IFeelsYaBrah wrote:Valanciunas didn't look too good for the prospect people say he is.
He averaged 6/5 throughout the competition (tho on limited minutes), completely disappeared during some games, and he was the 6th best scorer on the Lithuanian national team. His competition was mostly scrub European centers.
Centers can dominate Eurobasket games. Players like Marc Gasol and Nenad Krstic were playing extremely well, and were the best on their teams, even Alexis Ajinca was extremely solid. Jonas was nowhere to be seen.
I can see your point, but I would have to disagree with you. Valanciunas wasn't the only NBA center who was underrused and dysfunctional (see Vucevic). Marc Gasol is a DPOY and one of the best centers in the world, of course he'll be the best on a depleted Spanish roster. And when it comes to Krstic, again, their roster was completely made out of young , unproven talent, and they needed his veteran leadership throughout the tournament.
LTU was just too deep in the big man department, and coach Kazlauskas was hesitant to play Valanciunas because he made alot of rookie-ish mistakes, so he didn't even make him start.
But I admit that Valanciunas didn't look well for a prospect, but an international game means little if he delivers in the NBA. Those scrubby centers are experienced and play the game the Euro way, and JV just isn't made for it, even more now with his added strength and shortage of post moves.