By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
If there is a group with a big margin for upsets, that’s Group B. Maccabi, Siena and Unicaja Malaga are in rebuilding mode, Alba Berlin is the… wildcard on and off the court, Prokom is still a work in progress and Elan Chalon in its first Euroleague appearance is a question mark. Yep, if there is a group where almost anything can happen, this is it.
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
David Blatt is still in the town, but seven players from last season left, so it’s clear they are going to need some time to… get to know each other. Nik Caner-Medley together with Georgi Shermadini and Malcolm Thomas are going to take care of the front line, while David Logan and Yogev Ohayon will try to make Maccabi’s plays easier.
PREDICTION: It will be an intriguing season for the Israelis, but B’ Group is the most open of them all and Maccabi seems to have a slight advantage. It would be natural for them to be at Top 16
Montepaschi Siena
Luca Banchi has big shoes to fill, after Simone Pianigiani’s departure, the coach who in six years lead the team at the top of Italy and among the best in Europe. Banchi’s job got even harder, when he had to choose nine new players and built a team from scratch. And all that with -30% lower budget. His players have plenty of experiences, but not so many from the highest level.
PREDICTION: This is a new era for the Italians and they will need time to find their way to handle things. This time will be during Euroleague’s regular season and in the Τop 16.
Alba Berlin
Once upon a time, Sasa Obradovic as a player lead Alba to Korac Cup. And now he is back as a coach to lead them in Euroleague, where they will play after a three-year absence. They overloaded their front line (with three new players who can offer from outside shooting to easy baskets), they
have… IQ on the backcourt and they have to live up to the expectations, specially after the inury of Nathan Peavy.
PREDICTION: On their last appearence they reached the Top 16 and this is their goal for this season. Is it achievable? They have size, they have spead, they have experience, so why not?
Unicaja Malaga
Nine of Malaga’s players are new in town, like their coach, Jasmin Repesa who is changing benches for the 8th time in his career. On paper, at Unicaja they have everything they need to have to present a solid front line. They also have guards who really can run the game and a big time scorer in Krunoslav Simon. The question is how quick they can start playing like they want to.
PREDICTION: After 5 years without entering Euroleague’s play-offs, Unicaja wants to get back… that feeling. And they have till January to work with themselves to this direction
Asseco Prokom
Poland’s only representative (for many years now), didn’t have more than three players signed, till the end of the Olympics. But after Lithuanian national team coach Kestutis Kemzura was able to focus on his club, he made sure he will at least give to Prokom a better place, than the last one on the list with best offenses in Euroleague.
PREDICTION: Last year they didn’t make it to Top 16. This season it will be a huge surprise, if the same story doesn’t repeat itself.
Elan Chalon-Sur-Saone
They thought it would be only normal to keep the core of the team which got three titles, last year (don’t forget they have two “cups” in France). They added Marcus Denmon (at their back court) and Shelden Williams (in the paint) and now they are about to see if these rookies (in Europe) can make the difference.
PREDICTION: They don’t have experiences, but they have great will for success. The question is if they can “steal” somebody else’s place in order to get to the Top 16. And this would be extremely difficult.