Zalgiris GM Motiejunas: ‘We can all contribute to making the situation better’ 11

At the beginning of this season, Kaunas Zalgiris director Paulius Motiejunas has already made several difficult decisions.

The team said goodbye to head coach Martin Schiller who was replaced by experienced Slovenian Jure Zdovc. Moreover, the Lithuanian powerhouse parted ways with the American guard Emmanuel Mudiay and invited Zoran Dragic and Tai Webster to strengthen the Green and Whites roster.

According to Motiejunas, Zalgiris, who are still looking for their first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague victory, are not showing their game yet. In the Zalgiris Insider conversation, Motiejunas spoke about the problems and answered the subscribers’ questions.

“There are two sides that both players and coaches understand. On the managerial side, the situation is as good as possible for both players and coaches – in terms of salaries, charter trips, training conditions. We have always had it,” said Zalgiris GM.

“The next thing is the game. We are all responsible for the result, we do not run away from responsibility, and we take it. That dialogue with the players – all together and individually, and with the coaches – is happening, and we’re looking at where we can all contribute to making the situation better.”

After eight consecutive defeats in the EuroLeague and a setback on the local front against Rytas Vilnius, Motiejunas claimed that there were objective reasons, why the newly joined specialist Zdovc had not yet managed to get the team playing properly.

“In the beginning, there was no practice at all because there was a match after the match. The next thing – he arrives at a whole new system. I do not want to say that these are excuses, but these are the real reasons why it is difficult for him. He doesn’t know those players, but now I would say that the players don’t know themselves.

When you see those pale faces as they play, I’m sure each of them are better than they actually look right now. You need to get to know the players as they are now and discover the qualities to improve their gameplay.

It is clear that the arrival of a new coach is not what we would all like. But there are all reasons for that, and we hope that the situation will improve,” told Motiejunas.

Bringing two newcomers to the backcourt line, Zalgiris are still looking for an addition to the big men department.

“There was a lot of discussion about replacing Emmanuel with two other players. But financially, we were almost unaffected by this move. After sacking Mudiay, we spent the money on two newcomers.

We choose carefully regarding position 4. We are thinking about a long-term strategy, maybe next year. We do not want to bring a player who would cover the weaknesses just for this season. But whoever comes now, he will not change the face of the whole team. There are problems in other positions too,” the Lithuanian explained.

Asked about the team’s vision and future, Motiejunas admitted that many lightning-fast decisions would not radically change the game and results, so the club emphasizes moving forward with the current line-up.

“We don’t believe in quick solutions. The key now is to revive these players we have. Especially those with whom we have long-term contracts. We need to see if we can build the team around them next season.

At the same time, we need to look at the case of Dragic and Webster, whether they can be the team leaders next season,” said Zalgiris’ director.

Comments

  1. nagi

    nagi , kurtinaitis blogas treneris o shileris geras treneris , zdovcas geras treneris. Jau atsibodo tas politiskas snekejimas , kalbeti kad visi klausytu , bet nieko nepasakyti , gaila kad taip.

  2. Aha

    Nieko naujo nepasakė. Tik supratau, kad ieškant naujokų niekas nežiūri jų žaidimo video, neanalizuoja statistikų. Ir dar pamiršo jų paklaust ar gintis moka :D :D O ką nusipirkom, pamatom tik kai atvažiavę žaist pradeda. Niekas nepaklausė, kuo Jure yra geresnis už Adomaitį, Kemzūrą ar Kurtinaitį, kurie dar ir mūsų lietuvius pažįsta? Tas pats ir dėl aisistentų ir skautų. Man toks vaizdas susidarė, kad vien dėl lietuviško paso jie ir nebuvo kviesti. Nes kažkoks principas pas metų vadybininką, kad užsenietis tai jau lygis kažkoks.

  3. www

    kurtis jau praeitis, kemzura gan silpnas apskritai, bet adomaicio kandidatura tikrai butu verta svarstyti, smagu kad pamazu tampa priimtinas ir likusiai visuomenes daliai nes jau kuri laika ryte nebedirba

  4. Darius

    sėdėti ir laukti, kad situacija pagerės tikrai galima įsitaisius ant sofkutės ir žiūrint į lietų, pilantį 3 dienas iš eilės, tikrai pagerės savaime. O kad šitos Žalgirio komandos žaidimas pagerėtų, tikėtis galima, nebent jei esi tituluotas geriausias, o gal durniausias eurolygos vadybininkas. Viską jie mat padarė, pinigus moka, keliauja patogiai, treniruojasi šiltai. Valio, šiltnamio sąlygos, viskas paduota. Tik vieną faktą pamiršo, tai yra surinkti alkaną, piktą, kovingą, stiprią, perspektyvią sudėtį. Priminsiu, kad šitas ponas buvo kosmose surinkęs tokią komandą ir kėlė užduotį patekti į eurolygos top 8. Deja, realybė pasirodė kitokia, šita komanda, pasirodo, išvis nepajėgi laimėti.

  5. nesutinku

    kad kurtis praeitis o kemzura silpnas , palygink adomo ir kurcio ir kemzuros cv bent jau , kur tas adomas dirbes ? Tik rinktinej aukstesniam lygyje ir tai pabego , o be to tik LKL . Va jisai ir yra silpnas.

  6. Ateitis

    Cavanaugh 2+1 Nors buvo kalbu kad nepateisina vilciu Nors Motiejunas ivardina pavizdi Kaip Daviesas Pangos Micicius Walkup neiskarto sublizgejo Buvo tokie Perez Vasturia 2+1 bet netenkino

  7. Zdovcas

    Sunku jam buvo ateit I tokia komandos sudeti ar paruos Komanda nuteiks jei Tikejimas komanda idomu ar is bus iki sezono galo

  8. Hyper

    Lygiuotis i Madrida gera strategija. O siaip labai laukiu rekonstruoto stadiono

  9. A. Masėnas

    Tai kad jo protelis nese tik tiek, kad per metus nukiso Zalgiri i Eurolygos dugna. Lygiuojasini Madrida, o negali iskovoti nei vienos pergales

  10. Linas

    Interviu apie nieką…Apie Cavanaugh kontraktą 2+1 ir jo perspektyvas lyginant su Davies, Pangos, Micic ar Walkup geriau išvis patylėtų, jei neturi ką daugiau pasakyt…

  11. vytautas

    Ko jus asilai Zalgiriui atsidavusius zmones izeidinejat , susimastykit pries burnodami.Siame darbe klaidu neisvengia kiekvienas. O Kurtinaitis tik stalius geras, ar jau pamirsot jo pasisakymus Zalgiriui labai sunkiu metu.