By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Zeljko Obradovic has the habit of producing players in the playoffs like… aces from his sleeve. This year, the Serbian coach’s revelation is Nikola Kalinic, who is making an impression with Fenerbahce against Real Madrid.
Jan Vesely’s injury is forcing the coach of the Turkish team to use small line-ups very often in the games against the European champions. Nikola Kalinic got a much more enhanced role in the playoff series, covering one of the two big men positions on a permanent basis. In the first game he had 6 points, 7 rebounds and a ranking of 10, while in the second he had 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a ranking of 21.
In fantasy, his selection would be excellent especially ahead of the third game in Madrid, as he will have the same role once again and Real has shown that they can’t contain him effectively. He costs just 23,3 credits and he’s worth the risk.
In relation to last week, the risk with Diamantidis was completely paid off as he had an excellent second game, and will probably continue in this vein in the Olympic Sports Center in Athens as well. Bogdan Bogdanovic did well too, as he’s in form and can have a good game in Madrid as well. De Colo, Delaney, and Bourousis remain fixed as they continue to form the core of the team.
Randolph is the ideal match-up with Barcelona’s big men and he deserves to continue being in the team, while Reyes is always better at home and can make the difference and take the series to 2-1.
Crvena Zvezda showed that they are going to fight every game against CSKA and, aside from Kurbanov, Teodosic is also going to depart from the team as he wasn’t good in the second game and is expected to be emotionally affected in Belgrade. For the point guards, the obvious choice is Sergio Rodriguez who has to raise his performance levels in order to help Real reduce the deficit to 2-1 against Fenerbahce.
Miroslav Raduljica is once again expected to be Panathinaikos’s go-to guy for their game close to the baskets opposite Laboral’s big men. The case of Ekpe Udoh is still tempting, but we’re going to go opt for the Serbian center once again.
Enjoy fantasy!
Eurohoops.net team
Point Guards
Sergio Rodriguez 58,1 credits
Dimitris Diamantidis 42,9 credits (+2,1)
Shooting Guards/Small Forwards
Nando De Colo 105 credits (-0,5)
Malcolm Delaney 84,6 credits (+0,2)
Bogdan Bogdanovic 56,3 credits (+1,1)
Nikola Kalinic 23,3 credits
Power Forwards/Centers
Ioannis Bourousis 93,2 credits (-1,9)
Anthony Randolph 61 credits (+3,8)
Felipe Reyes 59,9 credits (-2,8)
Miroslav Raduljica 57,8 credits (+1,7)