team 2015 shown that.Basically all that 1985 generation players that is carying our national team since 2009 have balls.I mean all of them starting from maciulis,jankunas,kleiza and even finishing with players who havent even made national team like Babrauskas or ALijevas.They never were most tallented group in their european generation,but they always had balls and was outplaying those more tallented teams.... they never was giving up and showing character,that we could easily see in this eurobasket.

      I want to see more players with characters,than just poor tallent.So this talks about what will happen in 6-10 years period its impossible to predict.Yeah now its clear team will be leaded by big mens and our backourt most likely will be even weaker than it is now.Those lekavicius,Varnas,Grigonis is very looong way to go even to kalnietis,seibutis level... i dont even mentione best european guards.

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      • #33
        Originally posted by Modis View Post
        Gudaitis for Rytas is playing as a PF.
        Probably only Gudaitis believes in that. Actually he plays as C so far

        Comment


        • #34
          Originally posted by Shawshank View Post
          Lithuanian national team results 2010-2015 was really good,we do not need to bounce nowhere.We need to be able to hold our positions .
          2012 Olympics proved Lithuania is not where it used to be. Next year will determine where Lithuania is. Don't get me wrong, all those good tournaments are huge win, but the biggest stage is Olympics.
          LTU NT will snatch Eurobasket 2029 title with this roster:

          Jokubaitis, Marciulionis, Laurencikas
          Indrusaitis, Brazdeikis, Rubstavicius
          Buzelis, Lelevicius
          Murauskas, Sirvydis
          Tubelis, Krivas

          Comment


          • #35
            Olympics - is only one tournament si it that can't show where Lithuania is.

            Gudaitis played some minutes with Kavaliauskas, but he's a poor center. At least now, because i heard he was making regular 3 pointers playing for Zalgiris second team some years ago.

            Comment


            • #36
              Originally posted by Straight forward View Post
              2012 Olympics proved Lithuania is not where it used to be. Next year will determine where Lithuania is. Don't get me wrong, all those good tournaments are huge win, but the biggest stage is Olympics.
              We made Olympics the hard way from qualification in 2012,we made olympics playoofs and in the 4 querter of 1/4 we were only -1 against bronze winner .So that 4querter goes other way and suddenly we are in same position? I dont buy that.Its sport,you cant win all close 1/4 games.

              Do you see us making semifinal in Olympics 2016? I see that USA,SPAIN is clearly better than we are.France too is clearly better,but they still have to qualife.And they were be teams like host brasil with their nba players and always dangerous team argentina with all of those veterans last dance in Olympics. Also France/Serbia/Greece/Italy/Canada 3teams from them will qualife and they will not have worse rosters than ours.I dont see 2012 Olympic that it was a failure,its was reality and we still fought hard in 1/4 game ,but lost to better team thats all. And yes in group USA,FRANCE had better teams too we lost to them too.



              Tallent wise we do not have top4 world team since 2008.But we are top8 team tallent wise and in good tournament ,we can make top 4.We werent favorites making top4 neither in 2012,neither we gonna be in 2016.We gonna be somewhere 4-7 by level,in good day we can make semifinal,in normal average day we gonna be in 5-8 places.

              Stop fooling yourself,if you think that our small country gonna be able hold their positions top4 in the world in every tournament for 100 years.When big dogs are putting way bigger money on this sport than they used too 15 years ago and even cheating with one really good foreigner on their team.

              It 2010-2015 years what Lithuania could achieve more was in 2011,we should have won that 1/4 game.All other playoofs games Lithuania could and should have won in 2010-2015,Lithuania won.

              FOR ME FAILURE WOULD BE NOT MAKING OLYMPIC GAMES,not loosing close 1/4 game in Olympics.Im living in reality not dream world of 1992 or 1996.There will be very good teams,that will not able to make olympics.

              If you believe that those youngsters you written,that have not even played in euroleague will put us again in top4 in world tallent wise,you are fooling yourself or you are nostradamus
              Last edited by Shawshank; 09-27-2015, 07:57 AM.

              Comment


              • #37
                Originally posted by Shawshank View Post
                We made Olympics the hard way from qualification in 2012,we made olympics playoofs and in the 4 querter of 1/4 we were only -1 against bronze winner .So that 4querter goes other way and suddenly we are in same position? I dont buy that.Its sport,you cant win all close 1/4 games.

                Do you see us making semifinal in Olympics 2016? I see that USA,SPAIN is clearly better than we are.France too is clearly better,but they still have to qualife.And they were be teams like host brasil with their nba players and always dangerous team argentina with all of those veterans last dance in Olympics. Also France/Serbia/Greece/Italy/Canada 3teams from them will qualife and they will not have worse rosters than ours.I dont see 2012 Olympic that it was a failure,its was reality and we still fought hard in 1/4 game ,but lost to better team thats all. And yes in group USA,FRANCE had better teams too we lost to them too.

                I wouldn't call the tournament a failure if NT loses a close knock-out game where luck and details prevail, but Lithuania just didn't play top notch basketball that summer. We struggled against such opponents as Tunisia, Nigeria. Argentina swept us and we didn't have a single chance, we lost to France and the only really solid game we had in that tournament was against USA (still a s loss). Overall the basketball was crappy (won't go for details why) and 8th place, the worst record ever. In 2004 Lithuania garbed 4th place, nothing to be super happy about, but most fans think Lithuania played probably the best basketball ever. 2012 was a failure, we played mediocre and Russia nailed Lithuania rather easily, +9 victory and Russia didn't even play their best that game.

                As for 2016 it depends on Lithuania's roster. With full, healthy roster I can see Lithuania making semis. With fool roster Lithuania can compete with anyone except USA (though some of USA press speculate that even for USA it would be a challenge to handle JV's and D-Mo's frontline). We already have advantage against France, Greece, Serbia or any other top European teams (outside Spain) who will make it in the qualification. Those won't have as much freshness and willigness at the end of Olympic tournament. It's very hard to be 100% ready for 2 major tournaments in very short time and Lithuania experienced this in 2012. To compete and win against Spain and France would be very difficult, but with full roster it's possible, besides we can make semis not even facing USA, SPAIN and FRANCE who I think will be top contenders.
                LTU NT will snatch Eurobasket 2029 title with this roster:

                Jokubaitis, Marciulionis, Laurencikas
                Indrusaitis, Brazdeikis, Rubstavicius
                Buzelis, Lelevicius
                Murauskas, Sirvydis
                Tubelis, Krivas

                Comment


                • #38
                  In 2012 we have got what we deserved (in 2011 basically it was the same, we should've beat Macedonia, but we had close to none chances against Spain in semis and Russia was just better too, so 4th or 5th it didn't matter much at the end). Olympics itself was great achievement for that team. This time it's pretty much the same. This team is not top4 material on paper, but if we'll have favourable draw, suitable rival in 1/4, we can make semis. Afterall, draw means quite a lot in just 12 teams tournament, f.e. to get Brazil or Venezuela should be big difference, to get 1 or 2 teams from qualifiers too

                  Originally posted by Dreamcatcher View Post
                  Olympics - is only one tournament si it that can't show where Lithuania is.
                  On a world stage it's the only tournament which can show it, since 2019 it should be different tho, when World Cup will be qualies to Olympics

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Originally posted by Mindozas View Post
                    Olympics itself was great achievement for that team. This time it's pretty much the same.
                    No, it's not the same. To have a washed out Jasikevicius and half-injured Kleiza as the best players is not the same as to have 2 NBA beasts with an all star upside and peaking Kalnietis (if he's healthy) as the best players. Besides 2016 team should be way better defensively, way more agile, athletic and so on. Kaukenas, Saras, Songaila, young and raw JV - 2012 team barely played defence. It was washed out team and there was chemistry issues between veterans and Kleiza's generation. Players that played as lions in 2010 WC looked all shadowed and demoralised in 2012 - Kalnietis, Pocius, Maciulis (half-injured), Kleiza (inconsitent, half-injured), Seibutis. Washed out veterans as Saras, Kaukenas, Songaila tried to take over and yet they just couldn't carry NT any more. Now we have way more size, athleticism, energy and sharpness in all positions, even No 1. Current Kalnietis is better than washed out Jasikevicius. Time will tell though, but that's how I see things. 2016 on the paper should be substantially stronger than 2012. Will that be enough to reach semis? Highly doubtful (since 2016 team should be still at least one or two levels below 2000-2008 generation), but it's possible. As Mindozas said, the draw will mean a lot as well.
                    LTU NT will snatch Eurobasket 2029 title with this roster:

                    Jokubaitis, Marciulionis, Laurencikas
                    Indrusaitis, Brazdeikis, Rubstavicius
                    Buzelis, Lelevicius
                    Murauskas, Sirvydis
                    Tubelis, Krivas

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Originally posted by Straight forward View Post
                      No, it's not the same.
                      Not the same? Not the great achievement? Or we are suddenly top4 material?

                      Btw, if not those washed-up veterans, half-injured Kleiza we wouldn't play in 2012 Olympics at all

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        Originally posted by Mindozas View Post
                        Not the same? Not the great achievement? Or we are suddenly top4 material?

                        Btw, if not those washed-up veterans, half-injured Kleiza we wouldn't play in 2012 Olympics at all
                        Reaching final and getting direct spot to Olympics is a great achievement. 2011 EB team couldn't do that. Let's no underrate what Lithuania did this summer - they beat Serbia (and all what it did in EB shows the potential) surely a powerhouse (which statistically was the best team in EB till that game and they beat Spain in the group stage) in semis and that's without D-MO and other important peaces. It's not the same in terms of the upsides of 2012 and 2016 team. On the paper 2016 should be much better team. Look the way Mačiulis played in EB this year, he was better than Kleiza in Olymics 2012. Lithuania is not top4 material, but it's not so far away. Besides USA, Spain and France who is miles ahead of fully packed Lithuania with JV, D-MO, Klanietis, Maciulis, Kuzminskas, maybe Kleiza? It doesn't matter, all I want to say, I think 2016 Olympics should be substantially better than 2012 where Lithuania simply sucked. We didn't win a single game against a strong team back than.
                        LTU NT will snatch Eurobasket 2029 title with this roster:

                        Jokubaitis, Marciulionis, Laurencikas
                        Indrusaitis, Brazdeikis, Rubstavicius
                        Buzelis, Lelevicius
                        Murauskas, Sirvydis
                        Tubelis, Krivas

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Originally posted by Straight forward View Post
                          Reaching final and getting direct spot to Olympics is a great achievement. 2011 EB team couldn't do that. Let's no underrate what Lithuania did this summer
                          So how come I underrate what Lithuania did this summer (autumn), if I already called it a great achievement? And I don't really get why you come with comparisons with 2012 all the time. I just pointed out that for 2012 team it was great achievement to make it to Olympics, for this team it's also the same. Of course it doesn't mean that we will go there just to participate, medal must be our goal, but speaking realistically, at this point (don't know what will happen in a year) we aren't top4 material, close - yes, but not top4. That's all I wanted to say. If you want to compare 2012 and 2016 - wait for a year atleast, but I'm afraid it still won't be fair comparison, cause in 2012 we had to play in qualies and for our team (age, injuries) that was the main reason why we couldn't re-gain our shape once again in London

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            Fair enough, I agree with what you're saying, but I also have an impression you can't decide by your self completely if you are satisfied with NT making Olympics (not trying to take away this as an achievement, I'm not) or you actually think this team should make noise in Olympics next year. I'm leaning towards the latter if we'll have all the team.

                            Anyway, some American reporters don't shy away giving some hype to Lithuania. Here's the quote:

                            "This past year has been one of extreme highs and lows for Houston Rockets big man Donatas Motiejunas. Sunday he celebrated his 25th birthday and enters the beginning of what should be the prime of his career.

                            It’s not unusual for big men to develop at a slower pace compared to their back court counterparts. Players like Motiejunas who have demonstrated the ability to play either power forward or center are rare. It’s also unusual to find a big who is equally adept at working in the paint or can spread the court.

                            Young big men tend to become specialists in either one area of the court or the other and even fewer are a legitimate 7 feet tall. Examining the current top NBA bigs only DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis have demonstrated the ability to dominate both inside and outside the paint and also be capable of playing either front court position.

                            To that end, there is a player who shares many commonalities with DeMo: Jonas Valanciunas is another 7′ Lithuanian who also just finished his third season and plays the center position. Perhaps this comparison best demonstrates how versatile Motiejunas is.

                            J.V. may have the edge in rebounding, but he can’t spread the floor, isn’t as fast as Motiejunas and is more of a inside paint specialist. While Valanciunas is a great free throw shooter for a big he isn’t comfortable letting the ball fly from outside 10 feet and definitely has a ways to go to catch up to DeMo’s ball handling skills.

                            Still, J.V. has been dominate in EuroBasket 2015 leading his team to the finals (where they lost to Spain) and securing an Olympic berth along the way. With a healthy Motiejunas who will no doubt play power forward beside Valanciunas in Rio it makes Lithuania a definite medal possibility."


                            This past year has been one of extreme highs and lows for Houston Rockets big man Donatas Motiejunas. Sunday he celebrated his 25th birthday and enters the...
                            LTU NT will snatch Eurobasket 2029 title with this roster:

                            Jokubaitis, Marciulionis, Laurencikas
                            Indrusaitis, Brazdeikis, Rubstavicius
                            Buzelis, Lelevicius
                            Murauskas, Sirvydis
                            Tubelis, Krivas

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Originally posted by Straight forward View Post
                              Fair enough, I agree with what you're saying, but I also have an impression you can't decide by your self completely if you are satisfied with NT making Olympics (not trying to take away this as an achievement, I'm not) or you actually think this team should make noise in Olympics next year. I'm leaning towards the latter if we'll have all the team.
                              I'm satisfied of course, it was huge relief for me and I believe for all bball lovers in our country that we made it. But since we are there, I guess it'd be crazy not to try to go for medal. It's not that I'm expecting that or we must do it, not at all, no additional pressure is needed. But what we have to lose afterall? Let's give it a try, enjoy our stay in Rio, enjoy experience and whatever happens happens, I'm not gonna crusify this team if we won't make it

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                These 3 big players will be the most important . Valanciunas is improving year by year and its a fact. I am predicting PPG 14 to 15 this Regular Season for Toronto. If only he could shoot from further that would be a huge plus for us.
                                If Motiejunas can play like last season I see him dominating in the Olympics. All these Post Moves will be tough for defenders.
                                Maciulis right now is on a big wave ! If he doesn't lose that rhythm until Olympics again he will destroy anyone in his path.

                                Other players like Seibutis Pocius and Kalnietis . I just hope we can find for Kalnietis this time a better back up player. Somebody more experienced. For god sakes this is the Olympics no matter how talented Lekavicius is he wont be able to handle the pressure.. Judging him from the interviews he is a quiet fella and I would say shy to. Not good especially if you are a Point Guard.. Starting to lose hope on Kleiza. He might recover but will he be ready for the Olympics. I see us as medal contenders but only if we can avoid Spain or France until the Semis.
                                Lithuania

                                Olympic Games: Bronze 1992-1996-2000.
                                FIBA World Championship : Bronze 2010.
                                FIBA EuroBasket : Gold 1937-1939-2003. Silver 1995-2013-2015. Bronze 2007.

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