By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
After three games in the Top 16 and thirteen in total, every fantasy player has his favorite players and the core that doesn’t want to break up. So, most of the changes at this point must be done having a big target in mind.
Eurohoopsnet team for example, (as many other players) had great score last week because the newcomers (Krstic, Dragic and Pops Mensah-Bonsu) did excellent. But this week Dragic faces Barcelona and it’s time for him to stop having 20+ ranking. The next player who will leave is Emir Preldzic because he isn’t in good shape lately and the third one is John Bryant who can’t make the difference.
Having almost 200 credits available (198), two spots open in the perimeter and one in the front line, our big target in Andres Nocioni. The leader of Laboral is in great shape and he will find space against Olympiacos because Printezis is the only power forward and Perperoglou is shorter and less athletic than he is.
After him, a good solution is Devin Smith who is shining lately and in NOKIA Arena vs Partizan he can have a great score. At the end, Richard Hendrix is a nice option in front of his home game vs Zalgiris because he doesn’t have an opponent on his size and skills.
Enjoy fantasy!
UPDATE: Due to the last minute news from CSKA Moscow about Sonny Weems missing the game against Real Madrid we had to made some last minute adjustments. That means Weems, Preldzic and Bryant are out, Dragic is staying, while Nocioni, Kinsey and Hendrix are the new faces.
Points Guards
Sergio Rodriguez 74,8 credits (+2,2)
He has 20 ranking per game with only 22 minutes per game in the Top 16. Against CSKA he will play more. The challenge will be bigger but he can give one more 20+ score.
Dimitris Diamantidis 66,8 credits (+2,1)
He’s amazing in the Top 16. For sure vs his ex coach, Obradovic, will be tough, but he’s in great shape and in Istanbul can have a big score again. The only conscious is how tired he is.
Shooting Guards/Small Forwards
Andres Nocioni 78,4 credits
He’s in great shape and the leader of Laboral. In the game vs Olympiacos he will have a great chance to show his rebounding ability again. He’s second in defensive and third in total rebounds in the Top 16 and the Reds haven’t a forward to face him.
Vassilis Spanoulis 74,9 credits (-1,2)
Olympiacos has only three wins in the last eight games and its captain must make a step front. The game in Baskonia is hard but “Kill-Bill” has to -and will- play better.
Devin Smith 55,8 credits
He has the best ranking per game (18,7), is the first scorer (14,7 ppg) and first rebounder (10 pg) among his teammates in the Top 16. In a home game against Partizan he can make it again.
Sony Weems 54,6 credits (+4,4)
He’s stable and has the second best ranking in the Top 16 after Krstic. He earns credits almost every week and he should be good against Real.
Power Forwards/Centers
Pops Mensah-Bonsu 73,6 credits (+5,2)
He’s not underpriced any more but against Bayern he has one more chance to make a double digit score and to stay in this level.
Joffrey Lauvergne 65,7 credits (+1,5)
He continues to be steady and give double digit ranking in every game. Maccabi allows almost 36 rebounds per game to its opponents (third worse number in the Euroleague this season) and the French will get advantage of it.
Richard Hendrix 61,3 credits
Zalgiris hasn’t many physical big guys and he can have a really big score returning to his regular season games.
Nenad Krstic 38,5 credits (+5)
He had a great game last week and he got credits and confidence. Without Hines he will play a lot and can make the difference against big guys like Bourousis or Mejri.