Lithuania is a very good team. They got the Bronze in the last FIBA Worlds losing to the US after beating Argentina. They also beat Spain in group. They generally field veteran teams, and are not short on Bigs -- (including Jonas Valanciunas this year too, btw). Considering their depth and veteran nature, they might not pick *both* Valanciunas and Motie -- even if they don't play the same position, but what do I know. If he makes the team, he probably won't start, since Kleiza was their star player in the 2010 World's. He'll probably also have to beat out Darius Songalia.
When will we know for sure if Motie is going to make the national team or not? Is there a certain date when the rosters are set by?
The final list of candidates will be announced this week hopefully (14-20 players). The training camp will begin as soon as 30th of May, though several key candidates won't be able to join straight away (including Motiejūnas, if the final series will take more than 4 games) because their teams will be competing in domestic league finals and some can be occupied till mid of June. However, the 12 man squad will be clear, I think, right before the qualification tournament which starts on July 2nd. The chances of D-Mo joining the national team this year are quite good. The PF's spot is pretty much set for Kleiza. There's also Paulius Jankūnas (his skillset is similar to Motiejūnas (apart from ball handling and passing ability), though he does not possess same physical traits as speed an hight) who is experienced but not too old player and I think he should definetly make the team. The main opponents for the last PF spot should be Songaila, K.Lavrinovič and Mindaugas Katelynas. 1st two being renown veteran players, but Songaila is now just a shadow of himself (he still has some offensive game, but his defense is abysmal mainly because he's just a lazy old fart now). Lavrinovič is still a decent player but he's injury prone and I rather see a young player as a 3rd PF than a veteran who won't be contributing significanly anyway. The last one Katelynas is nothing special. He's a good player but I don't see any advantage over Motiejūnas, plus he has some ofcourt issue and I just don't think he would be a right fit for national team. But all in all it's a couch decision and having in mind he rejected Donatas two years in a row, though most lithuanian fans thought D-Mo should make the team, it didn't happen.
read the post by HMMMMMM, a couple post before. It explains it. Rockets can sign him on July 1st. The Olympic qualifier starts July 2nd. That is roughly the same time the NBA Summer League is. For the Rockets, just like with Yao, it is better than he not play in the NT, especially since he might not get any minutes behind Kleiza and Songala. We want him in the Summer League, then in Houston with McHale and trainers. Not player nearly a whole other season of basketball games, sitting on the bench for his NT with a role limited to what then need, not what the Rockets what him to improve upon.
I think playing for your national team in the Olympics (if we'll make it there), even if that would mean limited minutes due to high competition, would be much more benifitial than palying in the summer league . The experience itself should be worth it especially for a young player. Summer league just doesn't have it. It doesn't have just as much psychological impact as OG. Emotional experience is key in any player's devolopment. It is what turns boys into cold blooded worriors.
It's not just Summer League. The rookies and 2nd year players will be playing with all the coaches and have trainers. We will design a training and practice regimen specifically to his needs, rather than the needs of the National Team. Focused training, without the physical strain, is the better option in the Summer...for young players. And it will make him a better player. I don't think you will find many NBA fans who believe this, especially Rockets fans who watched the rigors of constant competitive games take a toll on Yao Ming. I've never met anyone who said the Olympics would make a USA player better. Many of us believe all players should accept offers to play, some think it is fine if they decline, but do the young players improve in the Olympics vs a summer training devoted to them to prepare them for their transition to the NBA? I think the natural tendency of nearly every other country is to think of the National Team first, which is great, but that doesn't mean Motie's experience playing for the National Team this Summer (meaning he will have no rest and no time to practice with his NBA coaches and trainers) makes him a better player.
I am pretty sure the Rockets are rooting for Motiejunas to make the national team. If nothing else, it raises his value as a trade asset. There is plenty of time after the Olympics for him to work with the Rockets coaches. His career won't die as a result of missing some summer workout. Besides, if need be, the Rockets can always negotiate to have someone from the organization work with Motiejunas even as he preps for the Olympics.
At this point you have to be worried about fatigue stunting his progress right from the get go. I'd hope he doesn't make the team if he's played more than 60 basketball games in the last year. How taxing is being an European basketball player?
So, how'd that work out for Yao Ming. Lithuania will make it out of group. They have prelims to go through. We are talking about 2 months of competitive basketball -- starting the week after he finishes his playoffs. He won't play that many minutes on this Lithuania team. Their star is their starting PF. It is very questionable to think Lithuania will devote the same amount of resources on improving Motie as the Rockets will. Plus, he will need rest after the Olympics, too. He might not even make the early September workouts. We might not seem him at all this Summer. Of course, the Rockets will "root" for him to make his NT, but I'm sure they'd rather have him all to themselves. bottomline: being with the Rockets this Summer will make him a better player than being with his NT. Let him go play in 2014. They don't need him this year.
Dont forget the Lithuanian national team is going to be in Houston the weeks prior to the Olympics training and playing their prelims. Im rooting for him to have a nice showing this Summer in London. I think it would be much better for his development if he's able to get some PT. Much better than beating up D-Leaguers in Vegas will.
We all hope Donatas is going to be the next big thing for the Rockets, but more than likely at least the first half of his rookie season he is probably going to be sitting the bench anyways. Now 4 years from now if he's a full time starter with the Rockets and hopefully a perenial all-star... then we can have that conversation. Right now, he's done nothing to show that he's a big man that might have physical issues due to physical exersion. I sure hope thats a debate next Olympics. However, it is the Olympics... in theory it really should be more important to support your country in the Olympics than to worry about bone spurs in your feet 10 years from now.
That's a big "if" since Kleiza owns their PF position. Aside from the big "if" regarding PT, summer training is not about the games. Don't downplay what Greg Smith is currently getting from the coaching staff in Houston. Question: I think it is natural for a fan to want to see their player on the big stage of the Olympics, but do you really believe it will make a 22yr old better than professional training selfishly devoted to their individual strengths and weaknesses.
Well, I'm sure Summer League would do a great job for him helping to translate his game to NBA style basketball. The good part is that Motiejūnas already has tools for a successful future in the NBA (physical traits and versatile skillset featuring strong offensive game) even if they lack some polish. Ofcourse he lacks consistency like most young players but that's the thing that comes with experience and the Olympic games is the great place to get some. He'll be facing top talents from across the globe in the highest competition available in the international basketball. Even if Donatas will get limited minutes, he'll still be a part of the team. The worst thing that can happen - he'll be training for half of the summer with experienced grown men and it doesn't sound that much worse than playing in the Summer League. Other than that, Olympic basketball tounament will end somewhere in mid August which will leave plenty of time to join Rockets squad, so you shouldn't be worried that much
I think it depends at what stage the player is. In general, there is no better experience than meaningful basketball, but in his case I'd rather he stay with us because it simply would make his transition to the NBA less hard, mentally and physically.
I think your 100% correct about that. The Rockets have some of the best offseason trainers and coaches. None other that Hakeem himself spends time in Houston during the Summer, and was going to work with Jordan Hill of all people last Summer but Jordan missed out. I want him in Houston getting work in for sure... but the Olympics.... for what its supposed to represent in the grand scheme of things, I will be happy either way as long assuming he does well over there.
Yeah, I'd be happy to watch him play for Lithuania. And thanks so much for the information you are posting. I am curious: if the Olympics were not this year, and there were no other National Team commitments, what would young players be doing? Where do they train. I also believe the Euroleague system for improvement during the regular season is much better than the NBA, because there are less games and more practice time. Here, we worry that rookies and 2nd yr players need special summer training, since our coaches don't have many practice days during the regular season. cheers, and thanks again for posting.
