The Jonas Valanciunas Thread

BillyGM · Post #1221 » by **BillyGM** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:07 pm

CTG wrote:Jonas = Biedrins x Tyson Chandler

His Free Throws are 92% and he shot alot...

Post #1222 » by **Undefeated** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:07 pm

OvertimeNO wrote:His length and quickness are what impress me the most. People in other threads are complaining that the guy doesn't show off a 40 inch vertical, but frankly if you're 7' with a 7'4" wingspan, you don't need to jump all that high to get the job done. And lifting your arms and hopping will always, always be quicker than lifting your arms and jumping. Playing fundamental defense relies much more on getting into position as quickly as possible than it does on lift. And unlike Bargnani, he seems to show good instincts when it comes to positioning too.

Exactly. The thing is, Val's got an excellent second and third jump which is critical for a big man who plays the role of a rim protector and rebounder. When you factor that trait along with his freakish length and wingpsan, you've got yourself a nice defensive presence.

HSOB SIRHC · Post #1223 » by **HSOB SIRHC** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:08 pm

Can someone translate what was said in this video?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM6EA6Z_9U8&feature=related[/youtube]

Basketball_Jones · Post #1224 » by **Basketball_Jones** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:08 pm

I can barely stand watching Calderon and Bargnani anyway, most people here could care less if they are playing competitively through the lock out in the euro championships. Hardly anything to brag about. Jonas on the other hand we'll be following.

BillyGM · Post #1225 » by **BillyGM** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:09 pm

HSOB SIRHC wrote:Can someone translate what was said in this video?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM6EA6Z_9U8&feature=related[/youtube]

Valanciunas is an incredible driver, I guess...

dagger · Post #1226 » by **dagger** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:10 pm

CTG wrote:Jonas = Biedrins x Tyson Chandler

If he brings the best of those two - and I mean the Biedrins of a couple of years ago before his confidence cratered - he'd be an excellent choice for fifth in a bad draft.

theonlyeastcoastrapsfan · Post #1227 » by **theonlyeastcoastrapsfan** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:11 pm

Good point about how if he stays over and there's a lock out Raps Fans can still watch him play ball.

Post #1228 » by **DG88** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:11 pm

Double Helix wrote:Was this posted yet?

Rockets Trade Rumors: Houston Really Wanted Jonas Valanciunas

by Rivers McCown • Jun 24, 2011 8:45 AM CDT

The Houston Rockets were rumored to be trying to trade up into the middle of the lottery for most of the draft process, although over the last few days things shifted and they looked to get up even higher. The common denominator for both of those things? It's a man named Jonas Valanciunas. The Raptors' new center was so coveted by Daryl Morey that, according to Clutch of Clutchfans, he was the trade-up target at No. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

http://houston.sbnation.com/houston-roc ... -nba-draft

I hope this changes some peoples minds on the kid. Daryl Morey loves using stats to evaluate players. If he wants a player like Valanciunas then we should be happy we took him. He's going to be a great C for us in the future.

CTG · Post #1229 » by **CTG** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:15 pm

dagger wrote:
CTG wrote:Jonas = Biedrins x Tyson Chandler

If he brings the best of those two - and I mean the Biedrins of a couple of years ago before his confidence cratered - he'd be an excellent choice for fifth in a bad draft.

Agreed, guys with bad d like jose will benefit from his presence in the middle.
12ppg 10rpg 2ast 2blk is what I would realistically expect from Jonas eventually.

mcray · Post #1230 » by **mcray** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:17 pm

HSOB SIRHC wrote:Can someone translate what was said in this video?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM6EA6Z_9U8&feature=related[/youtube]

xD The title of the video means "Valanciunas is driving without drivers license" pesky Lithuanian paparazzi's :lol:

SDM · Post #1231 » by **SDM** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:18 pm

He committed a crime on camera?

How's that for swag!

Post #1232 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:20 pm

I dunno what else you expect from the 5th pick in a weak draft, I'd be thrilled to take him, even if I had to wait.

He's a true C, with legit size, motor, attitude, and some intriguing skills.

J-Roc · Post #1233 » by **J-Roc** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:20 pm

Rhettmatic wrote:
J-Roc wrote:
CharlieRunkle wrote:raptorsrepublic

Buyout for Valanciunas is $2.5M of which Raps can cover $500k. Source with Raps says there's a "good chance" of him coming over next season.

The way BC talked on the radio this morning, he's not expecting the kid here next year. I don't like the optics of our draft pick not being around.

Why would a fan care about optics?

J-Roc, I'm going to have to ask you to go on the record and let us know whom you would have rather the Raptors drafted at 5.

I always say the draft is a crapshoot, so I trust whoever the GM picks. That's why my ONLY concern with this pick is how long it might take him to get here. Not how long it takes him to improve. But literally how long it takes him to get here due to the contract buyout. I also had some initial concerns when I was reading last night that he wouldn't be good defensively (basically all the praise was about his offence), but I like the sound of him having a high BB IQ and being a good help defender. That's something you can build on.

For the record, by the time I went into the draft yesterday, I wasn't even thinking of Jonas. I figured he'd be gone by #4. So of all the usual suspects......I was thinking Kemba Walker. And what piqued my interest most was the hype about his defensive game.

But once Thompson was picked, I couldn't help but think BC has to get Jonas just because the #4 pick fell to him. I wouldn't have been disappointed if BC then turned around and dealt him to one of the many teams that apparently really want him.

Oh, I would have been okay with Brandon Knight, had Jonas been taken.....Knight was like picking Jonas.....it just made sense to get the next guy in line. As for Biyombo, my thinking is that if he impressed teams with his workout, then there must be something there. It's not a youtube video, but he actually looked good in person. So there you go....

JWiLL02 · Post #1234 » by **JWiLL02** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:21 pm

The impression he's made on some pretty great GMs is definitely making me feel better about the pick.

I love all these people complaining about him being "too skinny". He's 19 years old and 7 feet tall for **** sake. I'm only 6 feet and couldn't fill out at that age, it takes time. I'd say a 240lb frame is a solid base, if he can get up to 255-260 he could be a force.

Anyone trying to draw parallels between Val and Bargs needs to be banned.

bboyskinnylegs · Post #1235 » by **bboyskinnylegs** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:22 pm

Volcano wrote:
Rhettmatic wrote:

So Houston, OKC and San Antonio were all rumoured to be trying to move up to get this kid. I'm not saying it's all that meaningful, but it's certainly good company to be in.

So Ainge spoke highly of him..Houston/Spurs/OKC, teams with good reputations, all wanted him. Yet he's not good enough for some fans here due to the reason of Jonas being a white Euro.

Cho also tried to move up for him (there was the talk earlier about Charlotte trying to land a top 5 pick by packaging their picks), Cleveland was trying to acquire another lotto pick to select him, and I believe there were two teams (Milwaukee, and I think Charlotte or Detroit?) that were willing to draft him regardless of a buyout situation. These are some team execs that are very high on using quantitative analysis in making player evaluation decisions, and have had a lot of success in finding steals in the draft. If Buford, Morey, and Cho (and Presti as well?) all tried to move up to get this guy, I think that's a good indication that he could be a very good prospect.

Post #1236 » by **theSkinny** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:22 pm

JWiLL02 wrote:The impression he's made on some pretty great GMs is definitely making me feel better about the pick.

I love all these people complaining about him being too skinny. He's 19 years old and 7 feet tall for **** sake. I'm only 6 feet and couldn't fill out at that age, it takes time. I'd say a 240lb frame is a solid base, if he can get up to 255-260 he could be a force.

Anyone trying to draw parallels between Val and Bargs need to be banned.

I take much offence to that comment too!

mcray · Post #1237 » by **mcray** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:22 pm

SDM wrote:He committed a crime on camera?

How's that for swag!

Lithuanian paparazzi's make stuff up quite often. I never heard of this so it could be just a smoke bomb as normal in Lithuania.

Blazing_royale · Post #1238 » by **Blazing_royale** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:34 pm

NO-KG-AI wrote:I dunno what else you expect from the 5th pick in a weak draft, I'd be thrilled to take him, even if I had to wait.

He's a true C, with legit size, motor, attitude, and some intriguing skills.

Seems like other fanbase r starting to realize such a great pick this is for the raptors

turner10 · Post #1239 » by **turner10** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:34 pm

press conference for him right now on rapstv

Scott Carefoot · Post #1240 » by **Scott Carefoot** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:38 pm

Here's an online link for the JV presser: http://www2.thescore.com/video/Stream-Player.aspx

Are you happy with the Raptors selection 5th overall?