Jonas Valanciunas: 7-footer has the makings of a star

caesarspoke · Post #1 » by **caesarspoke** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:50 pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... --nba.html

"He loves to dunk. Everything around the rim, he just tries to tear the rim down."
Describing the game of Lithuanian national team teammate Jonas Valanciunas, Real Madrid guard Martynas Pocius didn't waste any time before mentioning the dunking. It's Valanciunas' favorite thing. Actually, rebounding and dunking, Valanciunas says, when asked what he loves best when on the basketball court.
...
Lithuanians are relieved that Valanciunas recognized his gifts and fell in love with their sport. Arvydas Sabonis, a Hall of Famer and the most talented pivot man ever to come out of Lithuania, was quoted in a story by Sports Illustrated writer Luke Winn as saying, "…Valanciunas is the future of our country. We don't have another big man like him."

Pocius, who played at Duke for four seasons before returning to Europe to play for Zalgiris Kaunas and now Real Madrid, also said that Valanciunas has the right stuff to make it in the league."First of all, he's a great kid," Pocius said. "Has heart, great attitude, hard working. He's also very, very gifted. Really athletic, really long arms and he definitely takes advantage of that. Especially in pick and rolls. He picks and then he rolls really well with his arms up the whole time. If you just give the ball to him, just (motioning with his hands) boom. Dunk. I think it's going to be exciting to watch him as the season goes on. He'll adjust more and more to the game and it'll be more and more fun to watch him. I think with time he will get stronger, like I said this is just the beginning. I think he can make an impact right from the start for sure."

KembaWalker · Post #2 » by **KembaWalker** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:55 pm

this thread will go well

Johnny Firpo · Post #3 » by **Johnny Firpo** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:56 pm

Don't know about being a star, but he has a severely underrated offensive game, and skill level, that's for sure. Let's see how he does though, i'm rooting for him as hard as any Raptor fan, and i think he's a sure thing in the sense that he's gonna be a double-double machine in no time, but star? We're just gonna have to wait with that.

R1G · Post #4 » by **R1G** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:57 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy7Ex3bi6Gs[/youtube]

8-)

22haytham22 · Post #5 » by **22haytham22** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:01 pm

He does have the makings of a star...so does 30 percent of the players that are drafted every year....it all depends on being the right situation, hard work and luck of staying healthy that can put a player over the top...

Post #6 » by **Yuri Vaultin** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:04 pm

KembaWalker wrote:this thread will go well

What a wonderful contribution. You were almost able to derail it with the very first post after the OP. Please, either add to the thread or don't bother posting at all.

On topic: He has an amazing motor, work ethic and all the physical tools to succeed at this level.

Pablonis · Post #7 » by **Pablonis** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:08 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vuViOqFXXI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR4Jx5FXcik[/youtube]

mademan · Post #8 » by **mademan** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:09 pm

He's looking more like a poor mans young Gasol offensively.

KembaWalker · Post #9 » by **KembaWalker** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:10 pm

Yuri Vaultin wrote:
KembaWalker wrote:this thread will go well

What a wonderful contribution. You were almost able to derail it with the very first post after the OP. Please, either add to the thread or don't bother posting at all.

On topic: He has an amazing motor, work ethic and all the physical tools to succeed at this level.

its not even a thread its just a blog article he ripped off another website and posted here with no actual discussion. get over it. if it wasnt about a player you liked you'd have locked it

caesarspoke · Post #10 » by **caesarspoke** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:17 pm

KembaWalker wrote:
Yuri Vaultin wrote:
KembaWalker wrote:this thread will go well

What a wonderful contribution. You were almost able to derail it with the very first post after the OP. Please, either add to the thread or don't bother posting at all.

On topic: He has an amazing motor, work ethic and all the physical tools to succeed at this level.

its not even a thread its just a blog article he ripped off another website and posted here with no actual discussion. get over it. if it wasnt about a player you liked you'd have locked it

It's actually an article on the front page of Yahoo Sports, people post article here all the time, I don't really why you find this to be so objectionable. If something is not interesting to you, don't read it.

caesarspoke · Post #11 » by **caesarspoke** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:18 pm

mademan wrote:He's looking more like a poor mans young Gasol offensively.

he looks a lot more athletics than the young Gasol, unlike Gasol he actually like to bang down low

droponov · Post #12 » by **droponov** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:21 pm

R1G wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy7Ex3bi6Gs[/youtube]

Matt Devlin has been atrocious for years; now he can't even get the names of his team players right. Vesely? C'mon.

I was watching this game without much attention and on mute (Devlin commentating oblige) and actually thought it was Bargnani doing that play. Double pump fake and 3 step drive.

Raemizzle · Post #13 » by **Raemizzle** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:25 pm

I am really excited to see how he''s turning out. He's going to have A LOT of potential

Omar CominYo · Post #14 » by **Omar CominYo** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:29 pm

droponov wrote:
R1G wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy7Ex3bi6Gs[/youtube]

Matt Devlin has been atrocious for years; now he can't even get the names of his team players right. Vesely? C'mon.

I was watching this game without much attention and on mute (Devlin commentating oblige) and actually thought it was Bargnani doing that play. Double pump fake and 3 step drive.

^Devlin is a good commentator, it's a shame that so many people hate him just because he has a few slip ups every now and then. The guy is the most knowledgable (not just about basketball, but all sports) commentator I've ever listened to and easily the best we've ever had. He always has something interesting to talk about during the game. Plus I don't see people whining about how horrible he is when he does playoff games for other teams.

droponov · Post #15 » by **droponov** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:35 pm

I've been complaining about Devlin since he was in Memphis. He's awful and it's appalling how he keeps getting playoff and international games. It's not really the bad calls for me; the disassociation between his hysterical tone inflections and what's happening on the court is just unbearable.

Strange Clouds · Post #16 » by **Strange Clouds** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:04 pm

His ceiling is Kenny Thomas

NBA Fan 1234 · Post #17 » by **NBA Fan 1234** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:07 pm

I Love PA wrote:His ceiling is Kenny Thomas

The 6'7 PF? :-?

I like Val (especially as a defensive player). High energy, looks to be quick on (and getting off) his feet. Not sure if he'll be an elite offensive player, but I expect him to be an impact player.

Ice Trae · Post #18 » by **Ice Trae** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:10 pm

he has poor mans gasol written all over him

NBA Fan 1234 · Post #19 » by **NBA Fan 1234** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:11 pm

BasedJohnson wrote:he has poor mans gasol written all over him

The Gasols are two of the most offensively gifted big men in the NBA (and have been since they entered the league).

I don't see it...but, hey, that's just me.

Post #20 » by **Yuri Vaultin** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:13 pm

BasedJohnson wrote:he has poor mans gasol written all over him

or rich man's Noah?