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it doesn’t sound like a joke. Though it would be sad not to have Darjus, as then there would be no competition for the center position. I’m not sure the roster is much better than 2011, just a bit better because of Kleiza. But we better win something this time , as from 2013 there will be a bunch of retirements (Saras, Kaukenas, Javtokas) with youngsters not yet goot enough (especially big gaps at C and PG positions…)

Well, aside from Lavrinovic and Songaila (who is not that good anymore) there is nobody else for the frontcourt… But we’ll see whether too weak or not too weak. We definitely can’t beat USA or Spain (with Pau and Navarro), France and Russia might be hard too, but doable.

Javtokas is almost washed up.

Valanciunas is too weak physically and struggles to guard any big center that is good in the low post.

Motiejunas is way too soft, despite his size and talent. He is a “big man” in the mold of David Andersen.

Jankunas is fine, but he’s just a good role player, and not more than that.

Pocius is a great defender and athlete, but he’s very limited on offense. Kalnietis is a great player, but he really struggles against an interior zone defense, because he can’t shoot at all.

If that is their roster, then Kaukenas, Kleiza, and Maciulis better be fully recovered from their injuries and in top form. Because otherwise that team will have similar results as the 2011 team.

USA, Spain, Greece, France, and maybe even Brazil and Russia would probably be too strong for that team.

One good thing for Lithuania though is that Jasikevicius has been playing a lot better lately. He still can only play effectively for 15-20 minutes, and he is still awful on defense, but his offensive game (other than 3 point shooting) has come back.

The last couple years he really lost his pick and roll game, which I assume was probably due to being in poor physical condition. But lately he has his pick and roll game back. He is struggling with his outside shot though. But if he maintains how he is playing now, he can help them a bit more than last summer.

I don’t see a medal for that roster, but they at least would be in contention for it.

It was really a JOKE Kemziura still didn’t revealed that list, although, he should do that on April.
Those, Who knows Lithuanian language, understood, that its a joke, because of some sentences in the article

For example it was written, that brothers (Lavrinovic) will not play, because they like jokes too much while team will have serious summer (Besides that other “reason” that Kazlauskas said no).

Or for example, Kemzura choosed Katelynas instead of Songaila, because he wanted Rytas fans to be sad, because last year there were 4 Zalgiris payers and only 1 from Rytas

Another joke is that, FIBA allows to play in NT tournament only those players, that have professional contracts, while Maciulis plays without contract in Baltai, so he couldn;t play

And the last sentence, that kemzura still didn’t decided what 3rd pg to take incandidates lit and he’s choosing from Mazutis and Gustas.. Yeah right..

Well, the roster seems pretty realistic, don’t you think? There’s no impossible players (like blacks or very low level players) on the list.

RC, I agree with some points. Motiejunas is bad at defense, Valanciunas is taken advantage of, Pocius is almost an absolute zero offensively and Gecevicius is struggling too. But look at the bright side. Now that DeJuan Collins is gone, Trifunovic will look for Kalnietis to fill in the PG position. Kalnietis will have more opportunities to show what he can do, like that game against Rytas – 24 pts, 5 assists. He’s super fast and athletic, and his uptempo playing style will help the LT team. Jasikevicius is recovering steadily, Maciulis too, Jasaitis is starting to get his 3PT shooting touch back, Jankunas is starting to assert himself (in VTB league at least). Many players are improving, so that’s a good sign.