By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
This week’s panel includes Luca Chiabotti, the former expert-in-residence at La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy; Semih Tuna, from Eurohoops.net Turkey; Antonis Kalkavouras of Gazzetta.gr in Greece; Joe Arlauckas, former EuroLeague champion and Euroleague TV commentator; and Frank Lawlor, Editorial Director at Euroleague Basketball. Check out their opinions on the best new coaching fit, under-the-radar player and surprising stat of the season so far.
1. Which coaching change seems like the best fit so far?
Luca Chiabotti, La Gazzetta dello Sport
It’s too early to say, because the schedules of the teams now are counting more than other big factors. Georgios Bartzokas is 2-0 in his debut with Khimki but is starting the season with three home games in a row. And after the disaster of the 2016-17 campaign, the new Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv under Neven Spahija has shown itself to be far better than the last year’s team. Still, we have to wait until more meaningful games to understand what part the coaches are playing in this process.
Semih Tuna, Eurohoops
Having had a pretty fragile structure for the last two season, Maccabi has just transformed into a totally different group of guys with the arrival of coach Neven Spahija and the renovation of the roster. Two wins in two rounds are the result so far. At turning points in those games, Maccabi has stayed calm and done the right things to win. As an offense-oriented coach, Neven Spahija hired explosive point guards, and in the off-guard position, he has two players, in Michael Roll and DeAndre Kane, who can control opposing point guards. Considering the fact that the frontcourt has players with different profiles, Maccabi will not be easy for any opponent.
Antonis Kalkavouras, Gazzetta.gr
It’s not an easy question since it’s so early in the season, so the answer won’t be considered the safest one. I have to pick between Giorgos Bartzokas of Khimki and Simone Pianigiani of Milan, so based to the results, the winner will be the Greek coach, because he is going undefeated so far. But I think both teams will be among the pleasant surprises of this year’s tournament. I think Khimki will knock on the door to the Final Four and I see Milan competing for the playoffs.
Joe Arlauckas, EuroLeague Ambassador
I’m going to give a nod right here Dusan Alimpijevic of Crvena Zvezda. If you are talking about fit, that club has the right guy, and many of us didn’t know much about him until now. But his team almost ambushed Zalgiris away on opening night. They dusted Barcelona, which was coming off a big win. And they got ahead of Khimki last night before losing away. It’s all about attitude for Zvezda, and you get the feeling already that this team is going to upset some more teams along the way. Alimpijevic’s team will continue the tradition of slaying giants in Belgrade, I think.
Frank Lawlor, Euroleague.net
It’s true that Khimki is fortunate to play its first three games at home. But I’ve been able to watch both of their wins so far and listen to Georgios Bartzokas afterwards. And he is far from satisfied to be 2-0. We look at that team and think they could out-gun anyone on a good night. He looks at them and realizes that with the right defensive attitude, they can be a lot more. Bartzokas knows what it takes to go far and he won’t declare mission accomplished if Khimki goes 7-0 but fails to look the full part of a true contender. That insistence on getting better is what could make Khimki something special down the road.
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