LTU NT and JV at the 2015 European Championship

JV4MVP · Post #1081 » by **JV4MVP** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 11:01 pm

^ JV is not a refined post player but he sure as hell had a huge positive impact on the game. He's on track to make the all tournament team.

Some players are finesse, others are power. It is what it is. No one is going to criticize the domination of prime Shaq.

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Thespianoid · Post #1082 » by **Thespianoid** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 11:03 pm

RNsteve wrote:
slothrop8 wrote:
hsb wrote:Next game is an exhibition in some respects so I consider JV's Eurobasket done for me and what an awesome tournament it was for him.

Honestly, for a Raptor fan, can you ask for anything more? He dominated, has clearly improved quickness and was a beast on both ends. You have to be excited for next year.

It's amazing how when given minutes and shots he dominates as he has at every level pretty much his entire career. Hopefully, the Raptors coaches and players can finally realize what they have on their hands here. I'm not sure I should be optimistic that will actually happen - but I'm hoping...

It's a tad comical how different people can see the same player..
"Watching Valanciunas play basketball after seeing Gasol's symphony yesterday felt painful. Not a single post move, just a "head down and bully" without any plan of what he wants to do. If today's game didn't rely so heavily on pick and rolls he would be completely useless. " -from GB

I'm not the greatest fan of how JV has developed since he entered the NBA. Instead of staying with the wiry/mobile physical base and expanding his shot range/consistency and faceup game, he became a slower, thicker, back-to-basket post big.

That being said... JV definitely has displayed a full arsenal of post moves over the years. Hooks over either shoulder, running hook middle, right shoulder turnaround jumper, baseline spin, faceup drive, etc.

The problem is still with his decision making. He doesn't know when he should use what. Quite often he plays bully ball with his physicality, and it is effective due to his touch around the basket. But he gets into trouble when he forces it when better options are available. Especially when the defender is overplaying middle leaving baseline wide open, or when he faces up and doesn't know what to do. He then defaults to pumpfake/pumpfake/drive or backdown with no plan in mind.

Laure · Post #1083 » by **Laure** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 11:05 pm

I think playing internationally has helped Gasol immensely in his leadership abilities and overall gritiness towards the NBA. JV will learn to be a leader by leading Lithuania, hence he will lead the Raps as its emotional leader, sooner rather than later.

lobosloboslobos · Post #1084 » by **lobosloboslobos** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 11:08 pm

Pau has played um...12 or 13 more years...could that have something to do with the quality of his decision making vs that of Jonas?

people can say what they will, i'll take 6 FGA 17 points and a win any day

JLTV7 · Post #1085 » by **JLTV7** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 11:10 pm

RNsteve wrote:Anyone have a complete statline for Val or highlights?

JV 15pts on 5/6 shooting, 3 rb, 1 steal, 4 bl & 3 TOs.

I don't see JV specific highlights yet, but here's a dunk:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAU9UhWSCuQ[/youtube]

And game highlights:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bes--og5B_I[/youtube]

Thespianoid · Post #1086 » by **Thespianoid** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 11:12 pm

lobosloboslobos wrote:Pau has played um...12 or 13 more years...could that have something to do with the quality of his decision making vs that of Jonas?

people can say what they will, i'll take 6 FGA 17 points and a win any day

Experience helps. But it's also about an innate feel for post offense. JV has grown by leaps and bounds since he was younger, but he was never a natural post guy. It might just take a while longer for him to become more polished in that area, or he might never.

And yeah, 15 pts on 6 FGA with defensive impact (1 stl/4 blks, and acceptable PnR defense) and the WIN is all you really want.

JV4MVP · Post #1087 » by **JV4MVP** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 12:26 am

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=009XRl3-Sus[/youtube]

Clutch Carter · Post #1088 » by **Clutch Carter** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 12:52 am

JV4MVP wrote:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=009XRl3-Sus[/youtube]

Full clip: https://streamable.com/98ag

slothrop8 · Post #1089 » by **slothrop8** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 1:24 am

JV was legitimately sick against Georgia. If you take out that game he's where he would stand on the Eurobasket leader boards:

PPG 4th
RBG 1st
FG% 3rd
FT% 4th
BPG 4th

If he has a big game and they win the final - he's likely Eurobasket MVP.

RaptorHusky · Post #1090 » by **RaptorHusky** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:16 am

Yah, what I like here most is JV's stat line comprising 27:00 5/6 83% 5/6 83% 1 2 3 4 5 3 1 4 19 -9 1

4 in above line is BS. BUT!!! +/- is -9. Bench him in 4th!!! No matter that in Euro BB efficiency score JV had highest number

JV4MVP · Post #1091 » by **JV4MVP** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:26 am

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SynergySST/status/644962692453781504[/tweet]

Tony M · Post #1092 » by **Tony M** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 4:22 am

hsb wrote:Next game is an exhibition in some respects so I consider JV's Eurobasket done for me and what an awesome tournament it was for him.

I'm not sure if you understand what an Eurobasket title means for a country of 3 millions. That's the only trophy we have a realistic shot at winning consistently.

C_Money · Post #1093 » by **C_Money** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 5:19 am

Congrats Lithuania. I look forward to 5 years from now when we all have flying cars and Team Canada is finally in the Olympics.

raptor jesus · Post #1094 » by **raptor jesus** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 5:25 am

Nice! Olympic hoops wouldn't be the same without Lithuania!

Volcano · Post #1095 » by **Volcano** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 6:03 am

JV was a pick and roll player coming into the league.

I don't know why he was being developed as a go to post player, but his post game was essentially started from scratch. Adjusting to defenses and making reads takes experience (if a player even has that potential in him), something that JV doesn't have much of.

Post #1096 » by **Patman** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 6:16 am

lobosloboslobos wrote:Pau has played um...12 or 13 more years...could that have something to do with the quality of his decision making vs that of Jonas?

people can say what they will, i'll take 6 FGA 17 points and a win any day

Pau is on another level in terms of basketball IQ and natural feel for the game. He could retire from the NBA right now, save his legs, and play into the next decade for the Spanish NT if he wanted to.

He came into the NBA already a polished scorer and solid passer. If he had more athleticism, he'd have been a superstar. Still, he's a future HOF'er for his body of work in the NBA and FIBA.

RaptorHusky · Post #1097 » by **RaptorHusky** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:58 am

Patman wrote:
lobosloboslobos wrote:Pau has played um...12 or 13 more years...could that have something to do with the quality of his decision making vs that of Jonas?

people can say what they will, i'll take 6 FGA 17 points and a win any day

Pau is on another level in terms of basketball IQ and natural feel for the game. He could retire from the NBA right now, save his legs, and play into the next decade for the Spanish NT if he wanted to.

He came into the NBA already a polished scorer and solid passer. If he had more athleticism, he'd have been a superstar. Still, he's a future HOF'er for his body of work in the NBA and FIBA.

And what is sad story - Pau is schooling Jonas any time they meet on the court would it be Lakers or Bulls game. Let's see on Sunday whether or not Jonas learned something from the wise Spaniard

EleveN · Post #1098 » by **EleveN** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 9:00 am

Gasol can school anyone, including Val and almighty future 10x DPOY hall of famer Gobert.

iktuz · Post #1099 » by **iktuz** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 9:35 am

Volcano wrote:JV was a pick and roll player coming into the league.

I don't know why he was being developed as a go to post player, but his post game was essentially started from scratch. Adjusting to defenses and making reads takes experience (if a player even has that potential in him), something that JV doesn't have much of.

Pretty much this. Before NBA, JV scored most of his points from PnR and a running hook once in a while. Running hook is pretty much the only post move he knew. He didn't have much confidence playing 1v1 and passed the ball most of the time he got it in the post. Raptors, outside of Calderon, didn't have anyone with whom he could play a decent PnR and then they decided they will make him a go to post player. They did an awful bulking 'so that other centers wouldn't push him around' and then just told him to post up. There are some flashes when he looks like he can really make right decisions, but it'll take a few more years for him to be more polished at this, considering he only started learning everything, outside PnR, in his first NBA year.

ESTK · Post #1100 » by **ESTK** » Sat Sep 19, 2015 1:11 pm

Gasol is this Eurobasket MVP for me, amazing player overall, so even comparing JV to Pau should tell you a lot about the level of Valanciunas.