Jonas Valanciunas 11/12 Season Thread III

[UcanUwill]

why didn't Jonas play well today? missed the game. did the get him touches

Zalgiris defense, and horrible rotations.

Looks like coach is cooking up something for the Lithuanian finals and CSKA, or at least pretending to. He was not even trying today, rotations made no sense, bench warmers played main minutes, best scorer did not played all, the whole game was incredibly weird.
Back up C had a better game, so it was understandable to play him later on, but weird subs were made earlier in a game.
Jonas had 2 FGA. Team has no idea how to use him. Can't wait for the next season, this Rytas team is truly frustrating.

[xprt]

They just tanked this game to rest and prepare team for VTBL and LKL finals

[Yoga]

why didn't Jonas play well today? missed the game. did the get him touches

Zalgiris defense, and horrible rotations.

Looks like coach is cooking up something for the Lithuanian finals and CSKA, or at least pretending to. He was not even trying today, rotations made no sense, bench warmers played main minutes, best scorer did not played all, the whole game was incredibly weird.
Back up C had a better game, so it was understandable to play him later on, but weird subs were made earlier in a game.
Jonas had 2 FGA. Team has no idea how to use him. Can't wait for the next season, this Rytas team is truly frustrating.

How is the Lithuanian National Team...are they well coached?

[kingz32]

Casey needs to be drawing up a Valanciunas playbook right now!!! I say we make Demar the third option if Val shows that he can flourish offensively. I'm sure Demar would like that as he doesn't like getting double teamed due to his poor passing vision and weak handle.

[UcanUwill]

How is the Lithuanian National Team...are they well coached?

I would say Lithuanian team is well coached, but LT coach dropped the ball big time last summer by :

first - taking absolute stiff, non rebounding injury prone Center M. Petravicius,
and second, making him a second center of the bench, while Valanciunas was not even playing. He got his chance jsut few games after, because Petravicius got injured again.

Bottom line. LT team is usually well coached, but you cant truly trust them.

[Yoga]

How is the Lithuanian National Team...are they well coached?

I would say Lithuanian team is well coached, but LT coach dropped the ball big time last summer by :

first - taking absolute stiff, non rebounding injury prone Center M. Petravicius,
and second, making him a second center of the bench, while Valanciunas was not even playing. He got his chance jsut few games after, because Petravicius got injured again.

Bottom line. LT team is usually well coached, but you cant truly trust them.

As Raps fan, we are looking at how the Lithuanian NT will help Jonas V's development, especially in the olympics. What is the starting lineup look like:

C-Jonas Valanciunas
PF - Donatas Motiejunas
SF - Linas Kleiza
SG - ?
PG - ?

[JV4MVP]

How is the Lithuanian National Team...are they well coached?

I would say Lithuanian team is well coached, but LT coach dropped the ball big time last summer by :

first - taking absolute stiff, non rebounding injury prone Center M. Petravicius,
and second, making him a second center of the bench, while Valanciunas was not even playing. He got his chance jsut few games after, because Petravicius got injured again.

Bottom line. LT team is usually well coached, but you cant truly trust them.

As Raps fan, we are looking at how the Lithuanian NT will help Jonas V's development, especially in the olympics. What is the starting lineup look like:

C-Jonas Valanciunas
PF - Donatas Motiejunas
SF - Linas Kleiza
SG - ?
PG - ?

Lol... Motiejunas will probably not even make the roster. Lithuania is stacked with talent.:

C - Javtokas
PF - Kleiza
SF - Maciulus
SG - Pocius
PG - Kalneitis

Jonas will come off the bench. Kleiza may be a SF and Pocius is not a perfect SG but we'll see what happens during the summer.

I apologize as I cannot spell the names.

[xprt]

It depends who will play :
starters
C - Javtokas
PF - K. Lavrinovic
SF - Kleiza
SG - Kaukenas
PG - Kalnietis
If Jasikevicius will play Jonas with him probably will come from bench to give second unit punch power ( Jasikevicius is way better playmaker than Kalnietis but old so he can't play alot minutes so Jonas will benifit from playing with him from bench rather starting with Kalnietis):
bench
C- Valanciunas
PF- Songaila/Motiejunas or Jankunas
SF- Maciulis or Jasaitis
SG-Pocius/Seibutis
PG -Jasikevicius

[UcanUwill]

^ You know something, that is impressive. Motiejunas shouldn't make it, but I got a bad feeling that they go young and take him anyway. Well, if he plays limited role and stays coachable, he could give some positives on the court and can be really good. But I doubt that happens...

I see preliminary roster has 25 names. But I am pretty sure not everyones coming. However, those are Starting 5 locks IMO.

C- Javtokas
PF - Kleiza
---
PG - Kalnietis

Several solid SG's, but somehow, all SF's are washed up. It used to be the most deep position, now it just sucks.

It depends who will play :

I dont follow LKF at all. What are the chances Jasikevicius, kaukenas and K. Lavrinovic participate ? They are very important.

[raptor21_85]

idk much about Lithuanian NT, but let me understand smth, you're saying Donatas wouldnt make the NT because theres enough talent in the present roster?? also you are saying Jonas would come off the bench..
and what should be the goal for Lithuania in the Olympics? IK is the gold medal, but being more objective and realist..

[UcanUwill]

idk much about Lithuanian NT, but let me understand smth, you're saying Donatas wouldnt make the NT because theres enough talent in the present roster?? also you are saying Jonas would come off the bench..
and what should be the goal for Lithuania in the Olympics? IK is the gold medal, but being more objective and realist..

I think Donut is bad, i said it number of times before. Anyway, yes, Lithuania is deep in PF position, there is no need to take inefficient enigma scorer. He has talent, and if he kills it during camp, he can make it tho. But I hope he doesnt, because I really dont believe in him.

Javtokas is not better than Valanciunas, but I think he should start, and he probably will. Its probably for the best.

Lithunian goal is to win medals. Since independence, Lithuania didnt missed a single Olympic semifinal, so thats a hint for you. Full pace : third, third, third, forth, forth...

[raptor21_85]

thanks and best of luck to Lithuania in the Olympics,
btw, i didnt say im a fan of Donatas, was just asking lol

[Dontd]

Donatas will definetely make it to olympics or to the roster that competes for olympics, he would have made it even in 2010 WC if Lithuanian basketball federation wasn't against him playing for senior team because of his refusal to play for U20 or U19 team a year ago (or that same year).

[xprt]

idk much about Lithuanian NT, but let me understand smth, you're saying Donatas wouldnt make the NT because theres enough talent in the present roster?? also you are saying Jonas would come off the bench..
and what should be the goal for Lithuania in the Olympics? IK is the gold medal, but being more objective and realist..

Yea PF is stacked Songaila is former NBA player, Lavrinovic is NBA level player Raptors there interesting in him in past but he couldnt go to NBA because of his problems with law, coach didnt even invite another brother Lavrinovic who is CSKA player because he didn't played enought so PF bar is high this year. Motiejunas best chance would be to make as 3rd PF though Kleiza can play PF so I don't know even if they need 3 PF.
Jonas will come from bench if Jasikevicius will go to to team he is old 36 years but last year he was balling in limited minutes something like 10 pt 4 assist in 17min ~55fg%. He and Jonas have great chemistry and Jasikevicius is probably still best pnr pg in Europe. So they are like made for each other.
To Ucan I am almost sure Lavrinovic will play, high chances Kaukenas will too, Jasikevicius said he will think about it after season is over 50/50

[xprt]

Donatas will definetely make it to olympics or to the roster that competes for olympics, he would have made it even in 2010 WC if Lithuanian basketball federation wasn't against him playing for senior team because of his refusal to play for U20 or U19 team a year ago (or that same year).

Lol what does have Lith basketball federation have to do with coach decision? Everyone is talking he and Jonas is Lithuania national team future just Donut was not mature and experienced enough to make last year. He seemed lost every game... When you got great veterans and expectations are to win medals you don't take players because of developing them same think will be this year. Anything less than top 4 in Olympics would be disappointing as Lith make it every Olympics so if Donut will not be better than other PFs no one gonna take him because of developing.....

[Dontd]

Believe me Basketball federation has a lot to do with decisions, Jonas wouldn't have normally made to team if he hadnt been that popular and succeesful at the time, plus Lithuanian needed a new basketball icon after Sabonis and ageing Jasikevicius. I'm not saying that he didn't deserve it, but in fact he was taken as a 3rd C and it was lucky coinsidence that he made a nice debut in senior team.

[xprt]

Yea right so it does nothing have to do with Jonas dominating in national team preparation games but rather with his popularity? I got it right? And poor Motiejunas was so good in preparations but coach decided he wont make it because he did not play in u20? You are probably insider so I will believe you

[Dontd]

Pre games and championship are two pretty much different things shall you played some sports in your life you would know. The fact is that he wouldn't have played at all except crappy teams if Petravicius wasn't injured.

[nelabai]

Last year Motiejunas sucked at preparations, Valanciunas performed. Coach did not want to take the risk and it was a good decission. This year, finally Donatas showed he can play and he will make the team, no doubt.

[Dontd]

Donatas is very dependent on things like coach, team, etc... He needs suitable team, otherwise Jonas has been succeesful in every team he played, I cannot say that Donatas wasn't succeesful, but he wasn't quite the guy that you expected him to be. That's the reason why Jonas has a better career so far though he is 2 years younger. While Donatas has skills, Jonas has extremely good personality for sports which drives him to succees.