Well, another 20p~ defeat is coming tomorrow...
[quote name='Black Urum' timestamp='1286279254' post='25371']
Well, another 20p~ defeat is coming tomorrow...
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According to Vainauskas (the interview that I mentioned before) the coming loss is expected just as the losses Poland. He after the BBL Cup that "we might play some bad games in Poland and against CSKA too". And then the things will turn 180% and they are a good team again lol.
[quote name='Vilius' timestamp='1286289883' post='25375']
According to Vainauskas (the interview that I mentioned before) the coming loss is expected just as the losses Poland. He after the BBL Cup that "we might play some bad games in Poland and against CSKA too". And then the things will turn 180% and they are a good team again lol.
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He's living with last year's experience when Rytas had a hell of a first half of the season, but than failed to reach top 16. While Žalgiris was struggling big time all season long, but somehow managed to get into top 16 (with Brown's buzzer beater from downtown). I think Vainauskas will wait for the Euroleague first games. But the picture seems like this - Croat can't handle the team.
PS: Interesting enough that ValanÄiÅ«nas is the most consistent big for Rytas in pre-season.
Coach changes in Rytas wouldn't surprise anyone but replacing Anzulovic with Stelmahers (in case that happens) sounds absurd. Does he expect another 'kurtinaitis miracle'?
I'm still adamant that Rytas should have never gotten rid of Aleksandar Trifunovic. Sure would be nice to get him back but 1) he probably feels slighted by Rytas and 2) Red Star already signed him up. Sigh. <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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He left Red Star in the summer...
Besides, they don't normally bring back former players or coaches.
That's because Vainauskas has "discover and sell" strategy. And it works for them. Many players and some coaches made a name for themselves in Rytas. I doubt it will happen the same with AnzuloviÄ, but let's wait and see.
[quote name='Black Urum' timestamp='1286331147' post='25391']
He left Red Star in the summer...
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Really?? Wow I would be thrilled to have him back. It would never happen though.
I think Jerry Johnson is a downgrade from Price, Milisavljevic and Popovic.
[quote name='Black Urum' timestamp='1286398060' post='25437']
I think Jerry Johnson is a downgrade from Price, Milisavljevic and Popovic.
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I completely agree. I would take Hollis Price and Bojan Popovic back in a heartbeat. Given that my second team is ALBA Berlin, I can't complain too much about not having Price.
Is it only me thinking that Anzulovic decision to throw in Bjelica instead of ValanÄiÅ«nas was a horrible mistake? Bjelica gets killed ever ytime he's playing against centers. And I hated the fact ValnÄiÅ«nas is going to the bench after the first mistake. Croat thinks this is the way to progress? I don't think so. Valanciunas did a good job against the big MarjanoviÄ in defence.
More over, I didn't see a single effective combination. All of them seems useless, players are not finding their place. And to bench down Jomantas Completely? Potentially the best defender of the team? Interesting. The guy will be kicked out of the team as soon as Rytas will lose some important Euroleague games, IMO (hopefully even sooner).
PS: I think it would be reasonable to give a chance for Gronskis finally, off course if he wants that. That guy is a good specialist, IMO.
Bingo! Bye bye AnzuloviÄ. It was very poor attempt.
Quote:Lietuvos Rytas, coach Anzulovic part ways
Lietuvos Rytas has announced a mutual agreement with head coach Drazen Anzulovic to terminate his contract, the club announced Friday. Anzulovic joined the team in late May, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with an option for the 2011-12 season. Anzulovic, however, could not help Lietuvos Rytas to win the Baltic BBL Cup, losing 61-57 in the title game against Estonian powerhouse TU/Rock.
Since that moment, Lietuvos Rytas registered three double-digit losses in friendly games against Montepaschi Siena (63-83), Asseco Prokom (67-90) and in its VTB League opening showdown against CSKA Moscow (80-61). L.Rytas makes its Lithuanian League debut against Nevezis tomorrow. The club is working hard to sign a new coach in the upcoming days.
Anzulovic will be replacement by a former Lietuvos Rytas player Robert Stelmahers who will be coaching the team until a new head coach is found. The 36-year-old Latvian coach was in charge of Perlas, which is an unofficial Rytas famr team in LKL, for the second of last season. He joined Rytas in summer as an assistant coach of Drazen Anzulovic.
Interestingly, Croatian coach Ivan Sunara, who took charge of Perlas in summer, was also released today. The official explanation of such move by the club is that Sunara's training was too tough for the youngsters of Perlas. But the main reason of the firing of Sunara was that he forced the young Perlas team to play methodical basketball which apparently was not what the owners of the club wanted.
Source: Euroleague.net, TalkBasket.net
It was certainly an expected move. My guess is that the new coach will also come from the Balkans because there's really no other option for Rytas. There aren't any quality Lithuanian coaches available except Kazlauskas. But most importantly, Rytas always signs foreign coaches from the Balkans. It will probably be some not-well-known coach who has worked in several countries.
The funny thing about all this is that Vainauskas is really desperate now. He asked Kurtinaitis to return to Rytas two days ago but he turned donw the offer. It must have been a very sweet feeling for Kurtinaitis to see Vainauskas begging for his return after kicking him out last summer.
The worse thing that could happen for Rytas (and I really can see that happening) is that they will have four coaches this season, just as Žalgiris did last year.
Trifunovic is free agent.
[quote name='Black Urum' timestamp='1286567060' post='25484']
Trifunovic is free agent.
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After hearing that Vainauskas wanted Kurtinaitis back I wouldn't be so sceptical about Trifunovic's return now.
The team will start playing better IMO regardless of who is the new coach. The only question is how much better. Their goal of reaching Top 8 in Euroleague with this roster seems unreal to me. Still, I'd say that the chances that the new coach will be really 'new' are much higher.
They need to make some changes. For example get rid of Nagla and sign someone better. But I guess Vainauskas firmly believes that he chose the right players because he can't be wrong.
Btw, lrytas.lt writes that it was the first time in Anzulovic's career that he was unable to pick any players by himself.
I'm still celebrating. I'm not a rude person, but damn I'm happy that Rytas finally rid off of that clown. Come on, he was pure disaster. I'm just thinking what the hell J.V. was thinking - that's probably the worse coach ever appeared in Rytas' team. At least decent timing by Rytas management again. It's too bad they let go Kurtinaitis. He knows the team well and he's at he peak now and I guess has some new ideas after WC this summer.
[quote name='straight forward' timestamp='1286580097' post='25490']
I'm still celebrating. I
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Why are you celebrating for Rytas? I thought you are a Zalgiris fan.
The new coach will be announced to morrow. The negotiations must have taken place while Anzulovic was still the head coach.
[quote name='Black Urum' timestamp='1286585779' post='25494']
Why are you celebrating for Rytas? I thought you are a Zalgiris fan.
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I think he wants two competitive Lithuanian teams in EL and supports Lithuanian basketball first of all and then the clubs. At least that's what I do.
[quote name='Black Urum' timestamp='1286585779' post='25494']
Why are you celebrating for Rytas? I thought you are a Zalgiris fan.
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Žalgiris is my home town club and a lot of sentiments lies there, so Žalgiris is the club in my heart. But Rytas is my second team and equally important when it's Euroleague + they usually have few extra class players, future leaders of NT. How could I not support them <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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