Zalgiris 2011-2012

[Illegal2k10]

Petravicius is a real gamble choise imo. He was injured like half time of his carrer and moreover he is even older now..
I would like to see Butkevicius - Klimavicius switch, only to see if Butkevicius dominance is real or he is only suitable for LKL.

[Straight forward]

You guys discussing wrong players. Since NBA season most likely will be cancelled I want Kleiza in Žalgiris And if Žalgiris would sign one more solid center and would add Mačiulis (too bad for Kuzminskas, it would be better for him to be in Rytas now) they would be ready for top16. I mean to win the games not to lose as usually.

[Illegal2k10]

You guys discussing wrong players. Since NBA season most likely will be cancelled I want Kleiza in Žalgiris And if Žalgiris would sign one more solid center and would add Mačiulis (too bad for Kuzminskas, it would be better for him to be in Rytas now) they would be ready for top16. I mean to win the games not to lose as usually.

Good point about Kleiza. He is a man Zalgiris should be after. As for Maciulis, as much as I like him, his position is full. Kuzminskas is really doing well, considering his role(personally I would gim a chance to be a starter next season, as guy is already capable to bring double digits aven against same tougher opponents). And Weems is going to be starter for whole season, thats for sure.
Once again I would like to see Maciulis in Zalgiris, but 30min Weems, 10min Kuzminskas looks better to me.

[sagenas]

Petravicius is a real gamble choise imo. He was injured like half time of his carrer and moreover he is even older now..
I would like to see Butkevicius - Klimavicius switch, only to see if Butkevicius dominance is real or he is only suitable for LKL.

You think Klimavičius would be worse in Rūdupis? Really?

[Illegal2k10]

You think Klimavičius would be worse in Rūdupis? Really?

I never said that. I would like to see how Butkevicius would do in the Euroleague and his progress. As for Tadas he is averaging 3.8p per almost 25 minutes with terrible fg percange so far. I think numbers says more thn enough aabout the level Klimavicius is showing right now.

[Mindozas]

I never said that. I would like to see how Butkevicius would do in the Euroleague and his progress. As for Tadas he is averaging 3.8p per almost 25 minutes with terrible fg percange so far. I think numbers says more thn enough aabout the level Klimavicius is showing right now.

Butkevicius wouldn't be any better and even worse IMO. The guy has no jump-shot what so ever. I don't know, didn't see him this season, maybe he improved a bit with that, but that was one of the main reasons why he couldn't bring his game to higher level. With his heigh - he simply too small to play as a C in EL and without any kind of shooting abilities he becomes sooo limited.
Klimavicius atleast can shoot, quite poor, but can, also has experience, better defender and is proven bench player in EL. The bad thing - he started to play more outside the paint and shoot from longer range. Hard to say why, maybe recent coaches can't use him properly. I remember few years back he was much more valuable, played more near the rim, even could be usefull as a C. Or maybe it has smth to do with changed rules from 2010-11 season, cause exactly then he started to play more outside the paint. Maybe with more space there he has some troubles to adopt to the changes, hell knows... But still, I wouldn't change Klimavicius to Butkevicius

[Illegal2k10]

Butkevicius wouldn't be any better and even worse IMO.

I tend to disagree. I dont see why and most important how its possible to play worse.

The guy has no jump-shot what so ever. I don't know, didn't see him this season, maybe he improved a bit with that, but that was one of the main reasons why he couldn't bring his game to higher level. With his heigh - he simply too small to play as a C in EL and without any kind of shooting abilities he becomes sooo limited.

I havent seen much of his game either, but he is dominating in the local leagues, even dominated Siauliai' front court with 26/11/2 and 33 eff..

In comparison Klimavicius is 2.04 with poor shooting skill and very poor inside game, while Butkevicius is 2.03 with non existant shooting touch, but very good, for local competitions, inside game. They both are natural fowards and Butkevicius is 5 yrs younger.

Im sure this guy is worth a chance, maybe not a switch as I mentioned(that would be way to drastic measure), but a real chance to prove himself.

[sagenas]

I havent seen much of his game either, but he is dominating in the local leagues, even dominated Siauliai' front court with 26/11/2 and 33 eff..

In comparison Klimavicius is 2.04 with poor shooting skill and very poor inside game, while Butkevicius is 2.03 with non existant shooting touch, but very good, for local competitions, inside game. They both are natural fowards and Butkevicius is 5 yrs younger.

Im sure this guy is worth a chance, maybe not a switch as I mentioned(that would be way to drastic measure), but a real chance to prove himself.

In last games, where Butkevičius dominated, Rūdupis had 2 front-court players - Želionis and Butkevičius at C and PF positions (+ Orelikas as PF). I'm not even mentioning his mates feed him with ball in every possession..in normal circumstances, he wouldn't be as dominating as he is right now.

[Basket_]

Vladimir Romanov:
Coach should work on the team, but not on his own image!

http://www.vtb-league.com/en/news/tr...voy-imidzh.htm

The main surprise in VTB United League championship at the moment, of course, is performance of Kaunas Zalgiris. One of the favorites of the tournament, the current champion of Lithuania and constant participant of Euroleague after five matches takes … next to the last, seventh place in group A.
About the reasons of unsuccessful start this season, resignation of Elias Zuros, assignment of Aleksandar Trifunovic, the critic addressed to him, specified requirements for the head coach of the team, backstage mafia, a bomb in Zalgiris Arena and the coming fight in Kazan this Sunday - in exclusive interview to our web-site told Vladimir Romanov, the owner of Zalgiris.

- Lithuanian Zalgiris is one of the favorites of VTB United League this season; however the beginning of this season for the team was not the best one. After five matches Zalgiris has only two victories and three defeats from Astana, Nizhniy Novgorod and VEF. What is the reason of unsuccessful game at the start?
- I think this question can be addressed to ex-coach of Zalgiris Elias Zuros. The team Not only performed without the head coach for a long period of time while he worked with Greek national team but Zuros also insisted on his replacement by Greek assistant during his absence. My fault is that I agreed. You already know the result - Zalgiris started the season in extremely unsatisfactory and disbalanced condition with the assumption that there are players of very good level.

- By the way, recently on the website of the League there was a poll concerning unsuccessful start of your team. And the majority of respondents believe that the reason for that was selection work and psychology...
- This is the stone to my garden ... How can we talk about psychology when the team is in disciplined. It's like in the army, if you are a soldier - you have to render a salute to your chiefs. And if you're somewhere in construction battalion drinking vodka with commanders – its easier to put the bottle than to salute. There should be a discipline in the club. This is one of the key components of success! As for selection, I am happy with the work done. The only thing is that we didn’t manage to get two players from the national team of Lithuania, as well as some foreign players.

- Do you make a final decision about selection of one or another player?
- Yes. The process of team complement is very important and time consuming. So I take an active part in it and make the final decision. But at the same time, I analyze the information that comes to my office. In the club we discuss in detail playing characteristics of each candidate, consider all pros and cons. And only after that we make a decision.

- Clubs rarely change the head coach at the beginning of the season. Did the decision about Zuros resignation come after a sensational defeat of Zalgiris in the match with debutant of the League Kazakhstan Astana? Or it came after the opening match of Euroleague, when the team lost to CSKA?
- In my decision I wasn’t guided by the results of the games against Astana in VTB United League championship or against CSKA Moscow in Euroleague. What kind of progress in the game can we talk about when Zalgiris face difficulties playing with Baltai Kaunas in the championship of Lithuania? I just could not wait any longer. I had to make a radical decision and eventually did it. Well, tell me, when did I have to fire the coach, who does not cope with his responsibilities? Or we had to wait for the summer and announce his resignation after losing the entire season?

- But it was Zuros who helped Zalgiris to regain the title of Lithuanian champion, to win the National Cup and to became the champion of Baltic League.
- That is really true. But last season Zuros had a suspended contract. And this season -a guaranteed. Maybe that's the reason...

- Following the resignation of Greek specialist sports director of the club Vitoldas Masalskis managed the team...
- Yes that’s true. I think that sports director should be a universal expert, ready to lead the team at any moment and work with it as long as the situation requires. As for me, I got a good training in Scotland with football Heart, when for years I had to combine several positions in the team. It was a very good experience, which helps me now!

- Selection process of the next head coach of Zalgiris was difficult and took time. What was the reason for delay and why did you chose Aleksandar Trifunovic? Last season this Serbian expert had to leave his post in another Lithuanian team - Lietuvos Rytas.
- I would not say that selecting process was too long. It just wouldn’t be right to search for a new coach having the current coach. Various candidates have been considered, but we chose Trifunovic. He is a young, but at the same time very experienced professional, who knows the realities of Lithuanian basketball well. He has enough professional skills, knowledge and desire to win together with Zalgiris. As for his resignation from Lietuvos Rytas, this fact does not bother me. It’s always better to believe in best and hope that the team will play with this the coach well.

- And how did Zalgiris players react to the next change of head coach?
- With understanding. Everyone has his own responsibilities in the team, which he should perform. And perform well!

- Is this true that former head coaches of Kaunas club often criticized you for your active involvement in training and game process?
- I have another question: What does it mean to involve in the training and game process? Does it mean that if I invest money and support my favorite club, I'm too strict and it’s not my business? This is not the case. Working with many coaches, I became convinced that some of them lack skills and professionalism. A good coach can be defined by three indicators: intuition, grip and «presence of eggs»! If all of these are present – there will be a result. One of my main objectives is to make the coach to work on the team, but not on his own image! You see, nowadays the sport is influenced by agents and backroom mafia. You have no idea about money in this business and how everything is interconnected.

- What does the club feels having such a spacious and ultra-modern arena as Zalgiris Arena?
- You better ask about it our legionaries. Judging by their reaction - they are delighted with the atmosphere in the arena during the game. I will not say how many difficulties we faced, before we could run this arena. How many calls we received about the bomb threat inside the arena...

- Really?
- Yes, there were phone calls informing about the bomb threat even before the start of the matches during the recent European Championship. It is not an easy task to evacuate 17 000 people. Well, at that time security service of the arena worked at the highest level, preventing possible provocations. Of course, there were no any bombs. All this efforts were directed to destabilize the situation. But, in spite of that, it was a high-level European Championships and I am very pleased.

- This Saturday Zalgiris is waiting for another difficult match in VTB United League championship against Russian UNICS. What do you expect from the upcoming game in Kazan?
- I am sure the game will be very interesting. UNICS is a very good team that can surprise any opponent. And in our case, when the physical condition of the team is poor, we should approach the game with fighting mood and concentration level. Start of the season showed that there are no weak opponents in VTB United League championship.

- Despite unsuccessful start of the season Zalgiris still has maximum objectives, isn’t it?
- Certainly. The task in VTB United League remains the same: to get to the Final four and to fight for the title.

[auris1]

Not sure what to say here- he strikes me as a very reasonable person,and probably that what he is.
And i tend to agree with with almost everything he says there.
I guess his Russian is so much better,that he does not have to go to that mad stupor he usually does with in lithuanian

[Roey354]

Hey guys. say, is there a place where I can find Lithuanian league stats - and specifically the 2011-2012 average attendance in Lithuania?

Cheers.

[Mindozas]

Hey guys. say, is there a place where I can find Lithuanian league stats - and specifically the 2011-2012 average attendance in Lithuania?

Cheers.

Hey. I guess it's only official league site - http://www.lkl.lt/en/ , but you'll need to do the math by yourself, checking game-by-game . Moreover attendance numbers are not always accurate there, but more or less ok

[Roey354]

Hey. I guess it's only official league site - http://www.lkl.lt/en/ , but you'll need to do the math by yourself, checking game-by-game . Moreover attendance numbers are not always accurate there, but more or less ok

Thanks for the quick response, Mindozas. it's much appreciated.

[Test]

Zalgiris lost to Unics, not lost but was raped. Waiting for funny Romanov interview. What will be this time?

is it a coach? or maybe he will blame black people?

or maybe Vainauskas and Lrytas?

or maybe it will be delayed plane or something like that?

We only can wait and find out!

[sagenas]

Zalgiris lost to Unics, not lost but was raped. Waiting for funny Romanov interview. What will be this time?

is it a coach? or maybe he will blame black people?

or maybe Vainauskas and Lrytas?

or maybe it will be delayed plane or something like that?

We only can wait and find out!

...that's and a lot more in the next episode of "Žalgiris drama"!!!

On a serious note, it's real shame...for team with roster like that...

[Richey666]

Zalgiris lost to Unics, not lost but was raped.

Could've been worse. Could've been raped by Estonian club like few years ago during the crisis (84:57)
http://www.bbl.net/index.php/b19sYW5...IxJm9fbGVhZz04

But seriously guys, wtf is going on? By roster i thought Zalgiris is gonna be serious Euroleague F4 candidate! This time it does not seem to be money problem or is it? And i cant believe all players have suddenly forgotten how to play, even with changing coaches? Weems and Lawson are not scrubs, but almost all players seem kinda disinterested during every game, even with Zagreb with game on the line? Are they losing on purpose?
Is Romanov fucking everything up?

[LuDux]

Not sure what to say here- he strikes me as a very reasonable person,and probably that what he is.

"You see, nowadays the sport is influenced by agents and backroom mafia"

Extremely reasonable

[Mindozas]

But seriously guys, wtf is going on? By roster i thought Zalgiris is gonna be serious Euroleague F4 candidate! This time it does not seem to be money problem or is it? And i cant believe all players have suddenly forgotten how to play, even with changing coaches? Weems and Lawson are not scrubs, but almost all players seem kinda disinterested during every game, even with Zagreb with game on the line? Are they losing on purpose?
Is Romanov fucking everything up?

Serious F4 candidate? C'mon man, Zalgiris roster-wise wasn't and isn't even in Top8 of EL. We don't have a single guy who would be a sure starter in top teams in EL. Some bunch of good, but mediocre players of EL level + 2 guys from NBA, one of them obviously doesn't give a f*ck and waits for lock-out to be over while bein' paid through-out this period, other seems like tryin', but not sure what for: better stats or victories. Moreover the roster was new, half of the team changed, 3-4 starters were new guys, 2 of them without any experience of European bball. While our coach and few players joined the team only after Eurobasket, just before the start of the season, which already means some troubles, to be precise - huge lack of team chemistry. However, none cared too much about these circumstances and required immediate results. And then some sh*t happened - loss to Astana, then very hard starting schedule of EL (PAO, Unicaja, CSKA), where all the signs were showing possible 0-3 w/l and that happened. The pressure was growin', confidence went low + chemistry of course couldn't get any better. Now it's obvious on the court, the players plays individualy, has almost no confidence in themselves and for each other. Some NT players obviously are outta shape after Eurobasket. And the hole gets deeper and deeper. The schedule is intense, there's no chance for all to relax a bit and get together, while leavin all the problems behind and startin' it all from a new page. IMO now it's all more of psychological problems. But the roots of it were some questionable choices and decisions of management, made even before the start of the season, which turn-out into a worst case scenario and now we get the results of it.
Such situation reminds me a bit of last year's CSKA - some questionable decision of club management, surprising loss at the beginning of the season, tough schedule with worst possible scenario and team fell into a huge hole. After a series of changes, searches for a way to get out of that mess - they managed to do so, but only at the very end of the season - PBL finals, where they crashed Khimki. If not some miraculous turn-around, some similar scenario with Zalgiris might happen, but this season looks like is screwed already, cause I don't give a sh*t too much about LKL, BBL, LKF

[Straight forward]

In my view the reasons is:

Too weak position of SG. Popovič is poor defender and inconsistent shooter. Delininkaitis never was something you would like to have for big goals. He's horrible this season.

Another reason, all NT players looked wasted after Eurobasket 2011. Probably emotional stress and tiredness playing here + the lack of motivation after big event. Consequences:

- Naked PF position as Jankunas was horrible till last game.
- Kalnieitis couldn't deliver and since Ty Lawson couldn't as well, they got what they got.
- Too weak centers position as Javtokas is completely out of shape and Rakovič is strong, but not too smart unfortunately.

Future:

Lithuanians eventually will start deliver and will solve chemistry problems. Ty Lawson probably is a reserve as well. And they badly need to improve frontcourt. The addition of Kleiza would be perfect for Žalgiris. So if they will qualify to top 16 this season is not yet over. With addition, we could see whole new Žalgiris in top 16.

[Test]

...Gal specialiai, kas nors mums kenkia...

Romanov told this to press. Translation: "Maybe someone tries to harm us intentionally". This is very interesting... who could do that to zalgiris?

Kaunodiena blames bad weather conditions in Kazan.

Good news for real hard core fans - Ticket Subscription is now very cheap. You can buy it from unhappy fans.