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Let's go with new puzzles of the new season.
I think Zalgiris got a little weaker overall. I think their position 2 is pretty soft and weak. Strielniks is injury probe. If Mudiay in, I like it, but he will need some time to adjust so Walkup at the start of the season would still be more reliable option. I think Kalnietis can't give much in tough EL court anymore. I doubt Nebo can be better than Rubit. Off course, we can see much improved SF compared to last season in Ulanovas and Giffey and hopefully Zalgiris will have more shooting at 4 from Cavanough. A lot will depend on Mudiay, but I already can see not enough of perimeter sharpness and explosiveness.
Rytas surely improved PG section inviting Kariniauskas and Normantas. They still lack SG foreigner. They added couple of undersized PFs, but they should be pretty good. And it's good that Buva is staying. I think the team will be stronger this year.
Liekabelis I think should be more or less on the same path, maybe even slightly improved, IMO (differently than common assumption). They lost Valinskas, Masiulis, Vinales, Normantas. That's a lot. But I think Valinskas and Vinales were pretty crappy defenders and softies. Normantas loss might be the biggest, IMO. But I think D. Giedraitis, Radicevic and Zemaitis can play some D. I don't know if they will have enough of offense, but perimeter defence should be better, IMO. Lipkevicius a little but declining so Kalaitzakis will have to step up. IDK, what Orelikas can bring, but Berzins is pretty solid. It's really cool that 21yo D. Giedraitis will probably start in Eurocup. Hope he'll stay healthy.
Not sure about other teams, didn't really study. I know that Murauskas will play in Nevezis, that's already motivation to take a look around. Mockus surprisingly signed long term with Prienai and not Neptunas. I don't treat him as special prospect will take another look at him.
Basically, I don't like that players as Velicka, Sirvydis are playing abroad. It would be adequate level for both to play either Rytas, Lietkabelis or even Zalgiris. One guy is from Vilnius, other from Kaunas. They are part of Rytas and Zalgiris pyramid. Why our best clubs split with their best youth system pieces is beyond me. We add some Vasturias and Perez, but we don't give a chance to best gems of local youth systems (that's the shot at Saras as well that he never tried to guide Velicka while he was in Kaunas). That's not a good situation.
I think Zalgiris got a little weaker overall. I think their position 2 is pretty soft and weak. Strielniks is injury probe. If Mudiay in, I like it, but he will need some time to adjust so Walkup at the start of the season would still be more reliable option. I think Kalnietis can't give much in tough EL court anymore. I doubt Nebo can be better than Rubit. Off course, we can see much improved SF compared to last season in Ulanovas and Giffey and hopefully Zalgiris will have more shooting at 4 from Cavanough. A lot will depend on Mudiay, but I already can see not enough of perimeter sharpness and explosiveness.
Rytas surely improved PG section inviting Kariniauskas and Normantas. They still lack SG foreigner. They added couple of undersized PFs, but they should be pretty good. And it's good that Buva is staying. I think the team will be stronger this year.
Liekabelis I think should be more or less on the same path, maybe even slightly improved, IMO (differently than common assumption). They lost Valinskas, Masiulis, Vinales, Normantas. That's a lot. But I think Valinskas and Vinales were pretty crappy defenders and softies. Normantas loss might be the biggest, IMO. But I think D. Giedraitis, Radicevic and Zemaitis can play some D. I don't know if they will have enough of offense, but perimeter defence should be better, IMO. Lipkevicius a little but declining so Kalaitzakis will have to step up. IDK, what Orelikas can bring, but Berzins is pretty solid. It's really cool that 21yo D. Giedraitis will probably start in Eurocup. Hope he'll stay healthy.
Not sure about other teams, didn't really study. I know that Murauskas will play in Nevezis, that's already motivation to take a look around. Mockus surprisingly signed long term with Prienai and not Neptunas. I don't treat him as special prospect will take another look at him.
Basically, I don't like that players as Velicka, Sirvydis are playing abroad. It would be adequate level for both to play either Rytas, Lietkabelis or even Zalgiris. One guy is from Vilnius, other from Kaunas. They are part of Rytas and Zalgiris pyramid. Why our best clubs split with their best youth system pieces is beyond me. We add some Vasturias and Perez, but we don't give a chance to best gems of local youth systems (that's the shot at Saras as well that he never tried to guide Velicka while he was in Kaunas). That's not a good situation.
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