By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Four months are just two long and thank god we had FIBA World Cup in the meantime. Still the basketball season in Europe starts when Euroleague’s games are starting and this year Laboral Kutxa and Neptunas Klaipeda will have the honor of the first tip off this Wednesday at Vitoria.
Eurohoops wishes everyone a good season and will be always here, helping you pick the biggest games each week, providing details and the background of each match. We are ready for some amazing action and we hope to have even more thrills and drama on the court.
Eurohoops game of the week: Fenerbahce/ Ulker – EA7 Milano
The potential of those two opponents, the return of Linas Kleiza at “Ulker Arena” and last season’s win of the Italian champions in Istanbul, which practically ended the Euroleague season for Fener, are more than enough reasons for picking this game.
Both teams are still a work in progress and that means no one can predict the outcome between two really strong contenders. It’s also the Euroleague debut for some potential new stars, Eurocup’s MVP Andrew Goudelock for the hosts and the American duo of Ragland and Brooks for Milano.
Honorable mention: Alba Berlin – CSKA Moscow
This game will be played in one of the best Euroleague environments – a full O2 Arena – and despite having a clear favorite in CSKA, Alba proved even against the Spurs that no one can underestimate them at Berlin. The guests will be missing De Colo and Khryapa, Alba will be more than ready and eager, having nine players who are going to make their Euroleague debut. Yes, quality and experience are favoring CSKA, but Alba is expected to give us a real game.
Home court or depth? Crvena Zvezda – Galatasaray
In one more full house, Belgrade’s Combank Arena Crvena Zvezda after last season’s experience will try to take the next Euroleague step. On the contrary Galatasaray hopes that nothing from last year will be repeated, at least when we speak about injury woes. Having said that, Galatasaray is much more deep and experienced than Zvezda. The hosts, however, will try to take advantage of the electrifying atmosphere and transform it into basketball energy. Nolan Smith of Galatasaray will make also his Euroleague debut in a gym that he knows as an opponent from his days in Cedevita.
Under the microscope: Valencia – Olympiacos
That’s a really interesting game. The winners of last Eurocup host Olympiacos which still has on its bench interim coach Milan Tomic. The reaction of the Reds in their first big game after the resignation of coach Bartzokas is a big question. On the other side, coach Perasovic lost some key players from last season – Oliver Lafayette will be on the court, but he will wear Red – but he always presents hard, solid teams that never give up. We expect a satisfying game, with many ups and downs and a high final score.
The question: Anadolu Efes – Unics Kazan
It’s a can’t miss game. Dusan Ivkovic returns to Euroleague after winning the 2012 title, Argiris Pedoulakis also returns after being fired by Panathinaikos and there’s also Saric-gate in the middle. The minutes – or the lack of them – will be a matter of discussion in Turkey, Croatia and Philadelphia. Above all that, however, two very ambitious teams will clash in what we expect to be a typical euro-dog fight. Low tempo game, set plays and a lot of defense.
Euroleague 2014-2015 – 1st Day
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Fenerbahce |
EA7 Milano |
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Alba Berlin |
CSKA Moscow |
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Nizhny Novgorod |
Banco di Sardegna Sassari |
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PGE Turow |
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F.C. Barcelona |
FC Bayern |
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Limoges |
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Cedevita Zagreb |
Unicaja Malaga |
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Crvena Zvezda T. |
Galatasaray MP |
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Laboral Kutxa |
Neptunas |
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UNICS Kazan |