New Olympic cycle (heading to Rio de Janeiro)

[Straight forward]

So Olympics is over. Time to speak about the future. One of Lithuanian experts already wrote pretty poor, but at some points intereting article about new Olympic cycle of Lithuanian basketball: http://www.krepsinis.net/lietuva/v-c...-ateiti/207307

"Adas Juškevičius, Martynas Pocius, Edgaras Ulanovas, Linas Kleiza, Jonas Valančiūnas. It's likely to see this starting lineup...in Olympics of Rio de Janeiro" (Čeponis).

That's probably most interesting sentence of all article. Also Čeponis mentions Vytenis Čižauskas, Domantas Sabonis, Martynas Gecevičius, Dovydas Redikas, Deivydas Dulkys. Almost at the last line he remembers Motiejunas as well.

Point guards. I agree with Čeponis that Juškevičius immidiately goes to potential Lithuania's future point guards after this summer's NT camp. Actually we have to say thanks to Kemzura (one of the biggest jobs he made this summer) that he showed us this kid can play perfect pick and roll and to play smart basketball in hight level after Juškevičius' mediocre season. Juškevičius has good skills that are a little bit raw yet. He has to decide if he goes PG or SG in his career. It would be great if he would play as a PG in Žalgiris upcoming seasons, but I just can't see it. At the moment I would say Juškevičius has to be the best chances to be the backup of Kalnietis in Eurobasket 2013. We should keep an eye on Čižauskas upcoming years. And also I think Čeponis entirely missed current U-18 NT. Maybe he doesn't see any 22yo players of that team playing in Olympics 2016, but he mentions 16yo Sabonis. Call me stranger, but I would keep an eye on Marius Grigonis as possible Pointforward for Lithuanian NT. The guy can get inside and to play pick and roll, he make a long pass in perimeter, he can split defence and can nail from downtown. He feels comfortable playing the point (having the ball in his hands) that is obvious and that's rare for Lithuanian players.

Shooting guards. Čeponis has high hopes on Pocius, Seibutis and Gecevičius. Is Pocius most talented SG for upcoming Olympic cycle? I wouldn't be surprised. He has everything except consistency. However, Čeponis also missing here two interesting talents here - Tamulis and Dimša, just for a record. This position looks deep however you look. Unfortunately no sensations here I'm afraid.

Small forwards. I agree that Edgaras Ulanovas is one of the most talented future players at 3. He resembles Šiškauskas at some point, has a nice touch from downtown and even can pass. His strenght seems to be his basketball IQ. Something what could be Mindaugs Kuzminskas' problem (he still has to be mentioned, IMO). Čeponis expects that Mačiulis and Kleiza will still be in Olympics 2012 (couldn't agree more, unless some more talented players than Mačiulis would step in). I would mention Marius Grigonis here as well. Tauras Jogėla is interesting talent.

Power forward. Kleiza will still be our starting 4 in next Olympics? Could be, but I'm not so sure. In my account it depends on Motiejunas position. However Kleiza, Motiejunas, Jankuns lineup wouldn't be a surprise. Any players worth mentioning? Barely. I would still expect something from Biruta. I saw some pure, raw power under the boards in him.

Centers obviously Čepinis isn't the biggest fan of Valančiūnas in Lithuania and he's very much concerned with this position. I'm not. Maybe D. Sabonis won't be exactly ready for this, but he might go as a back up. Also I think Mindaugas Kupšas will end up being a solid force as a center. And you'll be suprised, but I'm saying Motiejunas will be very much available playing at 5. Might even become his natural position after 3- 5 years.

So what roster would I see now for Rio Olympics?

PG: Kalnietis, Adas Juškevičius/Čižauskas (Dambrauskas)
SG: Pocius, Gecevičius, Grigonis (Seibutis, Dulkys, Redikas, Tamulis, Dimša)
SF: Kleiza/Ulanovas, Mačiulis (Kuzminskas, Jogėla)
PF: Motiejunas, Jankunas. (Biruta).
C: Valančiūnas, D. Sabonis/Kupšas

* Some players come from nowhere usually. That should happen this time as well in 4 years.

In my opinion this should be one of the strongest Olympics cycles we had, despite missing Jasikevičius. Contrary to London, we should have two major players in Motiejūnas and Valančiūnas. We had one and only star (coming after serious injury) in these Olympics - Kleiza. 2010 WC's crew will be peaking in Rio. And off course our never ending hope for young talents.

[macleopard13]

I'd pick Cizauskas as a back-up PG, coming off the bench for Kalnietis, but I wouldn't exclude Juskevicius, due to his decent appearance in the friendlies. Cizauskas is already an above-average defender, something that Kalnietis is not. And we need guards that can play defense badly. We will definitely need some good players from the 1992 generation for the next Olympics. Here's who I'd invite (age in parentheses):

C: Valanciunas (24), Sabonis (20), Kupsas (25)
PF: Motiejunas (26), Kleiza (31), Jankunas (32)
SF: Ulanovas (24), Maciulis (31), Kuzminskas (26), maybe Gailius (28) or Grigonis (22)
SG: Pocius (30), Dulkys (28), Seibutis (30), maybe Gecevicius (29) or Tamulis (22)
PG: Kalnietis (30), Cizauskas (24), Juskevicius (27), maybe Bareika (26)

And I would say the starting line up could be:
C: Valanciunas
PF: Motiejunas
SF: Ulanovas/Kleiza, depending on how Kleiza performs
SG: Pocius
PG: Kalnietis

This could change based on performances of each individual players, but if everything goes as it does now, I'd expect those players to start.

[Hepcat]

What squad do I want in future, starting with next year:

C: Valančiūnas, some large stiff role player (Andriuškevičius[220cm] or Kupšas[216cm], I'd prefer young Kupšas);

Interesting the height of this fellow Kupšas. What's his background? Did he star with Lithuanian junior teams? How has he been doing these last two years?

[Straight forward]

Interesting the height of this fellow Kupšas. What's his background? Did he star with Lithuanian junior teams? How has he been doing these last two years?

He wasn't spectacular or even among leaders, but he showed some signs of real player. He's big and not completely lost with such body. Since bigs needs time to improve, I would have some hope in him. He looks like poor man's Ilgauskas.

Take a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LecgQwjL4ew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuQeEnTPU4I

[macleopard13]

He wasn't spectacular or even among leaders, but he showed some signs of real player. He's big and not completely lost with such body. Since bigs needs time to improve, I would have some hope in him. He looks like poor man's Ilgauskas.

Take a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LecgQwjL4ew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuQeEnTPU4I

He reminds me of Kavaliauskas with his fakeouts. I wouldn't say he's very talented, but he could be a valuable back-up for Valanciunas/Javtokas next year.

[Sss]

Interesting the height of this fellow Kupšas. What's his background? Did he star with Lithuanian junior teams? How has he been doing these last two years?

He only participated in U-20 EC. He wasn't taken to U-18 because he started playing late and was a stick back then. Zalgiris did a good job by bulking up him.

[auris1]

He reminds me of Kavaliauskas with his fakeouts. I wouldn't say he's very talented, but he could be a valuable back-up for Valanciunas/Javtokas next year.

I will go way above my head,but i will say this.
Centre his size doesn't have to be that good in everything on both sides of the court to have a decent future.
If one would assume that he is lacking in scoring abilities,he still can do well in defence,in future.
And he would have some second chances from offensive rebounds due to his size,plus he looks like he has soft wrist action when shooting.
So if his late coming to basketball is true,he looks like very decent potentially.

[macleopard13]

I watched today's U18 final game against Croatia. I think that Saric will be one big threat for any team in the EuroBasket next year (I'll go so far as to say that he's already better than Valanciunas or Motiejunas). In fact, Croatia is on its way in rebuilding itself - in few years, they might be as good as Russia is today. We gotta keep an eye on this team and not underestimate them. We'll definitely have to use Jonas and Donatas next year if we want to achieve something.

[Straight forward]

I think that Saric will be one big threat for any team in the EuroBasket next year (I'll go so far as to say that he's already better than Valanciunas or Motiejunas).

How old are you? The sky is falling apart after every single game for you

[macleopard13]

How old are you? The sky is falling apart after every single game for you

I'm serious. This guy's averaged 25.6 PPG, 10.1 RPG and 3.3 APG, 1.8 BPG and 1.6 SPG this year. And he's only a PF.

[Straight forward]

I'm serious. This guy's averaged 25.6 PPG, 10.1 RPG and 3.3 APG, 1.8 BPG and 1.6 SPG this year. And he's only a PF.

What does it mean he's only PF?

Sarič is great, but so far he didn't show anything in any elite tournament (or league) of men.

Sarič might be better prospect than Valančiūnas (might not as well), but no matter how dominant player would be in youth level he doesn't become good or solid in men basketball in a day. Rubio nailed 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists and 7 steals on youth level (final game U-16), but he didn't do much for Spain being 18-21yo. Sarič might easily be a non factor in Eurobasket 2013.

Valančiūnas' first tournament for Lithuania (Eurobasket 2011) was pretty nice and so was Rubio's (Olympics 2008 I think), so we'll see.