Jonas Valanciunas - 2011 EuroBasket News

EuroBasket 2011 dates Aug 31 – Sep 18

Next up for Jonas will be the EuroLeague Qualifying Sep 29 – Oct 2 Rytas will attempt to qualify for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. If they fail to qualify (single elimination tournament) then Rytas will play in the 2011-12 EuroCup Regular Season.

This is a big deal since the level of competition in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is a lot higher than the competition in EuroCup. As far as I have been able to determine the the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is the top level in Euro basketball.

LTU opens their pre-tournament schedule next Thursday vs Slovenia and then plays The Czech Republic two days later on Sat Aug 6th

Kemzurai said that his offense will be based on spreading the scoring around and wants to see a handful of players score in the 10 – 15 ppg range.

Link is in Lithuanian.

http://is.gd/VAsV0r

I will just post the last section of the interview – Google translation.

The difference between youth and adult teams – a huge

Valanciunas recognizes that the shift in the men’s team he is working on a completely different technique and approach: "Apparently, the difference is due to the fact that young basketball players to be one thing and the other men. Methodology no doubt be different, just because of age differences.

if you want to win, the internal atmosphere and attitude to work should be the maximum. “If the team wants to win victories, it must be a good atmosphere and one has to fight for all and all for one” – sincere player.

http://is.gd/h0JQpX

The kid is all about winning. Got to love it especially when compared to all the self-indulgent self-centered players in the NBA who only start to seriously think about winning rather their own numbers when they are in the twilight of their careers and want a ring for their trophy cases.

Lithuania opens their pre-tournament schedule tomorrow Aug 4th vs Slovenia followed by the Czech Republic on Sat Aug 6th

The full schedule of preparation games:

August 4: Lithuania vs. Slovenia in Klaipeda, Lithuania

August 6: Lithuania vs. Czech Republic in Klaipeda, Lithuania

August 10: Russia vs. Lithuania in Moscow, Russia

August 14: Spain vs. Lithuania in Madrid, Spain

August 18: Lithuania vs. Spain in Kaunas, Lithuania

August 19: Lithuania vs. Russia in Panevezys, Lithuania

August 20: Lithuania vs. Latvia in Penevezys, Lithuania

August 24: Slovenia vs. Lithuania in Ljubljana, Slovenia

August 27: Lithuania vs. Georgia in Vilnius, Lithuania

http://www.talkbasket.net/lithuania-s-summer-schedule-is-confirmed-5648

Preliminary round commences Aug 31st

31 August 2011

    Lithuania vs Great Britain
    Turkey vs Qualifier 2
    Spain vs Poland

For complete Preliminary round schedule see link

http://www.basketballinengland.com/lithuania-2011-eurobasket-schedule-men/

I am so glad we got JV. Best move BC has ever made as the Raptors GM. It will be refreshing to have our front court be a defensive force. Amir, Ed, and JV. Sounds pretty good for the future of this team. They could be a solid front court core for the next 7 or 8 years.

And DD needs to keep improving but I am nowhere close to giving up on him. He’s 21 years old! He’s not washed up at 21, let’s wait and see how he does.

Throw in Dirk Nowitzki and we are talking championships baby. Oops, that’s Andrea Bargnani, my bad.

Here are a couple of steaming links, but no guarantee they will work

http://www.lshunter.tv/basketball-live-streaming-video.html

http://www.oleoletv.com/watch/live/stream/online/free/tv/video/channel/feed/link/broadcast/vivo/gratis/p2p/02/august-4-2011/lithuania-slovenia.html

Lithuania began their friendly game marathon leading up to EuroBasket 2011 with a 70-72 (20-17, 18-18, 14-17, 23-25) loss to Slovenia in Klaipeda on Thursday night.

The coach of the Lithuanian national team, Kestutis Kemzura, made a decision not to play Sarunas Jasikevicius, Martynas Gecevicius, Paulius Jankunas, Marijonas Petravicius and Jonas Valanciunas, who are expected to get their chance in Saturday’s game against Czech Republic.

comp article on link below

http://www.lithuaniabasketball.com/news-678-lithuania-fall-to-slovenia-in-first-friendly-before-eurobasket.html

He has 16 at the end of the first half. LTU is ahead at half time.

He looks like he has added some bulk.

2011.08.06 22:26

26 points and 11 rebounds earned John Valanciunas grabbed the victory ended the match in the Czech team said that this time the excitement before the match was twice higher than normal.

“The excitement, of course, is that before each match, but this time it was twice – at the press conference told reporters gathered Valanciunas. – The Czechs have shown that they are paying and playing basketball. The match was not easy, but I am glad that we found the strength, susikaupėme and won a meeting. "

According to the Centers before the match about his personal characteristics he thought, just tried to show what you know best.

“I do not think about their personal characteristics. The trainer said it should just go play and show what I pay the most. That and trying to do. "

J. Valanciunas match against the Czech Republic not only earned 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but throw two out of ten Pramet just one. Objective and 8 of 8 free throws.

    06/08/11 20:37

After losing the first warm-up game against Slovenia 70-72 the hosts of EuroBasket 2011 pleased their fans with a comfortable win over Division B side Czech Republic.

The Czechs played their third preparation game and it was a tough test against Lithuania in Klaipeda.

The game took place in a newly built Svyturio Arena which was again sold out. The venue will host Group D games during EuroBasket 2011.

Coach Kemzura rested five players against Slovenia since there are still 17 players fighting for the last 12 spots. Those who rested on Thursday were given the chance to prove themselves against Czech Republic.

It was 19-year-old Jonas Valanciunas who made his debut for the national team. The recent U-19 World Champion and MVP didn’t have any troubles adjusting to men’s game as he finished the game with a double-double – 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Sarunas Jasikevicius made his return to the international stage after two years of absence. Saras was the only true point guard on the roster since Mantas Kalnietis was rested. The 35-year-old veteran was close to double-double with 11 points and 8 assists.

The visitors were without their best player Jan Vesely but they still managed to match Lithuania for the most part of the first half. Kemzura wanted to give a chance to all of the players that he had on the bench therefore the rotation was rather intense.

Although the game was close for a large part of the game, the hosts pulled away in the fourth quarter and grabbed a rather easy win 94-73.

Kestutis Kemzura will name three players who will leave the team later tonight.

Lithuania will play two away games next week – against Russia and Spain.

Donatas, D-Mo, Motiejunas selected 20th by the T-Wolves and then traded to Houston added 11 for LTU

Lithuania have a very rich basketball history and are a nation that are always at their best in tournament play, medalling in nine out of the 19 major tournaments (Olympics, World Champs and Euros) for which they’ve qualified.

This includes gold in the 2003 Eurobasket, bronze in 2007 and bronze at the 2010 World Championships.

The hosts have one of the oldest and most experienced teams in the tournament, including one of the greatest players in the history of European basketball in Sarunas Jasikevicius.

They have amazing depth with the best bench in the tournament, including 2003 Eurobasket MVP Jasikevicius, Darius Songaila and 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championships MVP Jonas Valanciunas.

They will be backing up starters including three members of BC Zalgriris, the current Lithuanian League Champions: Robertas Javtokas, Paulius Jankunas and Mantas Kalnietis.

Despite their experience and depth, Lithuania have a tough task after being drawn in Group A, the toughest of the tournament including heavyweights Spain and Turkey, along with Great Britain, Poland and an undetermined qualifier that may wear them out early on.

Despite this, bookies love them, at $4.00 to take out the title.

Game never was close. Russia jumped out to a big early lead as it took LTU about six minutes to make their second FG.

Jonas didn’t start the game but started the second half. At this point I don’t know what his final line was but my guess is something like 14 – 8 in about 20 minutes.

He spent a lot of the second half matched up against Mozgov (Knicks, Nuggets). Mozgov put a couple of nice moves on Jonas but overall I think Jonas had a slight edge head to head. Mozgov is listed at 7’1" and 250. Jonas had no problem with Mozgov’s size or strength.

For me the highlight of the game for Jonas was in the fist half when he came from the weak side to block Kirilenko at the rim.

LTU guards are pretty awful.

I would take Spain and give 15 points. Spain could win by 25+ given that the game is in Madrid.

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09.08.2011

EuroBasket 2011

4. Pau Gasol (Spain)
Pau Gasol did not score 28 points on Tuesday night, like in the EuroBasket 2009 quarter-final between the two sides, but France must have felt a sense of déjà vu

It was just a friendly, but Spain reminded France they are a very different team when Pau Gasol is in the line-up.

Gasol, the EuroBasket 2009 MVP and the player the French couldn’t stop in the teams’ Quarter-Final showdown two years ago that Spain won 86-66, had a game-high 19 points to lead his country to a 77-53 romp over Les Bleus in Almeria on Tuesday.

Playing alongside his brother Marc as twin towers in the starting five, the elder Gasol dominated.

He skipped last year’s FIBA World Championship to take a well deserved break but has returned to the national side and looked as good as ever as Spain won their first friendly of the summer.

Sergio Scariolo’s side delivered a first-half knockout with a 19-4 first-half run.

By half-time, they had a 45-21 stranglehold on the game.

Marc Gasol finished with seven points while both Juan Carlos Navarro and Serge Ibaka contributed nine apiece.

France had Joakim Noah back, following his spell in the United States where he had to receive treatment for ankle injury, and the center had six points.

Point guard Tony Parker led the French with 15 points.

http://is.gd/Ce2aBP

… the Lithuanian team successfully reached the five-star Melia Castilla "hotel and after dinner took part in a video review with the coaches of the lost the match with the Russian team.

Lithuanian basketball players will workout on Friday and Saturday morning prior to the match with Spain. Beginning of the game – 22 hours. 30 min Vilnius time. (3:30 PM Toronto time)

RealGM: You gained some muscle mass over the last few years. Is it just you getting matured or you are specificaly working on this thing?

Motiejunas: I was always working in the weight room. Some players get matured earlier, some later. What can do if Valanciunas, who is 18 or 19-year-old, looks like me at 21-years-old… I have been working in the weight room hard and long hours all the time. You can’t fight with nature.

RealGM: You and Jonas Valanciunas are in the same shoes at the moment — you are both young and talented, got drafted this year, trying to make it to the national team’s final roster. I also saw you both doing some exercises together in the national team training camp. Do you feel any special connection with Valanciunas?

Motiejunas: I don’t see any problems with working with Jonas and I think it’s the same for him. We push and encourage each other. I know that he’s trying to become the best player and he knows the same about me. We are in the same shoes. He probably understands that we both will play in the national team in the near future as well.

http://bit.ly/rrI6Rc

Like in the game against Russia LTU was behind the whole game. Most of the 4th quarter was garbage time.

1. Calderon – He is not starting for Spain. Rubio is and for at least tonight Spain was a lot better team with Rubio on the court than with Calderon

2. Spain started – Pau Gasol, Ibaka, Rudy Fernandez and Rubio. Don’t know who the fifth guy was. Their second unit is Marc Gasol, Reyes, Navarro, Calderon and some guy who I didn’t recognize.

3. Jonas

First Half – I missed about 5 minutes of the first quarter. During the rest of the first half Jonas played maybe four or five minutes. That could also have been his total time for the first half. He scored two points on two free throws. He was matched up some against Marc and some against Pau. He block a Pau shot but I don’t know if he got credit for it. It was a very minor deflection on a post up move.

Second Half – He played in garbage time. Maybe six plus minutes at the end. What was interesting though is that he was matched up against Ibaka the whole time. Jonas appears to be a bit taller and a bit bigger than Ibaka.

Anyway Jonas flat out out played Ibaka. In fact by the end of the six or so minute stretch Ibaka was so frustrated that he threw what appeared to be an intentional elbow at Jonas under the basket. It was a no harm, no foul. Jonas scored eight points against Ibaka while they were matched up. Ibaka had either three or five points.

The one sequence of plays that really got Ibaka ticked off and I may have the order incorrect was

A. Ibaka tried to post up Jonas up and wound up throwing the ball away or missing a shot terribly. Then on the other end Jonas took it right at Ibaka and powered up what could be called a mini-sky hook for two points.

B. Ibaka then tried to post up Jonas again and Jonas stole the ball from him. Knocked it away while Ibaka was dribbling. Then Jonas ran the court ahead of Ibaka and got a pass for an easy lay in.

It was after sequence that Ibaka got really frustrated and ticked off.

Jonas may have had another two blocks in the second half in addition to the one maybe in the first half. If he didn’t get credit for the blocks he definitely altered the shots.

That’s it for now Box score to come later from someone. LOL

The translation is Google so not very good but you should be able to get the gist of it. LOL

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2011.08.14 10:11

Preparation of the Lithuanian national team championship cycle candidate John Valanciunas imperceptibly not going to the Old Continent’s championship, but also the career of North America’s National Basketball Association (NBA).

The best example of this – a meeting with the Spanish national team, which is the front line of three bright footprints leaving the NBA tall – Pau Gasol and Marc and Serge Ibaka.

Although ours is still a lack of experience, over 11 minutes, Mr Valanciunas earned 10 points and blocked three shots.

“Today we played really impressive against the front of the line. Felt that one of the best players in the world. They stopped us, but we found a little strength, and our front line did not seem very hopeless ", – assured Mr Valanciunas.

“In fact, do not look to score. Kaunuosi try and if you win, or losing 20 points, so the effort is not even language. The fight with the player in the NBA get a lot of useful experience, "- said the Toronto Raptors rookie.

Like other national team members, J. Valanciunas team observed positive developments in the game, "looked better than the Russians. You could see more fighting capacity, started. We can see that we are moving towards the highest point. If everything continues as before championship will reach its highest level. "

Jonas played maybe 18 minutes or a bit more. Most of it in the second half as the LTU Big men were in foul trouble the whole game.

He finished with 11 points and 3 fouls. I don’t think he had more than 3 or 4 rebounds.

FG 3 – 4
FT 5 – 6

Almost all of his minutes, maybe 15, in the second half were against the Gasol brothers.

The bad

1. His lack of strength at this point showed
2. His lack of experience especially on defense showed

The good

1. Spain closed a 19 LTU lead down to about 5 when Jonas entered in the fourth quarter. He played pretty good in the fourth quarter and helped LTU build the lead back up and eventually win the game.

2. He was his usually efficient self on the offensive side

3. He forced a bunch of turnovers. I have noticed in watching him play that he has a tendency to do a lot of this. Very active on defense and his height, long arms and big hands tend to deflect a lot of passes and alter a lot of shots.

Overall I thought he played pretty good in the 4th quarter especially when one considers who played against in the Gasol brothers.

If I locate the box score I will post a link

Robertas Javtokas one LTU’s starters up front dislocated an elbow. This could have been why Jonas got more minutes in the second half. Too early to tell if Javtokas will miss any future friendly games or games in the EuroBasket 2011 starting in less than two weeks.

If he is out that should open up more time Jonas. The experience would be good for him and the Raptors though not so good for the current LTU team as Javtokas is one of their better players.

Javtokas dislocated elbow, I do not want to comment on anything else. I trust our doctors and hope for the best

Lithuania: Chris Brown Highlander 16 (6 times. Exaggerated., 4 KLD.) Simas Jasaitis 13, John Valanciunas 11, Sarunas Jasikevicius 9 (5 times. Exaggerated., 4 KLD.), And Robert Javtokas Marijonas Petravičius after 8, Martynas Pocius 6, Paul 5 Jankunas, Darius Songaila and Darjušas Lavrinovič after 4, Rimantas Kaukėnas and Mindaugas Lukauskis of 2

Spain: Pau Gasol 18 (12 Atk. Anything.) Marc Gasol 17, Rudy Fernandez 10 (4 over. Anything.) Juan Carlos Navarro, 9, Ricky Rubio (5 times. Exaggerated.) Sergio Llull 6, Serge Ibaka 4 , Jose Manuel Calderon and Felipe Reyes of 2 (Fernando San Emeterio, Victor Claver and Carlos Suarez).

No box score yet

Erildas Erildas Budraitis
Again, Valanciunas was the most valuable player in Lithuanian NT 11 pts (3/5 FG, 5/6 FT), 5 reb, 2 stl, 2 blk in 18 min