Jonas Valanciunas Summer Discussion Thread (Olympics!)

[UcanUwill]

YAAYYYY NIGERIA IN THE OLYMPICS Lithuanian NT has been so sub par this summer. They aren't what they used to be

They are in qualifying 4-finals, and they are huge underdogs. They are far from Olympics.

[KingstonRaptors]

The raptors curse continues... J Val is a bust lol

He still had a decent 10pts 5reb 1bl 5/6 fg game, but should have played better

He could easily have had a few more buckets, couldn't finish strong around the basket was disappointing,

[UcanUwill]

Greece - Puerto Rico. Winer gets Nigeria, loser ends up with Lithuania in quarterfinals.

[JV4MVP]

So how much did Nigeria need to win by allow Venezuela to advance? Was it one/two plays away? What's the exact #/scenario?

Also, LTU still got 1st so this is the same as the best scenario right? What difference would it have been if LTU won?

[nahom1319]

So how much did Nigeria need to win by allow Venezuela to advance? Was it one/two plays away? What's the exact #/scenario?

Also, LTU still got 1st so this is the same as the best scenario right? What difference would it have been if LTU won?

I heard the announcers say 20, i heard a poster say 35. I'd believe the poster over those clowns in the booth.

[nelabai]

So how much did Nigeria need to win by allow Venezuela to advance? Was it one/two plays away? What's the exact #/scenario?

Also, LTU still got 1st so this is the same as the best scenario right? What difference would it have been if LTU won?

None, only Venezuela would have qualified as second best team

[Los Manos]

So how much did Nigeria need to win by allow Venezuela to advance? Was it one/two plays away? What's the exact #/scenario?

Also, LTU still got 1st so this is the same as the best scenario right? What difference would it have been if LTU won?

Nah it wasn't that close. But if Lithuania had won, Venezuela would have finished second and qualified.

All 3 teams finished on 3pts with the points differential as follows:

Lithuania - (+12)
Nigeria - (+4)
Venezuela - (-16)

[JV4MVP]

So how much did Nigeria need to win by allow Venezuela to advance? Was it one/two plays away? What's the exact #/scenario?

Also, LTU still got 1st so this is the same as the best scenario right? What difference would it have been if LTU won?

I heard the announcers say 20, i heard a poster say 35. I'd believe the poster over those clowns in the booth.

So the booth guy was just exaggerating that LTU didn't foul? It would've made no difference if the lead was slightly cut or extended right?

Goddamn American people (coach of Venezuela, the booth guys & myself... on independence day) embarrassing themselves.

* Thanks nelabai and Los Manos

[kingz32]

If Val ends up being a bust.....this Raptors organization has no hope for at least another 5-6 years. I'm not saying he will be a bust but when you play teams like this without authoritative big men that he's going up against, you have to expect him to have better performances. I understand that this is a NT game and he's not going to go out and drop 20 &10 in them, but I'd like to see him pull down a few more rebounds at the very least. I like his game, but I don't think that he'll ever be able to bang down low with NBA bigs. He'll still be effective of course but he'll have to rely heavily on length and positioning in order to succeed. I really like his quick springs when he goes for the alley oop slam off the pick and roll it's almost Howardesque the way he gets up there. But for him the main thing I'd stress is footwork on the low block. He has the finishing ability, just needs more moves. If he can be a 15 PPG & 10RPG Center then that would be amazing. I just hope that Casey actually makes him somewhat of a priority in the offense so in a few years time he can accept the responsibility of producing offensively every night.

[UcanUwill]

Lithuania had 1-0 record with + 18 differential and with one game remaining (vs NIG)
Nigeria had 0-1 record, -2 differential and one game remaining (vs LTU)
Venezuela had 1-1 with -16


If Nigeria won by 10+, they would have clinched first seed, leaving Lithuania in a second place.
If Nigeria won by 34+, they would have clinched first seed, eliminated Lithuania
IF Lithunia won, Venezuela advances

[Los Manos]

While the points differential wasn't the difference in the teams qualifying it still speaks to how idiotic it was for Venezuela to get so heated for Lithuania trying to get an extra basket at the end of the first game. These aren't NBA games, qualifying 'could' come down to that small margin and I think Kezmura was right to take the time-out.

[Thespianoid]

I'm an American as well, and I don't think either of the booth guys were Americans judging by their accents. But I could be wrong.

[JV4MVP]

I'm an American as well, and I don't think either of the booth guys were Americans judging by their accents. But I could be wrong.

They were from the South. One of the guy even said that his father went to the US. Regardless their English is closest to the US as any English speaking country. I lived in Atlanta btw

[Los Manos]

I'm an American as well, and I don't think either of the booth guys were Americans judging by their accents. But I could be wrong.

Well they certainly weren't British or Australian. They sounded American to me.

[Dr Positivity]

If Val ends up being a bust.....this Raptors organization has no hope for at least another 5-6 years. I'm not saying he will be a bust but when you play teams like this without authoritative big men that he's going up against, you have to expect him to have better performances. I understand that this is a NT game and he's not going to go out and drop 20 &10 in them, but I'd like to see him pull down a few more rebounds at the very least. I like his game, but I don't think that he'll ever be able to bang down low with NBA bigs. He'll still be effective of course but he'll have to rely heavily on length and positioning in order to succeed. I really like his quick springs when he goes for the alley oop slam off the pick and roll it's almost Howardesque the way he gets up there. But for him the main thing I'd stress in footwork on the low block. He has the finishing ability, just needs more moves. If he can be a 15 PPG & 10RPG Center then that would be amazing. I just hope that Casey actually makes him somewhat of a priority in the offense so in a few years time he can accept the responsibility of producing offensively every night.

The one thing forgive able about Val busting would be how bad the top 10 in 2011 is already. It's not like Minnesota, Utah, Cleveland, Washington, Charlotte, Detroit had franchise changing picks. Nobody had Burks, Motiejunas, Leonard, Faried as top 10 picks so it would be seen as a wtf can you do situation.

I said this last year but there wasn't really any reason to separate #5 in 2011 from #9 in 2009 or #13 in 2010. The quality of players available at 5 made it equivalent to a 9th-13th pick. So Val should've been treated a lot more like the Demar and Ed picks than a top 5 pick franchise changer.

[nelabai]

If Val ends up being a bust.....this Raptors organization has no hope for at least another 5-6 years. I'm not saying he will be a bust but when you play teams like this without authoritative big men that he's going up against, you have to expect him to have better performances. I understand that this is a NT game and he's not going to go out and drop 20 &10 in them, but I'd like to see him pull down a few more rebounds at the very least. I like his game, but I don't think that he'll ever be able to bang down low with NBA bigs. He'll still be effective of course but he'll have to rely heavily on length and positioning in order to succeed. I really like his quick springs when he goes for the alley oop slam off the pick and roll it's almost Howardesque the way he gets up there. But for him the main thing I'd stress in footwork on the low block. He has the finishing ability, just needs more moves. If he can be a 15 PPG & 10RPG Center then that would be amazing. I just hope that Casey actually makes him somewhat of a priority in the offense so in a few years time he can accept the responsibility of producing offensively every night.

With Nash not signing and FA market nightmare, people will put heavy pressure on Jonas and it's not going to be pretty.

He's not ready to be a major impact guy, he needs 2-3 more years to be productive in the league as most 20 year old centers.

[UcanUwill]

So the booth guy was just exaggerating that LTU didn't foul? It would've made no difference if the lead was slightly cut or extended right?

If Nigeria won by 10+, they would have clinched first seed, leaving Lithuania in a second place.

They were 4 points away from loosing first seed.

I like commentators. Was surprised how good they pronounce Lithuanian names. Pocius is the only name they cant properly pronounce.

[kingz32]

If Val ends up being a bust.....this Raptors organization has no hope for at least another 5-6 years. I'm not saying he will be a bust but when you play teams like this without authoritative big men that he's going up against, you have to expect him to have better performances. I understand that this is a NT game and he's not going to go out and drop 20 &10 in them, but I'd like to see him pull down a few more rebounds at the very least. I like his game, but I don't think that he'll ever be able to bang down low with NBA bigs. He'll still be effective of course but he'll have to rely heavily on length and positioning in order to succeed. I really like his quick springs when he goes for the alley oop slam off the pick and roll it's almost Howardesque the way he gets up there. But for him the main thing I'd stress in footwork on the low block. He has the finishing ability, just needs more moves. If he can be a 15 PPG & 10RPG Center then that would be amazing. I just hope that Casey actually makes him somewhat of a priority in the offense so in a few years time he can accept the responsibility of producing offensively every night.

The one thing forgive able about Val busting would be how bad the top 10 in 2011 is already. It's not like Minnesota, Utah, Cleveland, Washington, Charlotte, Detroit had franchise changing picks. Nobody had Burks, Motiejunas, Leonard, Faried as top 10 picks so it would be seen as a wtf can you do situation.

I said this last year but there wasn't really any reason to separate #5 in 2011 from #9 in 2009 or #13 in 2010. The quality of players available at 5 made it equivalent to a 9th-13th pick. So Val should've been treated a lot more like the Demar and Ed picks than a top 5 pick franchise changer.

great point. i agree. it was definitely a weak draft. If he just ends up being a bust then in reality we can't complain really. However, i really feel that the Raptors organization is really pushing him on the public and falsely anointing him as a savior. The kid is going to need a lot of time and I love the fact that we have Quincy Acy now because Acy will give Val such a hard time in the paint in practice that he's really going to toughen the kid up and turn him into a brute. But Val really needs time, and I think most educated posters on here recognize that, but of course the casual fan will not understand this reality.

[UcanUwill]

Hopefully no one had Burks, Motiejunas, Leonard and Faried in top 10

Compared to how weak that draft was, Faried is definitely a top 10 pick, although his ceilings are low. And I doubt anyone would be that crazy to trade Jonas for Faried right now, if they had a chance.

Motiejunas is inferior Lithuanian prospect, with more horrendous defense, and incredibly inefficient scoring ability. He is inferior to VAL in every way, and you hyping that guy and hating on Val simply makes no sense.

Leonard was trashed by Valanciunas during exhibition game, then ''went Rambo'' on them once again, and looked far better. Again, you claim Leonard is better, because he has like 4 inch superior lift and thats just silly. Again, it just makes no sense since Val clearly proved he was much better player last summer.

Another guy you love - Burks. He is the best of the bunch, but at the same time - lest exiting. Even if Jonas busts, doubt people will go nuts for not drafting Burks instead.

[JV4MVP]

^ Don't sleep on Motiejunas UcanUwill. We've debated this before. He, arguably, has more NBA potential than Jonas. You know the Euroleague game is much different.

The Rockets will be a lineup of rookies this year. He's going to have to outplay a few guys but if he does he can be pretty good.