it's hilarious how I've seen these type of posts twice now, and before his best game of the tournament. He was really really good during the Russia game. If he didn't get injured, he might've pushed Lithuania to victory. He'll be decent, but he's not going to challenge for the rookie of the year or anything (all the media members who said otherwise are delusional, he's not great at anything except size, athleticism and energy). I really don't get why it's such a roller coaster with him. It's not like he's inconsistent. He consistently displays all his strengths and numerous weaknesses. Yet people still get convinced he and Bargnani = playoffs. It's just odd.
Wasn't even expecting much from him this year. He is a very young big man. Those guys take awhile to develop.
He would have been more productive if that traitor Motiejunas did not abandon his country to take a Vegas trip.
He is still young. People thinking he will make a huge impact this year are expecting too much. That pick is about who he will be in 3 years.
not a big chance of that IMO, the difference in athleticism/body is significant. But over the first year or two, possibly. I think Jonas will get more minutes, but Donatas will have more impact.
I was under the impression he chose to play in the Summer League because he did want to be a bench player on the National team. With Kleiza starting, he preferred to start getting ready for the NBA. I could be wrong though.
well, not according to the coach. maybe there are different accounts of the story. the coach said that Donatas was only 50/50 to get a roster spot (even at the very end, when there was a new spot due to injury), so he didn't want to ask Donatas pass on the Summer League. Not starting role, just the 12th roster spot.
I thought he could've been on the team, he just wasn't going to get any PT? He would've been like the 4th big off the bench type deal.
that's what I meant. All reports we were getting was that the Coach did not "pass on" Donatas as you said, but rather gave no guarantees to Donatas -- no solid invitation to play a rotational role. That's different than saying "Motiejunas was passed on by the national team coach." That's why we responded to your comment. No offense, and maybe this is just something lost in translation, but saying "Motie was passed on by the NT coach" means he was cut or not even given an invitation to try-out. Neither of those occurred, right? Other Lithuanians at this site were saying the same thing as Donatas, that he wanted some kind of guarantee to be more than a bench warmer; otherwise, he would come practice in the US for the summer. He wasn't passed on by the Coach anymore than he chose not to go.
well, not what the coach said. not minutes/role. a roster spot was not guaranteed. Donatas was only going to make the roster if (A) Javtokas doesn't get healthy by the Olympics, and (B) even then that spot would've been between Donatas and Kavaliauskas. fair enough, but my post was a reply to a statement that implied Donatas had a choice between being on the Olympics team and going to the US. AFAIK, he didn't. "The coach passed on Donatas" may be too strong. It may be more correct to say "The coach told Donatas he's the 13-14th player on a 12 men roster, and thus is not guaranteed an Olympic roster spot, at which point Donatas chose the sure thing in Vegas". But either way, being in the Olympics was not up to Donatas, which is why I replied in the first place.
Per 36 minutes in comparison to 18 and 15 in 53 minutes is roughly 12.2 ppg and 10.18 rebounds. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...worried-jonas-valanciunas-125331685--nba.html http://basketball.realgm.com/article/222830/Let_The_Valanciunas_Anthony_Davis_Comparisons_Begin http://www.hoopsworld.com/jonas-valanciunas-shines-in-limited-time/ In regards to OP , VERY PREMATURE. Olympics are not a great measure for NBA success, especially for the younger players. That seems to be trend across several teams of veterans getting much more minutes than some of the youngsters (under 21 players).