By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
You can lie through stats, but the numbers are usually ruthless (see the Greek economy for example). The truth is, though, that the Final Four finalist really put some impressive statistical numbers this season. And here they are, the best from each team, in each category
Of course, we will start from the guys who took over the Index Rating list. At No1 there is Nenad Krstic (CSKA Moscow) with 391 points – although it should be noted that Andrei Kirilenko had 361 points in just 15 games and a stellar average of 24.1 – the second one is Dimitris Diamantidis (Panathinaikos) with 357, at No3 is Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos) with 311 and the fourth one is Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal) with 310. Now, lets see why.
637.44’’ are the most minutes a finalist was on the floor (an average of 30.22’’ per game) and his name is Dimitris Diamantidis (Panathinaikos). Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos) had 563.37’’ (29.39’’), Milos Teodosic (CSKA Moscow) had 516.59’’ (25.50’’) and Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal) had 481.30’’ (25.20’’)
314 are most points a finalist scored, during all competition phases. Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos) had 16.5 at each game and he owns the record. Nenad Krstic (CSKA Moscow) is second with 293 (14.7), Dimitris Diamantidis (Panathinaikos) is third with 237 (11.3) and Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal) fourth with 263 (13.8)
122 are the most free throws a player executed on his team’s way to the Final Four. Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos) was that guy and he was the most accurate from this line with 102 shots going in. Nenad Krstic (CSKA Moscow) had 81/104, Juan Carlos Navarro (FC Barcelona Regal) executed the most (46), but his successful tries were as many as Pete Mickael’s (40/45). At Panathinaikos ,Ian Vougioukas executed the most (75) and Dimitris Diamantidis was the most accurate (57/65).
166 are the most two point shots a finalist tried, with Nenad Krstic (CSKA Moscow), scoring 106 of those and this is also a season record. Mike Batiste (Panathinaikos) had 159 attempts and from those 79 got in, Kyle Hines (Olympiacos) had 81/150 and Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal) 80/135.
100 are the most three point shots a player executed, with Dimitris Diamantidis having 44/100. Milos Teodosic (CSKA Moscow) and Juan Carlos Navarro (FC Barcelona Regal) tried 93 times their luck (the Serbian had 34 successful shots and the Spanish 28) and Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos) had 26/68.
82 defensive rebounds were the most a finalist grabbed and this finalist is Andrei Kirilenko (CSKA Moscow), with Romain Sato (Panathinaikos) coming second (72), Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal) third (71) and George Printezis (Olympiacos) fourth (59).
46 offensive rebounds was Nenad Krstic’s (CSKA Moscow) total and he owns the record, with Mike Batiste (Panathinaikos) having 43, Kyle Hines (Olympiacos) 41 and Boni N Dong ((FC Barcelona Regal) 24.
118 rebounds (in total) is the best record and belongs also to Nenad Krstic (CSKA Moscow). Romain Sato (Panathinaikos) grabbed 105, Pero Antic (Olympiacos) 90 and Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal) 89.
104 assists was the total of the most… altruist player and this guy is Milos Teodosic (CSKA Moscow), with Dimitris Diamantidis (Panathinaikos) having one less 103, Marcelinho Huertas (FC Barcelona Regal) had 89 and Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos) gave 75.
32 balls were stolen by Dimitris Diamantidis (Panathinaikos) and he is the best in this category. Andrei Kirilenko ‘s (CSKA Moscow) number is 23, Pete Mickael (FC Barcelona Regal) stole the ball 22 times and Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos) 15.
69 turnovers were the most one finalist had. Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos) owns this dubious honor, while Milos Teodosic (CSKA Moscow) had 46, Marcelinho Huertas (FC Barcelona Regal) had 36 and Dimitris Diamantidis (Panathinaikos) 32.
28 times Andrei Kirilenko (CSKA Moscow) said “no” to his opponents and he is the best blocker. Ian Vougioukas (Panathinaikos) had 14, Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal) 8 and Kyle Hines (Olympiacos) 6.
53 fouls were the most a finalist committed. And Viktor Khryapa (CSKA Moscow) is the most foul prone. Mike Batiste (Panathinaikos) was whistled against 52 times, Kyle Hines (Olympiacos) 48 and Pete Mickael (FC Barcelona Regal) 41.
113 fouls were the most a player –from those that you will see at the Final Four- won and this record belongs to Vasilis Spanoulis (Olympiacos). Nenad Krstic (CSKA Moscow) won 98, Dimitris Diamantidis (Panathinaikos) 84 and Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal) 58.