Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) 2018-19

[Mindozas]

The way I see it, Sirvydis is the highest profile prospect Rytas and maybe even any Lithuanian team saw since Valanciunas. He was a steady rotation player all season long, even the key in some of those. So you have a stud and you suddenly stop playing him. Did JV was a good defender when he was young? No. Was he getting some credit (minutes) in some games only because he's really promising? Hell, yes. And there's respect for Kurtinaitis. Did Adomaitis give a single minute as a credit for Sirvydis this season? IMO, not even close. I mean the guy was shooting the light out in preseason and started the season dropping 17pts in Eurocup. Adomaitis is not good at trusting and developing youngsters, even the most talented ones with an NBA upside.

Your hatred makes you blind and forces you write some strange things, mate That's all I can say. You even contradict yourself, first you wrote that Sirvydis was rotation player, then you say he kept him on bench, while Kurtinaitis didn't... I threw you a stats. Kurtinaitis trusted him even less. You say Adomaitis didn't give him a single minute of credit? You write Sirvydis scored 17pts in Eurocup... Against Valencia he played 11minutes on average, in Top16 12mpg. That's great credit for a kid. Adomaitis won today with hardnosed defense and did it easily. None can blame him. Sirvydis hardly would be able to contribute in it and you jump on coach for some personal vendeta again. We all know his flaws, and I couldn't care less about Rytas, but today he did everything fine.
Btw, putting Valanciunas in this discussion is really unnecessary. I'm not madmax, but can say that JV was miles better than Sirvydis is at this age. He was a real deal already, it was easy to see. Then at 19 he was starter in NT in crucial Eurobasket.

[Straight forward]

Your hatred makes you blind and forces you write some strange things, mate That's all I can say. You even contradict yourself, first you wrote that Sirvydis was rotation player, then you say he kept him on bench, while Kurtinaitis didn't... I threw you a stats. Kurtinaitis trusted him even less. You say Adomaitis didn't give him a single minute of credit? You write Sirvydis scored 17pts in Eurocup... Against Valencia he played 11minutes on average, in Top16 12mpg. That's great credit for a kid. Adomaitis won today with hardnosed defense and did it easily. None can blame him. Sirvydis hardly would be able to contribute in it and you jump on coach for some personal vendeta again. We all know his flaws, and I couldn't care less about Rytas, but today he did everything fine.
Btw, putting Valanciunas in this discussion is really unnecessary. I'm not madmax, but can say that JV was miles better than Sirvydis is at this age. He was a real deal already, it was easy to see. Then at 19 he was starter in NT in crucial Eurobasket.

You missed my point. I meant PO games. It seems that now since semis, Sirvydis is only trash minutes player. As for as I remember, Kurtinaitis thrown in Sirvydis against Zalgiris even when the game was still close in the finals, be it for three or two minutes.

But it's not the point. Sure, JV was better, we shouldn't even discuss that and we are not (BTW, JV came to Rytas as 17yo and he really got some credit surely because he was so skinny and he wasn't a good defender). But I talk about the attitude, the vision, the culture, the strategy, the ability to integrate most talented players, ability to give them extra credit (I do aware that Sirvydis was cracking Rytas rotation you know...), extra trust, extra encouragement, being able to see broader picture even when you are occupied with local and today's given club's issues. That's what I expect when I speak about NT head coach who coaches Lithuanian club. My point is, that Sirvydis barely got any special trust (he played great against Valancia BTW, he earned every minute and could play more) and I think our top prospects (which he surely is) should get one. This should be one of our priorities, specially when it comes down to the head coach if NT who supposed to be setting the example. Sirvydis was too good all season long not to crack the freakin' rotation at all in semis against Neptunas who played like absolute shit tonight.

[LuDux]

Any time I watch Kisielius playing, he sucks. I can't figure it out how he makes it to the top teams of LKL.

Pretty useful role player

[madmax]

I guess I kinda understand why SF tries to hype up this Sirvydis kid to the high heavens - we are in dire need of top prospect, since we didn't really have one after JV was absolutely smashing all competition in his junior years, but I'm just really not sure this kid has the tools to be one. Apart from his elite shooting stroke and touch, what other elite quality does he possess which would translate to the highest level? He's not really a slasher to the rim, as I've never seen him do that as of yet, he's not really a facilitator and he's only an average defender at best to date. NBA experts think the same and they see him only as a garbage minutes specialist shooter at best case scenario. JV's hype was warranted, as he was really good and great at both junior and senior level and was a difference maker in every single game. Which other lithuanian player could start for a NT aged 19 years old rookie? Sabonis, Marciulionis for sure. No one else really

[LuDux]

Which other lithuanian player could start for a NT aged 19 years old rookie? Sabonis, Marciulionis for sure. No one else really

Modestas Paulauskas

[madmax]

Modestas Paulauskas

I'm not a spring chicken, but I must admit it's way before my time...

[LuDux]

I'm not a spring chicken, but I must admit it's way before my time...

Mine too. He was Eurobasket MVP at 20

Also Chomicius debuted in Soviet NT at 20

[Mindozas]

You missed my point. I meant PO games. It seems that now since semis, Sirvydis is only trash minutes player. As for as I remember, Kurtinaitis thrown in Sirvydis against Zalgiris even when the game was still close in the finals, be it for three or two minutes.

But it's not the point. Sure, JV was better, we shouldn't even discuss that and we are not (BTW, JV came to Rytas as 17yo and he really got some credit surely because he was so skinny and he wasn't a good defender). But I talk about the attitude, the vision, the culture, the strategy, the ability to integrate most talented players, ability to give them extra credit (I do aware that Sirvydis was cracking Rytas rotation you know...), extra trust, extra encouragement, being able to see broader picture even when you are occupied with local and today's given club's issues. That's what I expect when I speak about NT head coach who coaches Lithuanian club. My point is, that Sirvydis barely got any special trust (he played great against Valancia BTW, he earned every minute and could play more) and I think our top prospects (which he surely is) should get one. This should be one of our priorities, specially when it comes down to the head coach if NT who supposed to be setting the example. Sirvydis was too good all season long not to crack the freakin' rotation at all in semis against Neptunas who played like absolute shit tonight.

No, I don't agree here. If coach has a plan for one given game/series, he doesn't have to force some changes just to give some playing time to some prospect. If guy is ready, then fine, if there are tasks he can fulfill - obviously, but if there're none - then no. It goes to every player. Here he is first of all coaching club and as a pro he simply can't do such things, it's unacceptable. It's unprofessional. He can't think - oh I'm NT coach too, so I'll put Sirvydis in for the sake of the future... Nonsense. He can't think of NT at all. I care about NT first of all above any club and I couldn't care less about Rytas, and I'd love to see Sirvydis playing major minutes, but I understand one thing - it's the most important game of the season, coach has a plan and it works. Why he should go to different direction and maybe destroy a puzzle? Maybe then Neptunas wouldn't look like absolute shit as you called it? If smth wouldn't working, I'm sure Sirvydis would've came as plan B option. But now you won't find arguments to prove me different

[Hepcat]

With the game score being Rytas 75 Neptūnas 46, I don't think any objective observer could possibly find fault with Coach Adomaitis' game plan.

[Hepcat]

And Paulius Valinskas has really been coming on strong in the last three months and I'd like to see what he can bring to camp.

Interesting Coach Jasikevičius' remarks on the subject of Valinskas:

Kiek svarbu buvo atjungti Paulių Valinską nuo „Lietkabelio“ puolimo?

Translation: How important was it to disconnect Paulius Valinskas from Lietkabelis' attack?

Labai svarbu. Jie turi tikrai daug problemų su traumuotais žaidėjais, todėl Pauliaus rolė dar labiau didėja. Ir taip antroje sezono dalyje jis pasidarė komandos lyderis, todėl jį išimti buvo prioritetas. Tiek Marius Grigonis, tiek Thomasas Walkupas puikiai su tuo tvarkėsi. Vėlgi Paulius yra žaidėjas su begaline motyvacija, su begaliniu noru ir šiandien sužaidė tikrai solidžiai. Bet apskritai, manau, serijoje mes jį kontroliavome.

Translation: Really important. They(Lietkabelis) are really having many problems with injured players, as a result of which Paulius' role is increasing even more. And therefore in the second part of the season he became the team's leader, so taking him out (of the game) became a priority. Both Marius Grigonis and Thomas Walkup did an excellent job handling that. But still Paulius is a player with endless motivation, with endless desire and he played really solidly today. But overall I think we controlled him in the series.

It would therefore appear that the numbers Paulius Valinskas was putting up in the second part of the season were even more impressive than they might appear at first glance. Playing well on a second tier club was that much more difficult since opponents could key on him with relative impunity. That's something to keep in mind.

[Mindozas]

Looking at the way Valinskas plays, I guess he will stick to these 2nd tier clubs all his career. At least can't see him playing successfully under Saras

[Straight forward]

So the kid Masiulis beats the LKL PO efficiency record. Nice to see that.

[LuDux]

Any time I watch Kisielius playing, he sucks. I can't figure it out how he makes it to the top teams of LKL.

Commentators after or during first semi said that Kisielius shot down Valinskas.

[Straight forward]

Commentators after or during first semi said that Kisielius shot down Valinskas.

Well, I didn't watch the game

[Straight forward]

Well, Zalgiris rather comfortably took first game, even if Rytas had couple of nice stretches staying close. The problem for Rytas, obviously semis took a lot from some players and the long season overall. Seeley is done, his body collapsing. Parakhouski also can't handle this schedule. Stipcevic is a streaky scrub. Girdziunas also is streaky and inconsistent. Besides, Bendzius is the only PF Rytas has. I think Adomaitis has no other solution as to trust Normantas and Sirvydis more, rotation is too crappy to keep these youngster on the bench.

Can Rytas win a game in Vilnius? Very unlikely. Zalgiris is just too good and Rytas rotation sucks. But if that happens they need Needham, Stipcevic and Girdziunas having a great games offensively. I doubt Rytas has physical and mental reserves to adjust and to fight, but we'll see. Butkevicius showing extreme stamina. He has been playing over thirty minutes last 6 games under really intense schedule at the extreme level. It's time to give him credit and to see whenever he can keep it up. If he will do that for next 2 or three games, we can call him a really tough and athletic guy.