By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid have dropped a game at Moscow last week, but after its win at Istanbul against Fenerbahce is back on top of group A, even with a 2-1 record. Euroleague champion Olympiacos is on turmoil after its home defeat by Zalgiris Kaunas, while the Lithuanians have a perfect 3-0 record and the first place on the standings of group C. Maccabi Tel Aviv sits alone and perfect (3-0) at the top of group B and on group D the two horse race of Barcelona (3-0) and CSKA Moscow (3-0) continues.
Without any further ado here’s what happened on the third week of Euroleague’s regular season, who was hot and who was not, and also a cautionary video about the dangers of live television.
Eurohoops MVP
After the not-so-good game against Khimki, the leader of Real made all the difference against Fenerbahce in the 83-75 win at Istanbul. He scored 21 points, had five assists, three steals, two rebounds, a block and two turnovers in 30 minutes.
Best five
- Jerel Blassingame: In the first win of the season for Prokom (77-66 against Alba Berlin) he had double double in points (16) and assists (10). He shot 6/9 from the field, including 3/6 three pointers. Not bad at all…
- Marko Popovic: David Logan had better numbers in Maccabi T.A.’s win against Chalon (90-61), but the 16 points of Popovic were much more important for the win of Zalgiris against Olympiacos
- Rudy Fernandez: Get used to him, you will see him a lot in here…
- Nemania Bjelica: In the troubled front line of Caja Laboral, Bjelica gave the solution with 20 points and 9 rebounds. The Basques got their first win in the season at Milan by a 10 points difference (95-85)
- Stephane Lasme: Panathinaikos latest addition proved in the away win against Olimpija Ljubljana (85-67) what he can offer to the team. Not only 13 points (5/5 2p. 3/4 1p.), but also 8 rebounds and 5 blocks in just 21 minutes.
The best losing performance: Yiannis Bourousis
Once more the Greek center produced, alas it was not enough against Caja Laboral. His numbers, however, were great with 22 points, 9/12 shots from the field and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes. Also Boki Nachbar did his best in Moscow (21 p., 5 r.), but CSKA prevailed over Brose Baskets 76-67.
The biggest win: Real Madrid
Fenerbahce Ulker wants to be at the final four, Real Madrid wants to win the Euroleague and the game between them proved that the Spaniards, at this moment at least, are better after their 83-75 win. Maybe Bo McCalebb could do something more if he wasn’t coming from injury, but Real was also missing one of its top guard due to injury, Sergio Llull. The bottom line is that Madrid had complete control of the game from the first minute until the end of it.
The upset: Zalgiris Kaunas
For the second straight week Zalgiris Kaunas stuns Euroleague with an away triumph. After Caja Laboral, champion Olympiacos was the victim of the Lithuanians (79-61) who remain unbeaten and also have already a pretty good points difference if there is a tie in the end of regular season. Yes, they have a good chance of finished even at the top spot of group.
The disappointment: Siena
The Italians gave a big fight in overtime against Unicaja, but finally lost once more by a basket 91-89. So, after three gamedays in Euroleague four teams doesn’t have a win yet. And if that could be possible for Cedevita, Partizan or Brose Baskets, nobody expected Siena to be among them.
Underachiever: Olympiacos
The Reds are supposed to be almost the same team that won Euroleague last season. Well, only in theory, not because they have a 1-2 record so far, but because they have the second worst defense in Euroleague and after the disaster at Istanbul, came an even worst result at their home against Zalgiris, the Dorsey meltdown and the need to change faces in their roster.
The last word: Sergio Scariolo
Everybody can make a mistake every now and then, but if you do it on live television, then you have a problem. Doubleteam.gr (that’s why the subtitles are in Greek) spotted one of those mistakes and posted the video. So, here what can happen in a Euroleague time out…
Euroleague 2012-2013 – 3th Day
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Unicaja Malaga |
Siena |
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Union Olimpija |
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Pall. Cantu |
Khimki |
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Cedevita |
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Asseco Prokom |
Alba Berlin |
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Olympiacos |
Zalgiris |
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F.C. Barcelona |
Besiktas Milangaz |
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Chalon |
Maccabi Tel Aviv |
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EA7 Milano |
Caja Laboral |
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Fenerbahce |
Real Madrid |
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Lietuvos Rytas |
Partizan mt:s |
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CSKA Moscow |
Brose Baskets |