By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
This week’s panel includes Joe Arlauckas, former EuroLeague champ, and current game announcer and podcast host; Juan Antonio Casanova, the former long-time EuroLeague writer for La Vanguardia in Spain; Djordje Matic of Serbian newspaper Novosti; our own Alex Madrid of Eurohoops Spain; and Frank Lawlor, Editorial Director of Euroleague Basketball. Check out their opinions on three key questions after Rounds 2 and 3 of the regular season.
1. Which team helped itself most in the season’s first double-round week?
Joe Arlauckas
Well, you have to think Real Madrid since we see them come back from 20 points down in Milan in Round 2 then returned home to face KIROLET Baskonia and really just outlasted the Basque side. Take into account that after a difficult loss, Milan flew to Athens and laid a beat down on Olympiacos, which made Madrid’s week even look better.
Juan Antonio Casanova
Real Madrid. There are no coincidences. Only three teams won both their games in the first double-round week… and they were the three main favorites: Madrid, Fenerbahce and CSKA. When demanding situations arise, the stronger rosters, both in quantity and quality, don’t go unnoticed. I choose Madrid because their two opponents were tougher and because of the way they got the wins. In Milan they recovered from a poor 28-13 first quarter and won the other quarters. At home, against Baskonia, they broke a 65-65 tie in the 27th minute with a 30-10 run.
Alex Madrid
Just three teams were able to overcome the first double-round week undefeated. However, I think Milan took a step forward despite winning only one of the two games. First, they showed that they are capable of competing head to head with the reigning European champion in a clash that they were close to winning. Then they managed to conquer Peace and Friendship Stadium with a performance worthy of praise. It would be strange to me not to see them in the playoffs.
Djordje Matic
Like table “says”, Real Madrid, Fenerbahce and CSKA. They all got two wins each and proved their high ambitions. Maybe they didn’t play their best basketball, but in a long competition with 30 rounds, every win is very important for the final positions and for home-court advantage in the quarterfinals. These teams know that well and proved it last week.
Frank Lawlor
Milan. Challenging the champs and going 48 hours later to Piraeus and beating an Olympiacos team that had easily handled two playoff teams on the road was an eye-opener. As a strong psychological reaction to its home loss to Madrid after having led by 15, it was even better. As Mike James said afterward, beating Olympiacos by 24 on the road was a statement win. But the biggest statement was probably heard inside the Milan locker room when they told themselves that they were good enough to win under any circumstances, no matter the setting or the opponent.