By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
Status, dynamics, form and the significance of results were the criteria for ranking the 18 teams.
#18 KHIMKI MOSCOW REGION
Previous ranking: 18 (-)
Record: 2-21
At home: 1-10
Away: 1-11
Offense-Defense: 79.1-91.4
The last win was on November 17, 2020, they have 15 consecutive defeats, the worst defense – and the only one conceding over 90 points since the format changed – and seventh-worst offense, and occupy the last place in the rankings. Things are clear for Khimki Moscow Region, who have made so many changes on the court and on the bench.
#17 CRVENA ZVEZDA MTS BELGRADE
Previous ranking: 15 (-2)
Record: 7-16
At home: 4-8
Away: 3-8
Offense-Defense: 74.1-78.7
The postponed victory in Madrid was not followed up on by Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, who quickly returned to their bad habits with three consecutive defeats and five overall in the last six games, thus remaining in the last places in the rankings. Despite the presence of Jordan Loyd (third best scorer with 16.9 points), they have the worst offense, but the eighth-best defense.
#16 ALBA BERLIN
Previous ranking: 12 (-4)
Record: 8-15
At home: 4-9
Away: 4-6
Offense-Defense: 76.3-82.3
Shortly before the end of 2020, ALBA Berlin were hoping they’d be able to leave behind their negative record (6-7). With eight defeats in the last ten games, they don’t have much hope left. The difficulties are apparent on every level for the team with the league’s second-worst offense and third-worst defense.
#15 PANATHINAIKOS OPAP ATHENS
Previous ranking: 15 (-)
Record: 8-14
At home: 6-6
Away: 2-8
Offense-Defense: 80.3-82.8
Changing coaches (Oded Kattash in place of Georgios Vovoras) shook up Panathinaikos OPAP Athens even more as they try to improve but have a long way to go. Their offense is the fifth best, but the second-worst defense hasn’t allowed them to get any consecutive wins and so they remain low in the rankings.
#14 TD SYSTEMS BASKONIA VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Previous ranking: 10 (-4)
Record: 10-13
At home: 7-5
Away: 3-8
Offense-Defense: 79.2-78.7
TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz had closed 2020 just out of the top eight but the first month of 2021 found them counting five defeats in seven games and tumbling down to 13th place. Four of those were away from Vitoria-Gasteiz and even further away from the eighth-best offense and eighth-best defense.
#13 LDLC ASVEL VILLEURBANNE
Previous ranking: 16 (+3)
Record: 9-14
At home: 6-6
Away: 3-8
Offense-Defense: 76.7-80.5
With four wins in the last five games, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne – who have the third-worst offense and sixth-worst defense – are having their best run in the competition. They might still be low in the rankings but they’re in better condition, while they’ve caused a great upset for teams that aim for the top eight.
#12 OLYMPIACOS PIRAEUS
Previous ranking: 5 (-7)
Record: 11-12
At home: 4-7
Away: 7-5
Offense-Defense: 80.2-80.9
Olympiacos Piraeus just lost on the last shot for the fourth time this season, and with three consecutive defeats and four overall in the last five games, they’ve moved away from the top eight. The long absence of Kostas Papanikolaou still has a big impact on the fifth-worst defense and less so on the seventh-best offense.