By Nikos Varlas / info@eurohoops.net
Let’s get started for another season! A concept established in Europe by Eurohoops.net regarding the top league and which is, by nature, subjective! It can generate disagreements, objections, agreements, and, above all… interest!
In recent seasons, the choices are becoming even harder and more torturous to make! Because all the good players are packed in 16 teams and the top clubs in Europe have greater depth in their rosters in order to manage the new format of the EuroLeague and the levels of energy it requires. Which makes the ranking very difficult and leaves out of the list of the EuroLeague’s Top 100 players, athletes that could have easily been among our choices.
As we wrote last season, there are at least 50 players who could have been objective and subjective choices, especially between 100 and 80, and we ask for your understanding because, unfortunately, there is not enough room for everyone.
However, we promise that after the first 15 rounds, when we will have a substantial sample by the end of the first phase, we will rank the Top 100 players based on their performance up to that point, and so, any possible mistake will be rectified! You are familiar with our criteria from previous seasons. The only footnote is that, some players who are coming back from a long absence due to injury (for example, Zoran Dragic) were not ranked and that this will happen during the season. With the exception of Sergio Lull, who is in a category of his own!
Criteria:
1. The individual quality of the player IN COMBINATION with the role and playing time we anticipate he will get in his team.
2. The strength of the club he plays for. The players of the teams that are in the Top 8 and that are title contenders every season always have an edge because they combine individual quality with their club’s high aspirations.
3. What each player has achieved in his career in the EuroLeague combined with the prospects he has for the 2017-18 season.
The rest of the ranking:
Year of birth: 1992
Height: 2.01m
Position: F
Make a note of his name. He’s going to be one of this season’s revelations and one of the best rookies in the league! He’s very strong and fast, he does everything on the court both in set plays as well as in transition, he’s a good defender and rebounder, he can pass and, at the same time, he’s a prolific package in offense. He has game in the post, strong finishes and he’s constantly improving his skills in execution from the perimeter. Keep an eye on him.
Year of birth: 1988
Height: 2.03m
Position: F/C
He’s coming off a mediocre – for his standards – season, but he made a big signing. He has attacking virtues, he can finish plays with both hands close to the basket, he can back creations in the pick-and-roll and, at the same time, he has a reliable mid-range shot. Considering the demands of Olympiacos’s level and game style, he has to improve his defense, his rebounding ability and, generally, to develop into a tougher big man. Coach Sfairopoulos will definitely push him in this direction.
Year of birth: 1987
Height: 2.17m
Position: C
Last season, for the first time in his career in Barca, he didn’t have a double-digit number of points (8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds). His impact in offense is waning and it was the worst season in Barcelona’s modern history, so it makes sense that he lost ground in our ranking this year. Basketball changes, the demands in the ‘5’ position become different and Tomic is called to prove that he can remain a key player for a top-level team. His quality in the post and his very good knowledge of the fundamentals have been proven and are not disputed.
Year of birth: 1985
Height: 1.98m
Position: F
One of the best shooters in the league. Excellent in transition situations, capable of “killing off” rival defenses if he has rhythm and confidence. Under certain circumstances, he can function as a creator too, but not on a regular basis. He has been plagued by injuries and the most important thing for Lojeski, who changed teams but not cities, is to remain healthy.
