Jonas Valanciunas Summer Discussion II

Mister Ze · Post #981 » by **Mister Ze** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:47 pm

xprt wrote:Jonas in two games averaging 5/4 in 12.5 minutes on 62,5 fg%

Per 36 of 14/12

On a more realistic note, he doesn't seem physically ready to play heavy minutes in the NBA since he has trouble with Scola.

JWiLL02 · Post #982 » by **JWiLL02** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:56 pm

Master Ze wrote:
xprt wrote:Jonas in two games averaging 5/4 in 12.5 minutes on 62,5 fg%

Per 36 of 14/12

On a more realistic note, he doesn't seem physically ready to play heavy minutes in the NBA since he has trouble with Scola.

I guess you missed the part where Scola didn't do much of anything directly against JV.

Post #983 » by **Patman** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:00 pm

Master Ze wrote:
xprt wrote:Jonas in two games averaging 5/4 in 12.5 minutes on 62,5 fg%

Per 36 of 14/12

On a more realistic note, he doesn't seem physically ready to play heavy minutes in the NBA since he has trouble with Scola.

JV held his own. Most NBA bigs have trouble guarding Scola one-on-one. Jonas doesn't have athletic wing teammates on the LTU NT that can aggresively double-team scoring bigs. He will on the Raps.

chuckerz · Post #984 » by **chuckerz** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:29 pm

Stat lines don't mean anything. Jonas has trouble with more experienced bigs. In the Argentina game, he got caught in the perimeter against the pick and roll Argentina ran with Scola. No doubt Jonas is talented, but if he can't stay on the court for his poor defense and foul trouble, how will he ever develop?

And it would be pretty scary if he's paired up with Bargnani who also isn't great defensively. The Raps will be picked apart by opposing bigs or even guards and wing players who tries to penetrate into the lane.

LLJ · Post #985 » by **LLJ** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:08 pm

Foul trouble is the guy's biggest problem. If he ever gets to play more than 25 minutes a game, he's going to put up numbers. I think the same issues will apply in the NBA. Playing past 15 minutes because of fouls is going to be a problem for him in year 1.

But if he gets over that, I feel he's gonna open eyes.

BalticGiants · Post #986 » by **BalticGiants** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:19 pm

Is it me or Valančiūnas scored 8 points against Args? At least I saw it. Not that it's very important...

I think JV looked amazing at the beggining of the game, but than these stupid fouls. He had to play at the end of the game though. Kemzura will have to give more minutes to JV eventually, IMO.

Clutch Carter · Post #987 » by **Clutch Carter** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:22 pm

chuckerz wrote:Stat lines don't mean anything. Jonas has trouble with more experienced bigs. In the Argentina game, he got caught in the perimeter against the pick and roll Argentina ran with Scola. No doubt Jonas is talented, but if he can't stay on the court for his poor defense and foul trouble, how will he ever develop?

And it would be pretty scary if he's paired up with Bargnani who also isn't great defensively. The Raps will be picked apart by opposing bigs or even guards and wing players who tries to penetrate into the lane.

Aside from some PnR issues, which I'm sure Casey can correct, JV did just fine against Scola from what I saw. In fact, he seemed to be the only one who could defend him.

BalticGiants · Post #988 » by **BalticGiants** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:25 pm

To be honest Kemzura overdid with saving JV...Let the guy play - who cares if he will foul out. At least try to play with real center as long as you can.

Post #989 » by **Alfred** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:30 pm

Elastic wrote:
StMikes31 wrote:
DG88 wrote:Not bad for just playing over 12 minutes a game so far.

With an atrocious PG as well.

Those atrocious PG's both posted 9 and 7 assists individually. Go figure...

And against Argentina, those guards were absolutely awful, so we'll split the difference and go with mediocre.

Post #990 » by **Rhettmatic** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:31 pm

Steve Simmons has a new feature on Jonas Valanciunas up:

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/07/31/jo ... or-raptors

At first glance of the 7-foot Valanciunas on a basketball court you see an athlete who isn’t as skinny as advertised. He’s not exactly built like LeBron James, either, but he’s not skinny the way Chris Bosh was in his first few years either. He seems, in some ways, to be the anti-Andrea Bargnani. He wants to play defence. He wants to be physical. He wants to get involved and rebound.

“My main weapon, I can run,” Valanciunas said post-game in a rare one-on-one interview in the mixed zone at the basketball venue. “I cannot say I’m really athletic. That’s not what you’ll see from me. But I can run, I can jump some, and that’s why I can play with these (NBA) guys. I’m not a player who just stands still. I don’t really like posting, I don’t like set offence. I like the pick and rolls. I like to play aggressive defence and rebound and I love [you could see this against the Nigerian team on American-based Nigerians] to block shots.”

Also features this non-update on Calderon's situation:

But Calderon, through his agent, has reportedly asked to be traded, after the Raptors signing of point guard Kyle Lowry. And in a text message response Tuesday, general manager Bryan Colangelo said nothing was new on the Calderon situation.

To date, Calderon himself has made no public statement on the matter. Why? “Because there is nothing to say,” he said. “This is the Olympics for now. I’m concentrating on the Olympics. There’s nothing else to say. Sorry.”

KarolisJ · Post #991 » by **KarolisJ** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:37 pm

I cant understand the number of minutes JV got... the coach didnt say anything about it or I cant find it. He could have played 25 minutes and scored 20 points, I believe

cookieman · Post #992 » by **cookieman** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:41 pm

I know before people much preferred he play in the Olympics than Vegas Summer League, but does every still feel that way?

12 minutes a game as a garbageman is pretty weak, especially against teams like Nigeria which would probably lose to Summer League teams. In fact, several of the Olympic teams would (and have) lost to summer league squads. Not sure it's such a slam dunk decision anymore.

orangeparka · Post #993 » by **orangeparka** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:44 pm

So his defense is poor and he fouls a lot? I thought his main game was his defensive potential.

xprt · Post #994 » by **xprt** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:53 pm

cookieman wrote:I know before people much preferred he play in the Olympics than Vegas Summer League, but does every still feel that way?

12 minutes a game as a garbageman is pretty weak, especially against teams like Nigeria which would probably lose to Summer League teams. In fact, several of the Olympic teams would (and have) lost to summer league squads. Not sure it's such a slam dunk decision anymore.

Please Nigeria would roll over every summer league team. They have NBA players and one of the most athletic teams in Olympics not to mention team chemistry. What would Jonas learn playing dominating Summer league competition he doesnt know already? I bet those 12 minutes against Scola and whatever he gets against USA will give him more.

xprt · Post #995 » by **xprt** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:58 pm

orangeparka wrote:So his defense is poor and he fouls a lot? I thought his main game was his defensive potential.

It is and thats why it called potential. He is good shotblocker especially from weakside, has quick feets for C to recover and great wingspan to contest shots. Atleast half of his fouls comes not from defending his man but from making screens, pushing or fouling on offence. When he adds weight and becomes stronger we will see that potential. Remember Dwight played at PF his first year because was to weak to guard centers. Big men needs time but is clearly he has potential to be good defender.

UcanUwill · Post #996 » by **UcanUwill** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:10 pm

orangeparka wrote:So his defense is poor and he fouls a lot? I thought his main game was his defensive potential.

How can ''potential'' be someones ''main game''? He has high defensive potential, and it was his main asset coming into draft.

ronleroy · Post #997 » by **ronleroy** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:13 pm

looks like the raptors great white hope isn't that great anymore...

Mack11 · Post #998 » by **Mack11** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:23 pm

damn one wiretap headline and all the fools turn on him.. its just one game you sheep

Tofubeque · Post #999 » by **Tofubeque** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:51 pm

Mack11 wrote:damn one wiretap headline and all the fools turn on him.. its just one game you sheep

Especially when the "poor defense" quote didn't even mention Jonas. It was about the whole team.

Yes, Jonas can't single-handedly make LTU a good defensive team. Oh noes.

cookieman · Post #1000 » by **cookieman** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 12:26 am

xprt wrote:
cookieman wrote:I know before people much preferred he play in the Olympics than Vegas Summer League, but does every still feel that way?

12 minutes a game as a garbageman is pretty weak, especially against teams like Nigeria which would probably lose to Summer League teams. In fact, several of the Olympic teams would (and have) lost to summer league squads. Not sure it's such a slam dunk decision anymore.

Please Nigeria would roll over every summer league team. They have NBA players and one of the most athletic teams in Olympics not to mention team chemistry. What would Jonas learn playing dominating Summer league competition he doesnt know already? I bet those 12 minutes against Scola and whatever he gets against USA will give him more.

Well China played in Summer League a few years back and went 1-4 and got blown out by 20+ in 3 of those games. Nigeria has 1 D Leaguer, 1 NCAA guy, 1 ex-NBA and 1 current NBA. Sure sounds like a summer league team to me.

You want Jonas getting experience being a role player? I don't. I want him playing like he's the man.