Free Agent: Sarunas Jasikevicius

Sarunas was only put in the All-Euroleague first team at the last second, due to his very good performance at the Final Four, so based on the opinions of people who made up the vote, the best player in Europe is Anthony Parker. But Sarunas has won so much past few seasons that you could argue he wasn't that motivated until the Final Four. He is a great shooter who can hit several threes in a row with ease, specially when it's needed most, he's a very good passer and very passionate about winning, which has been said before. I do question how he'll do on the defensive end though, watching him a big i get a sense he is a bit of floater on defense, doesn't really pay too much attention to it. I remember the final quarter in the Olympics semi final against Italy, when they were down by 4-6 points with 1 or 2 minutes left, anyway there was still plenty of time for a comeback, and when the Italians brought the ball over, he was just standing around, he wasn't moving, he wasn't covering anyone, he was just waiting for them to shoot so he could get the ball again. I don't think i've ever seen anyone do something like that in a basketball game. I remember cringing at the thought of him doing that playing under Popovich, i think he would be literally foaming.

Europeans would like to be accepted as equals in basketball (and other things incidently) so they often overestimate their players. The thing is, while it's the same sport on both sides of the ocean, certain differences do exist between the two styles, and not all players who excel in Europe are likely to do the same in the NBA (and the other way around aswell). Sarunas and Bodiroga are the two best players who haven't played in the NBA in the last 10 years and part of the reason for that is that they are both unorthodox and NBA teams have had trouble imagining how their style would blend with the role they would have to play on their teams. I like Sarunas and i really hope he does well, but i think it's most likely he's projected to play a 6th man type role.

Karl Wundt, I hope you are wrong.

Having an European style on a NBA team would benefit NBA. Mike d'Antoni imported his game from Benetton and made an impact. Why wouldn't be the same with Sarunas?

Maccabi now surely kicks ass even maybe with everyone except those teams in the finals. (there i still would dare going) So Sharunas can be a very good foundation.

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Originally Posted by Karl Mundt

, but i think it's most likely he's projected to play a 6th man type role.

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i think we all know that would kill him.. he will not accept deal, which doesn´t make him a starter. if someone bench him, or give him just small role, that would make nonsense. i believe that he´s not able to play as a back-up. so i have doubts about his future too.. but on the other hand, team which will risk and give him all credit and chance to show up will get an amazing PG; born leader and winner.

from the teams which showed interest in him, i think he should wait a few weeks to see what will happen with cavs. cuz indiana, i think isn´t a team for his game.. - cavs are. and if they bring redd, and resign ZI,/or sign curry, he will have enought place to play with his game. in this scenario cavs would be serious title contender next year..

and he said that he want to have three year deal, min. 10M.. that means 3M+ every year, not 5M..

The Spurs certainly wouldnt accomodate his intentions of starting so...

Saras won't be a star here because:

1.- He is not young.

2.- He is not fast.

3.- It takes one year to Europeans to adapt.-

Gus

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Originally Posted by shyne

Lets see how he shoots from an NBA 3 point line not that high school one they use in the Olympics.

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One of the great myths of the NBA is that you have to be able to score at will from the 3pt. line. The result has been a stiffling of shooting from 15-23 ft by many guards who simply don't practice at that distance enough.

Would you rather have Parker shooting 40-45% from that distance on a pull up jumper off a dribble--or shooting under 30% spotting up outside the arc?

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Originally Posted by shyne

Lets see how he shoots from an NBA 3 point line not that high school one they use in the Olympics.

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Yea, Stojakovic and Nowitzki are really bad 3pt shooters... :rolleyes

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Originally Posted by SpizdiStrann

and he said that he want to have three year deal, min. 10M.. that means 3M+ every year, not 5M..

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Well I think he's changed his mind about that. The Pacers were giving him a good look but they didn't know if they could get him because other teams were looking at spending the whole MLE on him. That's a contract starting at around $5M. The Pacers only have about $3M to start for him.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

Isn't Jasikevicius super slow?

I'm not sure if his game will translate well to the NBA, even though he can definitely shoot. I heard that the Pacers and Heat were both looking at him. I'm not sure who else.

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I thought he was a cutter that shot like crazy...


Atleast he showd us his shooting against the U.S.

This guy wants the full MLE.

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Originally Posted by timvp

Where is that guy Zeleni or whatever that posts here. He says this guy is the best PG in the world and a future All-Star.

I have a feeling that he busts. Defensively, I don't see how he's going to be able to keep up.

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Apology Accepted.

:smokin

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Originally Posted by timvp

Apology Accepted.

:smokin

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:blah

No apology given. :lol

1. Guy has 8,3 PtpG
2. Guy has 3,2 AsPG
3. This playa hardly ever plays with starters of his team.

Carlisle has isolated Sarunas and uses Peja as a shooter. Peja does not shoot as he used to while playing with Vlade.
I won't apologize until they finish playing play-off. I still think, mind you, that Jasikevicius has a lot to do, while Tinsley showed everything he could do with this bunch.

After all, the guy is clutch material. Pacers can do a lot of damage.

And while we talk stats: I cannot presume to judge a rookie player who is a part of car-crash team like the pacers have been this year on his abbilities.

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Originally Posted by zeleni

:blah

No apology given. :lol

1. Guy has 8,3 PtpG
2. Guy has 3,2 AsPG
3. This playa hardly ever plays with starters of his team.

Carlisle has isolated Sarunas and uses Peja as a shooter. Peja does not shoot as he used to while playing with Vlade.
I won't apologize until they finish playing play-off. I still think, mind you, that Jasikevicius has a lot to do, while Tinsley showed everything he could do with this bunch.

After all, the guy is clutch material. Pacers can do a lot of damage.

And while we talk stats: I cannot presume to judge a rookie player who is a part of car-crash team like the pacers have been this year on his abbilities.

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You do know that Tinsley has been been injured all season, right? He hasn't played 30 minutes in a game since Christmas.

Jasikevicius was starting ... until teams figured out he couldn't defend or dribble. And now teams have started guarding him with taller players, which has made his shooting percentage fall to around 30% as of late.

Still think he's the best point guard in the world?

He didn't start as long as I was observing him after the trade.

30 % is also FG of Peja as of late.

No, Pacers need to get their shit together. They can hardly be called a team lately.
After the post-season I can say a word about Sarunas. And by then maybe they will also import a Slovenian to be bound for NBA Finals.

Sarunas has good numbers and was hardly a starter. Enough hate for a player who had to provide numbers and chemistry within a team with Artest-related problems. Guy had a horrible team selection to start his NBA career with all those injuries and affairs. Sarunas is a victory player, here he wasn't dealing primarely with basketball, if you know what i mean.

Apparently, for now at least, Rick Carlisle thinks Sarunas is the third best point guard . . . .

on Indiana's roster.

Indy Star

ouch.

Owned again.

When will he admit, that hes been overrated.


Not all european stars are destined to make it in the NBA.


THAT SIMPLE!

That dude was a serious bomb for me in my fantasy league.

Good shooter?

Yeah.

But as Macijauskas, Andrew Gaze, Zarko Paspajl, have proven, it takes more than just being a "shooter" to make it in this league.

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Originally Posted by timvp

You do know that Tinsley has been been injured all season, right? He hasn't played 30 minutes in a game since Christmas.

Jasikevicius was starting ... until teams figured out he couldn't defend or dribble. And now teams have started guarding him with taller players, which has made his shooting percentage fall to around 30% as of late.

Still think he's the best point guard in the world?

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Weird!!

Without the letter J, there is no NBA ... it's NASCAR-esque.

Ignore me [/temp sig]

I've said since he was drafted that he was too slow and one dimensional to be a good pg

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Originally Posted by Cant_Be_Faded

I've said since he was drafted that he was too slow and one dimensional to be a good pg

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I'm sure you did.

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Originally Posted by Cant_Be_Faded

I've said since he was drafted that he was too slow and one dimensional to be a good pg

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when was he drafted?

LOL, was he drafted at all?

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Originally Posted by timvp

I'm sure you did.

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alot of people did
in fact, only the euro posters were the ones that kept saying he'd be good
naturally

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