By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
This Round’s EuroLeague’s “Experts Round Table” includes topics such as the rather interesting six-way tie on the top of the standings, the most surprising team out of the table leaders and the best-performing small forward in the season so far.
Welcome back to the Experts Round Table, where we ask a variety of the most knowledgeable Turkish Airlines EuroLeague followers across the continent their opinions on the topics of the day. This week’s panel includes Dusko Savanovic, former All-EuroLeague selection and 2018 Final Four Ambassador; Luca Chiabotti, the former basketball expert-in-residence at La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy; journalist Donatas Urbonas of leading Lithuanian website 15min.lt; Bugra Uzar of Eurohoops Turkey; and Javier Gancedo, EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge guru and Editorial Senior Manager for EuroLeague.net. Check out their opinions on three key questions this week!
What does the six-way tie for first place at the end of Round 8 say about the EuroLeague this season?
Dusko Savanovic
“This six-way tie really explains the EuroLeague situation and how much quality the competition has. I know that, for many years, everybody thought about the quality of the competition and how balanced it is, which is a fact, but this is the first time that it is proven in the standings. It was also a close race last season. The teams’ level is really close to each other and for me, as someone who enjoys watching good games, it is really a good thing. I like it when things are not very obvious and teams are not so dominant. This is much more interesting for everyone watching the competition. I am one of them and am enjoying it a lot.”
Luca Chiabotti
“Mainly two things: the big teams are not so big this year compared to the past seasons (not only for the fall of Fenerbahce) and there are new teams capable of competing to reach the Final Four and win the EuroLeague title. There is a generational change taking place: the gap from CSKA, Real and Fener – the trio that dominated the last five editions of the EuroLeague – and the rest of the teams is decreasing and teams like Barcelona, Khimki and Milan had never before invested so much to compete for the top places. The result is more balance at the top.”
Donatas Urbonas
“I’m not surprised anymore. This EuroLeague is wild and ruthless. I start to let my hands down every time I try to predict EuroLeague results. It just became pointless, because teams keep surprising everybody. Last season we had a photo-finish race for the playoffs, which was crazy. Now it’s even better because it says that more teams can contend for the title. And look out for the EuroLeague powerhouses who are coming back to the top with force. My only wish is to make that margin between the top and bottom teams smaller, to keep the intrigue as close as possible till the end for more teams.”
Bugra Uzar
“After a crazy off-season, it was obvious that this was going to be one of the most competitive seasons in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague history. A lot of stars joined the competition and that improved the quality of a league that was already the best in Europe. It’s really hard to pick a favorite for every game and the results are proving that. There are a lot of breathtaking games and everyone is enjoying that. Almost every team has a decent chance of making the playoffs and that promises even more exciting rounds for us.”
Javier Gancedo
“It says a lot of good things. This is the most balanced and arguably the best start of any Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. It is not just the six-way tie atop the standings, but also the fact that every team has at least two wins until now. It shows that in the 2019-20 EuroLeague, not only can any team can beat any opponent, but it is happening on a weekly basis. That unpredictability makes the regular season even more exciting, competitive and highly addictive for any hardcore basketball fan. We are eight rounds into the season and all we want is more and more good games.”
What team among those six leaders most surprised you?
Dusko Savanovic
“I have to say I not really surprised, so I am going to go with ASVEL, which is one win away from that six-way tie. I am glad that a French team is doing so well at the highest level, in the EuroLeague, on the biggest Europen scene. I like to see new countries develop and fight at this level. But if we are talking only about these six teams, I am happy to see Maccabi back atop the standings. Even though a lot can happen from now on, what Maccabi has done so far was amazing. They have a great history and had a lot of ups and downs recently. There is something special about them. So I would say these two teams, ASVEL and Maccabi.”
Luca Chiabotti
“There is not a real surprise; all six teams are more or less where they are predictable. The difference is that last season the top three in the standings had lost only one game overall after eight rounds… But Maccabi deserves a mention for a couple of big wins on the road (and in Madrid, Maccabi lost the game on the last shot). I am surprised more by ASVEL Villeurbanne’s 5-3 record: I don’t think anyone would have bet on such a so positive start to the season for ASVEL and not only for the big win against CSKA.”
Donatas Urbonas
“Milan. I didn’t expect them to click together so fast. With so many new players, absences and a completely new philosophy, I thought they would need much more time to bring results. I also admire Maccabi and how Coach Sfairopoulos changed their culture. It’s great to see them back at the top of the EuroLeague.”
Bugra Uzar
“I’m going to say Khimki Moscow Region. Last year was not great for them and that was mostly because of the injury problems they had. This season they have a better team and a bigger rotation. Under the leadership of Alexey Shved, the team is playing great, high-tempo basketball. Yes, they have athleticism, speed, size and amazing shooters. But to be honest, at this point in the season, I wasn’t expecting them to be this good. Their schedule has not been easy either, so, hats off to Rimas Kurtinaitis and his talented team.”
Javier Gancedo
“Probably AX Armani Exchange Milan. I thought that it would take the team a while to adjust to a new coach and the fact that last season’s scoring leader, Mike James, was gone. The team had a lot of injuries in pretty much all positions, but has been able to stay competitive at all times. Adding Luis Scola was a major move right before the start of the season. Sergio Rodriguez is really comfortable with his leading role and everyone on the team feels important. Last season, Milan also started 6-2 and missed the playoffs. This time things look even better for the Italian powerhouse.”
Who do you consider to be the best-performing small forward so far this season?
Dusko Savanovic
“I would say DeShaun Thomas of Panathinaikos. I believe this is the first time that he has stayed a second season with the same EuroLeague team and it is paying off. He is rebounding better than ever and using his versatility to either score in the low post or open the floor at the power forward position. He is also making some players around him better – Ioannis Papapetrou scored 39 points against ALBA Berlin last week. So I am going to go with Thomas, who is probably having the best season in his EuroLeague career.”
Luca Chiabotti
“It’s hard to say because the role isn’t well defined and many teams use big guards to play small forwards. That’s the case with Vasilije Micic of Anadolu Efes Istanbul who is playing alongside two guards. He is the best player at the ‘3’ position so far this season and a potential MVP candidate (he is seventh in scoring, first in the steals, second in assists). The same goes for Vlado Micov of AX Armani Milan, another fantastic big guard/point forward. Speaking of small forwards in a more traditional way, for me, Rokas Giedraitis of ALBA Berlin is the best so far.”
Donatas Urbonas
“It’s very tough to pick one. It’s so tough to define positions these days, so I would change it to “the biggest difference-making small forward” and I would go with Victor Claver. I just like the size and physicality which Claver brings when he plays as a small forward in Barcelona’s schemes. I’m delighted with how Coach Pesic and Barcelona go against the wave and use “big ball” when the world went crazy with “small ball”. Claver and his size as a small forward were a big reason why Barcelona started so well.”
Bugra Uzar
“With all due respect to Vladimir Micov, my choice is Omri Casspi. It’s safe to say that European basketball had missed him. With his experience from the NBA, the Israeli superstar is showing everyone his quality. He quickly became Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv’s leader and changed the entire picture for his team. He’s scoring, getting rebounds and facilitating the ball. But most importantly, he’s the spirit of his team. In the clutch moments, he wants the ball and he makes crucial plays. His importance is huge for Maccabi, so it will be interesting to see what they can do without him this week.”
Javier Gancedo
“I have to go with Vladimir Micov of Milan. At age 34, Micov is playing strong and making the difference at the small forward spot. He is shooting the ball well from downtown (40.7%) and the foul line (92.9%) and helping in many ways (3.6 rpg., 2.67 apg., 3.7 fouls drawn per game). He has done really well in crunch time, too, igniting Milan’s comeback in Athens and hitting clutch free throws against Zalgiris. Micov has been Milan’s glue guy, doing a little bit of everything to make things work and using his experience to improve his team the way silent leaders do.”
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