Jonas Valanciunas 11/12 Season Thread II

[UcanUwill]

Donut is cocky as ***, too bad he brings as much value to basketball franchise as an actual donut...
But its not about him, and yeah, I would be very pissed if Jonas decides to stay for another year. BC planned it all, why in hell he signed Magloire and Gray then? He wanted Jonas to watch Raptors and to understand that hes gonna get plenty of playing time for sure...

[RPzB]

Guys, would you get disappointed if Jonas decided to stay in Europe for one more year? I am asking this because Donatas Motiejunas coach said that Demo is staying in Europe for next season. I assume Rockets fans are pretty mad since a lot of them thought that he could contribute right away (even this season).

Pretty much all Raptors fans would be VERY upset. Most fans are eagerly awaiting his arrival & kind of feel that we can't move forward until he arrives.

I have a feeling this is exactly why the Raptors have representatives over there. To make him feel comfortable & to make sure he doesn't have second thoughts about coming over next season. There may be people trying to convince him to stay & the Raptors as a franchise absolutely cannot afford to not have him in uniform next season.

Brings me back to this. Talking smack before even setting foot.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui5qthxTVvw[/youtube]

I think you got this guy wrong. All he meant was that Dwight of course is stronger etc, but Donatas is faster, so Dwight can bench press freight trains, but he cant catch him due to Donatas being faster and his game is fast and so on, and so forth.

Geez all the negative attitude in some people, I wander how do you guys live without strokes and meletdowns every day with such attitude...

[FTW]

We all know what he meant. It was still a stupid thing to do - great, you're confident and you're establishing your cajones, but you're still calling out arguably the best C on the planet when you've proven nothing yourself and you've never played against him. It's not as though Howard is slow or anything. Talk about setting yourself up for total embarrassment....

Anyway, while I think JVal should 100% come over next year, at the minimum for development against NBA-calibre players, I wouldn't be outraged if he did not. Beyond the fact that he's still extremely physically underdeveloped and another year of filling out that frame will be essential to effectively playing C in the NBA, I think I've been vocal about my view that the Raps need one more high draft pick - yes, that's right, another year of tanking.

Sorry guys. But we've got more positions to fill than we have talent coming in next year. We need talent upgrades at the 1-3, and possibly 1-2-3. I don't think one more high draft pick will do it, unless we make a huge FA splash - and not only would that be the first time in Raps history of course, but I don't see that we currently have the team to entice available FAs.

[edquantum]

fibaeurope.com: Jonas, how does it feel to be named the best young player in Europe?
Jonas Valanciunas: It feels really good. It's very satisfying to be chosen as the best young player of the year. It's an honour. Knowing that people believe in you and value your game is a genuinely a great feeling.
fibaeurope.com: Does this achievement stand out from other personal awards in any way?
Valanciunas: I don't really like looking back into what has already been left in the past. The most important thing for me now is to work on the court. Maybe, when I finish my career, it will be nice to go back in time and think about which award is the most special for me. However, if I concentrate on the wrong things right now, it could have a negative impact, so I'm just focused on working on my game and improving every day.
fibaeurope.com: What is number one in your priority list at the moment?
Valanciunas: The only thing I really think about now is my team, Lietuvos Rytas. We're focusing on one each game individually, doing our best to take a victory in every one of them. We have high goals both in Eurocup and the Lithuanian league, both of which we are hoping to win. We are trying, working hard and we'll see how things turn out in the end of the season.
fibaeurope.com: Are you excited about another summer with the national team?
Valanciunas: Yes, I'm definitely looking forward to spending another summer with the guys. Of course, it would be nice to have some rest, but I think there will be just enough time for that after the season ends. I'm excited about the summer and I have already spoken with coach Kemzura about some details. I think it's going to be a great summer.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

I'm guessing 9, 9 and 1 per 36, or something like 6/7/0.7 in 25mpg, is more likely

If I somehow knew for sure jonas was going to avg 6 pts next year in 25mpg I would probably have a good cry about it right now.

[raptor21_85]

I'm guessing 9, 9 and 1 per 36, or something like 6/7/0.7 in 25mpg, is more likely

If I somehow knew for sure jonas was going to avg 6 pts next year in 25mpg I would probably have a good cry about it right now.

Dr Mufasa is a Valanciunas hater, so he will always write the worst scenario...

[clockwork]

We all know what he meant. It was still a stupid thing to do - great, you're confident and you're establishing your cajones, but you're still calling out arguably the best C on the planet when you've proven nothing yourself and you've never played against him. It's not as though Howard is slow or anything. Talk about setting yourself up for total embarrassment....

this is just ridiculous. some people love patrolling the hate trail.

it was nothing more than a spare of the moment joke. i think he knows that howard is arguable the best c in the world.

[Dr Positivity]

I'm guessing 9, 9 and 1 per 36, or something like 6/7/0.7 in 25mpg, is more likely

If I somehow knew for sure jonas was going to avg 6 pts next year in 25mpg I would probably have a good cry about it right now.

He's a project, will be thin for C and will need an adjustment period to get used to the NBA game and speed. Even Splitter and Pekovic who were much older and developed had to feel themselves out for a year before translating their games. None of Splitter, Pekovic, or Mozgov broke 6ppg their rookie years. If JVal close to this year's Amir offensively that's pretty optimistic. 9ppg per 36 isn't that bad. It means 13+ in his prime is likely with some development. I think over 13 points a game in his prime is as much as we should expect.

I hope people are ready to be patient with JVal because he's not going to come in and be present day Gortat. The plan is to have him turn into Gortat in his 3rd or 4th year, after strong physical development, getting used to the game and having a deadeye midrange shot.

JVal should just get his armor on now because the RealGM overreaction wahmbulance is going to have their way with him as he goes through the Derozan, Bargnani 3-4 year development period

[realball]

I think if Ed Davis can drop 7 and 7 in his rookie year, then Jonas can probably do better than 6 and 7.

I'm expecting 10/8 in 30 mpg.

[ATLTimekeeper]

None of those players came even close to 25 minutes. There's only 3 players this season averaging over 25 minutes a game and scoring less than 6 points. And two of them are over the age of 37. It's only happend 30 times in the last ten years. That's a pretty bold prediction for someone who's best skills are finishing around the basket and shooting free throws.

[edquantum]

Valanciunas is one of the most overrated prospects I've ever seen. All I see is a guy who's really long and can get to rebounds in an inferior league. I'm not sure if I'd rank him a top 15 prospect in this draft. I just don't get it.

Yeah yeah, that's the same hater. Who cares your pathetic opinion? You posting the same bs again and again in all related threads.

[Dr Positivity]

Maybe 6 in 25mpg is a few minutes too high and a few pts too low, if it's that rare

Nevertheless the point was a player doing Amir, Zaza, Collision things offensively his first season (8-10ppg per 36 in 18-25mpg). That's not an insult for a rookie project C drafted for his defense and rebounding potential, playing in his first year adjusting from Europe, who got picked between prospects as mediocore as Tristan Thompson and Jan Vesely

[Mefisto]

Valanciunas is one of the most overrated prospects I've ever seen. All I see is a guy who's really long and can get to rebounds in an inferior league. I'm not sure if I'd rank him a top 15 prospect in this draft. I just don't get it.

Yeah yeah, that's the same hater. Who cares your pathetic opinion? You posting the same bs again and again in all related threads.

Don't pay attention to DrMufasa hate, Jonas must represent some bad memories for him. Share with us Mufasa, don''t keep it secret.

[raptor21_85]

Jonas will be great, not only because we are hoping for it, but because analysts and experts say he has potential, I guess DrMufasa wants Jonas to struggle for whatever reason he only knows...

[NiL8r87]

who got picked between prospects as mediocore as Tristan Thompson and Jan Vesely

Gortat was drafted between Amir and Slokar. What's your point?

[ATLTimekeeper]

Maybe 6 in 25mpg is a few minutes too high and a few pts too low, if it's that rare

Nevertheless the point was a player doing Amir, Zaza, Collision things offensively his first season (8-10ppg per 36 in 18-25mpg). That's not an insult for a rookie project C drafted for his defense and rebounding potential, playing in his first year adjusting from Europe, who got picked between prospects as mediocore as Tristan Thompson and Jan Vesely

Well, it's likely that he'll get 20 minutes a game. I'm not saying it's definite, but all BC's first round picks have played more than 20 minutes, regardless of the season's outlook and their incoming level of production (Bargs and DeMar were going for the playoffs, Ed was during a rebuild). I checked, and there's only been 10 rookies in the past decade that have averaged less than 6 points while playing 20 minutes or more. Most of them were guys that were really weak offensively (Jose Calderon, Reggie Evans, Brandon Haywood, Quinton Ross, Joel Anthony, Chris Duhon). That's the kind of company he'd be keeping.

[realball]

Maybe 6 in 25mpg is a few minutes too high and a few pts too low, if it's that rare

Nevertheless the point was a player doing Amir, Zaza, Collision things offensively his first season (8-10ppg per 36 in 18-25mpg). That's not an insult for a rookie project C drafted for his defense and rebounding potential, playing in his first year adjusting from Europe, who got picked between prospects as mediocore as Tristan Thompson and Jan Vesely

Really, you think that he won't amount to much because of the guys drafted ahead and after him? Did you say the same thing about Noah when he got drafted between Brandan Wright and Spencer Hawes? I think you're getting really desperate for reasons to make Val look bad.

[parks3981]

Maybe 6 in 25mpg is a few minutes too high and a few pts too low, if it's that rare

Nevertheless the point was a player doing Amir, Zaza, Collision things offensively his first season (8-10ppg per 36 in 18-25mpg). That's not an insult for a rookie project C drafted for his defense and rebounding potential, playing in his first year adjusting from Europe, who got picked between prospects as mediocore as Tristan Thompson and Jan Vesely

Really, you think that he won't amount to much because of the guys drafted ahead and after him? Did you say the same thing about Noah when he got drafted between Brandan Wright and Spencer Hawes? I think you're getting really desperate for reasons to make Val look bad.

I agree. Raps fans have seen and heard enough about Val to be excited about his future potential. Does it mean it will translate to the NBA and everyone has to be a believer, no. But you are going to have to come up with much more concrete arguments to support your point if I am even going to begin to give them any validity.

[dagger]

I've tried to keep a damper on some of the wilder expectations here for Jonas, because he will be rookie he won't be exempt from the first year tribulations that impact most rookies. He's not at a scoring position for us, so it's unrealistic to assume double digit offence from him. It could happen, but I wouldn't assume it, and if he doesn't walk on water as a rookie, it won't cause me to reduce my ceiling for him.

He has a lot to learn. Offensively, he has a lot of room to improve his post play. He has a nice jumpshot, but he uses it so infrequently in the Rytas scheme of things that it will take time for him to find favorite places on the court to use it at a decent percentage. And I can go down the line of things that will hold him back as a rookie, including foul trouble, shot selection, adjusting to NBA travel and learning new offensive and defensive schemes.

And it's true, the league is full of young big men who can do some of the things he can.

But I apply seven filters to Jonas and the rest of those young big men.

Filter #1 - Remove all who aren't at least 6'11 with a 7'0-plus wingspan
Filter #2 - Remove all who don't show good shooting mechanics
Filter #3 - Remove all who get discouraged or bored when they are overlooked time and time again after setting up to receive the ball
Filter #4 - Remove all who don't make themselves available for a pass on every single possession
Filter #5 - Remove all who can't execute a quick roll to the basket on the pick and roll
Filter #6 - Remove all who don't have good offensive rebounding instincts
Filter #7 - Remove all who can't make 80% of their free throws

Once you apply those seven filters and realize you are talking about a very short list (that might include Monroe and Cousins), you can appreciate my optimism that as Jonas improves his strength, post footwork, etc, and benefits from Casey's sound defensive system, he can be a major stud. Even Blake Griffin, though a massive presence in some respects, lacks that height and wing span, is a mediocre defender, with a mediocre jump shot who makes only 50% of his free throws (so foul him all you want). If the media were objective and not just trend followers, they'd note the holes in his game and wonder how much better he'd be... So yes, Jonas will have holes in his game, but I'm confident that the sum of his positives will make him a stud in 2-3 years. Some day, we might even have an all-star point guard who can lead him the way Chris Paul is making Griffin look even better...

[Dr Positivity]

I'm the Valanciunas hater like I was the Derozan hater. People were so mad when I said DD being called a freak athlete was a joke and that Henderson was more athletic, that Derozan was unlikely to be a ballhandling wing in the NBA, and that his absolute upside was JRich

Comparisons to Amir, Varejao and Gortat as his floor/most likely/upside as an insult is just as bizarre as those reactions. Those are good, great and all-star caliber players respectively. If Val is Varejao or Gortat that's the right pick at #5 and I'll eat crow for not being more on board with it, because Varejao at 5 in that draft >>> getting a B combo guard who puts up shots, if that's what the alternatives like Kemba and Jimmer end up being