LKL Round 30 (Regular Season): Leader Rytas get another victory

The Regular Season in LKL is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 3 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Leader Rytas delivered the twenty fifth win on Sunday night. This time they beat 8th ranked Jonava (11-19) 98-85. Rytas looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international center Martynas Echodas (206-1997) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds. American point guard RJ Cole (182-1999, college: UConn) chipped in 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Guinean-American power forward Ousmane Drame (206-1993, college: Quinnipiac) who recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots). Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 25-5 record. Jonava lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 19 games lost. Rytas are looking forward to face Juventus (#4) in Utena in the next round. Jonava will play on the road against P.Zvaigzdes (#11) in Pasvalys and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
The game in Panevezys was also worth to mention about. Fourth ranked Juventus (17-11) played at the court of 6th ranked Lietkabelis (14-13). Juventus defeated Lietkabelis 91-78. It was a good game for American guard Scoochie Smith (191-1994, college: Dayton) who led his team to a victory with 15 points and 8 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). TJ Starks contributed with 20 points for the winners. International swingman Deividas Sirvydis (204-2000) replied with 20 points for Lietkabelis. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Juventus have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 17-11 record. Lietkabelis at the other side keeps the sixth place with 13 games lost. Juventus will play against league's leader Rytas in Vilnius in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Lietkabelis will play at home against Mazeikiai (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
We should mention about the upset which took place in Klaipeda, where higher ranked Neptunas (16-14) lost at home to eleventh ranked P.Zvaigzdes (6-22) 77-88 on Saturday. Kadeem Jack had a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. The best for the losing side was Deividas Gailius with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Neptunas' coach Giorgos Vovoras rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. P.Zvaigzdes maintains eleventh position with 6-22 record. Loser Neptunas keeps the fifth place with 14 games lost. P.Zvaigzdes will meet at home higher ranked Jonava (#8) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Neptunas will play against Wolves where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.

In the last two games of round 30 Wolves crushed Siauliai in Vilnius 91-65. Zalgiris smashed Mazeikiai at home 95-68.
The best stats of 30th round was 16 points and 8 rebounds by Laurynas Birutis of Zalgiris.



Siauliai - Wolves 65-91

There was no surprise when 10th ranked Siauliai (8-22) was crushed at home by third ranked Wolves (21-8) 91-65 on Saturday. Wolves outrebounded Siauliai 45-30 including 33 on the defensive glass. Wolves looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Nigerian-American Rasheed Sulaimon (193-1994, college: Maryland) scored 24 points and 7 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the former international forward Eigirdas Zukauskas (202-1992) chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American guard LJ Thorpe (196-1999, college: UNC Asheville, agency: Worldwide SM) with 13 points and 6 rebounds and Jamaican-Canadian forward Shaquille Keith (198-1993, college: Cape Breton) scored 13 points. Siauliai's coach Nikolajs Mazurs gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Wolves have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 21-8 record having five points less than leader Rytas. Siauliai lost third consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with 22 games lost. Wolves will meet Neptunas (#5) in the next round. Siauliai will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Wolves: R.Sulaimon 24+7reb+1ast, T.Thurman 14+4reb, E.Zukauskas 12+7reb+3ast, C.Mekowulu 11+2reb, V.Kariniauskas 9+2reb+5ast, A.Berucka 6+7reb+3ast
Siauliai: S.Keith 13+4reb+2ast, L.Thorpe 13+6reb+3ast, T.Pavelka 12+3reb, S.Armand 8+2reb+3ast, D.Paulius 8+8reb, B.Daniel 5+3reb+2ast

Neptunas - P.Zvaigzdes 77-88

We should mention about the upset which took place in Klaipeda, where higher ranked Neptunas (16-14) lost at home to eleventh ranked P.Zvaigzdes (6-22) 77-88 on Saturday. P.Zvaigzdes made 27-of-31 free shots (87.1 percent) during the game, while Neptunas only scored three points from the stripe. P.Zvaigzdes forced 19 Neptunas turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Trinidad and Tobago forward Kadeem Jack (206-1992, college: Rutgers) had a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and guard Martynas Arlauskas (201-2000, college: Gonzaga) chipped in 20 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was the former international forward Deividas Gailius (200-1988, agency: Octagon Europe) with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international guard Mindaugas Girdziunas (188-1989) scored 13 points and 4 assists. Four Neptunas players scored in double figures. Neptunas' coach Giorgos Vovoras rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. P.Zvaigzdes maintains eleventh position with 6-22 record. Loser Neptunas keeps the fifth place with 14 games lost. P.Zvaigzdes will meet at home higher ranked Jonava (#8) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Neptunas will play against Wolves where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
P.Zvaigzdes: K.Jack 22+10reb, M.Arlauskas 20+3reb+4ast, A.Sidarevicius 19+2reb+1ast, A.Ate 8+1reb+2ast, S.Jarumbauskas 7+11reb+6ast, J.Watson 6+1reb+6ast
Neptunas: D.Gailius 21+8reb+5ast, M.Girdziunas 13+2reb+4ast, A.Tubelis 10+5reb+1ast, T.Rutherford 10+3reb, J.Newkirk 8+1reb+6ast, M.Pacevicius 6+3reb

Jonava - Rytas 85-98

Leader Rytas delivered the twenty fifth win on Sunday night. This time they beat 8th ranked Jonava (11-19) 98-85. Rytas looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international center Martynas Echodas (206-1997) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds. American point guard RJ Cole (182-1999, college: UConn) chipped in 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Guinean-American power forward Ousmane Drame (206-1993, college: Quinnipiac) who recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots) and forward Justas Furmanavicius (199-1994, college: Ole Miss) added 20 points respectively. Five Rytas and four Jonava players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 25-5 record. Jonava lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 19 games lost. Rytas are looking forward to face Juventus (#4) in Utena in the next round. Jonava will play on the road against P.Zvaigzdes (#11) in Pasvalys and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Rytas: M.Echodas 21+10reb+3ast, R.Cole 17+5reb+4ast, L.Uleckas 15+5reb, M.Normantas 11+2reb+7ast, G.Masiulis 11+4reb, G.Radzevicius 9+2reb+2ast
Jonava: J.Furmanavicius 20+4reb+3ast, O.Drame 19+10reb+1ast, R.Larson 17+3reb+4ast, D.Garrett 10+2reb+1ast, I.Marinkovic 9+4reb, T.Jogela 4+3reb+2ast

Lietkabelis - Juventus 78-91

The game in Panevezys was also worth to mention about. Fourth ranked Juventus (17-11) played at the court of 6th ranked Lietkabelis (14-13). Juventus defeated Lietkabelis 91-78. Juventus made 18-of-19 charity shots (94.7 percent) during the game. It was a great shooting night for Juventus especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 52.4 percentage. It was a good game for American guard Scoochie Smith (191-1994, college: Dayton) who led his team to a victory with 15 points and 8 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). The other American import guard TJ Starks (188-1998, college: CSUN) contributed with 20 points for the winners. Four Juventus players scored in double figures. International swingman Deividas Sirvydis (204-2000) replied with 20 points and swingman Martynas Varnas (196-1997) added 17 points and 4 assists in the effort for Lietkabelis. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Juventus have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 17-11 record. Lietkabelis at the other side keeps the sixth place with 13 games lost. Juventus will play against league's leader Rytas in Vilnius in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Lietkabelis will play at home against Mazeikiai (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Juventus: T.Starks 20+3reb+1ast, Z.Skucas 16+3reb, S.Smith 15+4reb+8ast, E.Saulys 12+7reb+3ast, A.Penava 9+7reb+1ast, S.Beniusis 8+3reb
Lietkabelis: D.Sirvydis 20+4reb+3ast, M.Varnas 17+2reb+4ast, D.Gagic 14+4reb+2ast, V.Lipkevicius 8+5reb+1ast, D.Bickauskis 5+3reb+3ast, G.Orelik 5+1reb+7ast

Zalgiris - Mazeikiai 95-68

No shocking result in a game in Kaunas where second ranked Zalgiris (24-3) smashed 7th ranked Mazeikiai (13-16) 95-68 on Monday. Zalgiris looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Mazeikiai's players. The former international center Laurynas Birutis (213-1997) scored 16 points and 8 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American guard Edmond Sumner (198-1995, college: Xavier) chipped in 15 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American point guard Chauncey Collins (185-1995, college: TCU) with 16 points and Greek-Nigerian forward Alex Antetokounmpo (201-2001) scored 13 points and 7 rebounds. Four Mazeikiai players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending champion maintains second position with 24-3 record behind leader Rytas. Mazeikiai lost fourth consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the seventh place with 16 games lost. Zalgiris will meet at home Nevezis (#9) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mazeikiai will play against Lietkabelis in Panevezys and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris: L.Birutis 16+8reb+2ast, E.Sumner 15+2reb+4ast, E.Ulanovas 11+1reb+2ast, R.Smits 10+3reb, L.Lekavicius 10+1reb+2ast, K.Hayes 9+7reb+1ast
Mazeikiai: C.Collins 16+4reb+3ast, A.Antetokounmpo 13+7reb+1ast, E.Tubutis 12+6reb+1ast, K.Stokes 10+1ast, G.Staniulis 7+6reb+1ast, M.Paliukenas 4+1reb