By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
We are happy because after a number of years Santa Claus brought us a present that we really wanted: Euroleague’s Top16! The real season starts now with the 16 best teams of Europe fighting each other in two groups. We start on Thursday with a 5 games main course and we end on Friday with three games, among them the biggest of this week as Olympiacos hosts Fenerbahce/ Ulker.
Game of the week: Olympiacos vs Fenerbahce/ Ulker
That’s how you start with a bang. The back to back Euroleague champions are still unbeaten in Euroleague, but they are coming from two straight defeats in the Greek cup and the Greek league, lost a key player in Acie Law who is expected to have surgery in his knee and also Brent Petway is not expected to be active.
It’s a time of crisis for Olympiacos for the first time this season and the best medicine for that will a be a win against Zeljko Obradovic in Piraeus. This time Zoc will not wear Green, but will lead a team that culturally can be considered the “Olympiacos” of Turkey, Fenerbahce.
We expect a big game between two final four contenders that play two very different styles of basketball. Olympiacos’ strength is the backcourt, while Fener is playing without a true creator in the perimeter, its game is based on its forwards and for the first time since the era of Dejan Bodiroga there is a player (Bogdanovic) who takes so many shots in an Obradovic system. We can predict the outcome, but we can guarantee you that you have to see this battle of the Titans.
The return: Linas at his old home
Oddly enough the first European club in Linas Kleiza’s career was Olympiacos back in the 2009-10 season. He played in Euroleague’s final, was a part of the All Euroleague team and the winner of the Alphonso Ford trophy. “Pistolinas” as was his nickname has only friends in Piraeus, however on the court the only player left from that really expensive roster is Kostas Sloukas.
Honorable mention: Galatasaray – Maccabi Tel Aviv
This is one of the most balanced and competitive games of the first gameday and it will be a real surprise if any of the opponents manage to get into safe distance during the game. The Turkish champions are past their injury woes, Pops Mensah Bonsu returns to action and coach Ataman’s team wants a good start against Maccabi. The Israelis are playing better on the road, compared to recent seasons, however they are expected to miss Shawn James and that’s a blow.
The lifting: Barcelona – Anadolu Efes
Both teams want to make a new start in this game and the favorites to succeed are the hosts. After losing to Real Madrid, Barcelona wants to find its balance again and the return of Oleson and Lorbek is a good step towards that direction.
Anadolu Efes changed Oktai Mahmuti for Vangelis Aggelou – a move that is considered the first step towards hiring Aggelou’s boss in Olympiacos, Dusan Ivkovic – and a change on the bench always helps, specially if you survived to fight an other day in Euroleague thanks to an unexpected win of Zalgiris in the last regular season week. We expect better from the Turkish club, the addition of Milko Bjelica helps and it’s also time for Zoran Planinic to be himself. The two teams met last time in Euroleague back in 2007.
Old friends: Unicaja Malaga – Laboral Kutxa
It’s a fact that when teams from the same country, specially from Spain, are clashing in Euroleague, you can’t make predictions. That applies even more when Real Madrid and Barcelona are not in equation. Unicaja wants this year to be something more that the regulator of the final standings, they have the roster to achieve something more, but they need a good start.
Laboral Kutxa seems to be ready to explode, as one of the best players in history of the league, Andres Nocioni, is back in full strength. Add also a healthy Adam Hanga and we expect to see a better version of the team compared to the one of the regular season.
Daniel in Red: Panathinaikos – EA7 Milano
After a turbulent regular season, Panathinaikos has at least a psychological edge after beating Olympiacos in the Greek cup semifinal and also Maciulis and Pappas will be again on the roster. However the most interesting thing to watch in this game will be the Euroleague debut of Daniel Hackett wearing the red jersey of Milano. It’s a strange turn of events, continuing his career in one of the biggest domestic rivals of Siena, but that’s the life of a professional basketball player.
The eternal and the new: Lokomotiv Kuban – CSKA Moscow
Lokomotiv Kuban took a part of CSKA‘s know how after hiring coach Pashutin, won the Eurocup and got the ticket to Top16 in its first Euroleague appearance. The team from Krasnodar is considered the most dangerous domestic rival of Moscow’s powerhouse and this game is a great opportunity for sending a message to the “bear”. That gives more than a motive to coach Messina’s team which has its ups and downs but has to get this road win.
The happy one: Zalgiris – Bayern Munich
They meet for the first time, they want something bigger, but they are already happy! For the Lithuanians, the Top16 qualification after the mess that left the Romanov era can be considered already a great feat and for the Germans, their appearance in Top16 in their first Euroleague participation proves that they make the next step faster than any other team of their country. For Bayern, a place in the play offs is the target. It will not be easy, but they have proven that they have a more than competitive team.
Next stop Belgrade: Partizan – Real Madrid
What can you write? Real Madrid is running at full speed, has a 25-0 record breaking streak and until now no opponent was a real challenge. Will this change in Belgrade? Partizan has the pride, but also has a lot of things to do in order to be the team that finally beats Madrid.