By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
As the season goes on, things are getting crazier and crazier around Europe. In group A Real Madrid and Fenerbahce/ Ulker share the top with a 3-1 record, in group B Maccabi Tel Aviv sits all alone on the top (4-0) and Unicaja Malaga has a decent 3-1 record and the second place, on group C Zalgiris Kaunas is still unbeaten (4-0) with Anadolu Efes following just one step behind (3-1) and on Group D the two horse race between CSKA Moscow (4-0) and Barcelona continues (4-0).
Also, after four gamedays only two teams, Cedevita in group C and Partizan in group D still hunt their first win, even though they got really close to big upsets. And we are not even yet halfway the regular season. So sit back and enjoy.
Eurohoops MVP
He was sensational not only because he scored 34 points – after all almost half of them came by free throws. He was great in closing a game, in which his team was trailing for three quarters and his vicious dunk will be a subject of talking for many days to come. Well done sir.
Best Five
- Marcelinho Huertas: In a game that turned out to be a very close contest Barcelona got the win against Partizan (85-82) thanks to a big night by its point guard who had 24 points, 6/7 three pointers, 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Bad luck for the Serbians
- Bobby Brown: Yes, his natural position is point guard, but we didn’t want to move Huertas who after all got more assists.
- Vitaly Fridzon: The leader of Khimki scored 20 points on just 11 shots with 4/6 three point shots and also had four rebounds and two assists in the relatively easy win against Olimpija (75-65).
- Bostjan Nachbar: The biggest name in Brose Baskets roster delivered 22 points, six rebounds and two blogs in the win against Lietuvos Rytas (84-78), the first of the Germans this Euroleague season (we play small ball this week)
- Mirza Begic: He was great in the win of Real against Cantu with double double (17 p., 10 r.) in just 24 minutes of play. It has to be noted that seven of his rebounds were offensive so he had the chance to take 14 shots
The best losing performance: Shelden Williams
Chalon’s center with 28 points and 13 rebounds was one of the protagonist in a really exciting game at Siena and stole the thunder of Aron Baynes who is still the pride of down under in Euroleague. Even in the defeat of Olimpija at Moscow, he was his usual self with 27 points (10/12 2p.) and 10 rebounds. Also Malik Hairston and Keith Langford had good numbers, but lost the chance to save Milano at Kaunas, where Zalgiris prevailed.
The biggest win: Anadolu Efes
In one of the hardest gyms in Euroleague, Anadolu Efes came back from a 18 point deficit and won the game against host Caja Laboral. Jordan Farmar with 18 points was the top scorer of the team, although the real hero was Esteban Batista who returned to the team after the injury of Stanko Barac and had 9 points and two rebounds in just 16 minutes.
The barnburner: Siena vs Chalon
An exciting game, a big finish and the first win of Siena in the season with a 93-90 final score. But it was also a very strange game with both teams shooting in total 70 free throws (38 for Siena and 32 for Chalon)
The disappointment: Olympiacos
Ok, the Reds got the win, but Cedevita gave a real scare to them. The team of coach Bartzokas seems to be in turmoil and just the signing of Josh Powell will not fix thing automatically. The bottom line is that the champs don’t look good right now.
Underachiever: Dimitris Diamantidis
Fenerbahce has “stole” two players from Panathinaikos, has at least the double budget compared to the Greens and that means that the 73-64 win over the Greeks was not unexpected. However, when things go bad for Panathinaikos, Diamantidis usually saves the day. Not this time. The 12 points are not the problem, but the six turnovers compared to two assists, two steals and two rebounds certainly are…
The last word: CSKA Moscow
For the first time this season CSKA Moscow terrorized an opponent. Even in Istanbul, Besiktas is not the team it used to be last season, but the unit of coach Messina was clicking, the final 85-58 is impressive and you have to add to all these a – yet – missing ingredient, Dionte Christmas. Maybe CSKA will embrace the role the villain this Euroleague season and that explains the “unfair” dunk of Andrey Vorontsevich on the buzzer.
Euroleague 2012-2013 – 4th Day
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Siena |
Chalon |
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Brose Baskets |
Lietuvos Rytas |
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Cedevita |
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Besiktas Milangaz |
CSKA Moscow |
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Khimki |
Union Olimpija |
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Pall. Cantu |
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Unicaja Malaga |
Alba Berlin |
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Caja Laboral |
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F.C. Barcelona |
Partizan mt:s |
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Asseco Prokom |
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Fenerbahce |
Panathinaikos |
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Zalgiris |
EA7 Milano |