By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
Power Rankings in the middle of a double-action week? Why not, we ask you back! Despite three games left in Round 22, with 12 teams already completing their contests, there’s a clear picture of what’s going on with Olympiacos being really impressive.
The Reds have proven beyond any doubt that they are so far the best team in the league and the scary part is that despite their injury woes, they continue to improve and play better.
As usual, status, momentum, form, and importance of results were the criteria for ranking the 18 teams.
#18 ALBA BERLIN
Previous ranking: 18 (-)
Record: 6-15
Home: 4-7
Away: 2-8
Offense-Defense: 81.2-83.9
The EuroLeague was over a long time ago for ALBA Berlin. It remains to be seen what its final position will be in the standings and especially whether it can play a spoiler role in the hunt for the playoffs since almost all its remaining games this season are against teams in the top eight or teams that are trying to sneak into the postseason.
#17 EA EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN
Previous ranking: 12 (-5)
Record: 7-15
Home: 3-8
Away: 4-7
Offense-Defense: 71.5-77.6
Not even the worst enemy of Milan would have expected that after 22 games in the EuroLeague this season, Milan would end up with just seven wins. The last one against Baskonia was nothing more than a pleasant change to the pattern after five consecutive defeats.
#16 LDLC ASVEL VILLEURBANNE
Previous ranking: 16 (-)
Record: 8-14
Home: 4-7
Away: 4-7
Offense-Defense: 75.2-80
They will either lose a lot of games in a row or win a lot (less) in a row. This sums up the streaky course of ASVEL this season, which remains stuck in the last places in the standings.
#15 PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS
Previous ranking: 15 (-)
Record: 8-13
Home: 6-5
Away: 2-8
Offense-Defense: 79-82.4
Panathinaikos has just been reinforced with Matt Thomas and Dimitris Agravanis, however, it may have done it too late to help the club in the EuroLeague. The Greens have seven losses in the last nine games and pretty much that’s the end of the road for them.
#14 CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET BELGRADE
Previous ranking: 9 (-5)
Record: 10-12
Home: 6-5
Away: 4-7
Offense-Defense: 75.4-77.9
The first six consecutive victories (Rounds 8-13) under Coach Dusko Ivanovic are a distant memory for Red Star. With three consecutive defeats and six in the last nine games, the goal of qualifying for the playoffs has moved outside its hands, while consecutive difficult trips to Milan and Tel Aviv follow soon.
#13 FC BAYERN MUNICH
Previous ranking: 17 (+4)
Record: 9-13
Home: 6-5
Away: 3-8
Offense-Defense: 76.9-78.8
Four wins in six games entering 2023 is not bad at all for Bayern. Unfortunately for the team, 2022 was so bad that up to this point, it has never been ranked higher than 13th in the standings.