By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Happy new year and happy new Top16! The 14 weeks of this season’s second phase in Euroleague are a completely different story, compared to the six of the recent past and there’s still a little margin for errors at this stage. Teams are still getting to know each other and we get to know better the odds in the two groups. However, there is a coach who knows his rival like the back of his hand. Simone Pianigiani faces Siena and his former alter ego, Luca Banchi.
Eurohoops game of the week: Fenerbahce/ Ulker – Siena
The perfect choice! Kramer vs Kramer. Coach Pianigiani was synonymous with Siena, having won six straight domestic championships with Ferdinando Minucci as the GM and Luca Banchi as his assistant. On Friday nigh he will host his old team for the first time since his decision to leave it for Istanbul.
However, don’t expect any friendly feelings on the court. Siena started the Top16 by beating Maccabi Tel Aviv, while Fener was embarrassed by Barcelona. There is pressure on the Turkish side and Siena knows how to take advantage of a situation like this. Fener leads its domestic league (TBL), but in Euroleague its lack of chemistry has been obvious.
HONORABLE MENTION, Anadolu Efes – Panathinaikos: That’s an interesting game. Efes in Moscow was better compared to the last games of regular season, but it was killed by the shooting efficiency of CSKA Moscow from the perimeter. Panathinaikos after the addition of Jason Kapono also has a big weapon from the three points line – something missing desperately in the regular season – and the game in Istanbul will be a big battle. There is no favorite, both teams have a deep roster, but the absence of injured Dimitrid Diamantidis is a big blow for the Greens.
The unknown war: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Caja Laboral
After losing to Siena, Maccabi is hosting Caja Laboral, one of the hottest team in Europe after 10 straight wins both in Euroleague and in Spanish league. This probably the most unpredictable game of this week and Euroleague’s MVP for December, Maciej Lampe has an extra motive to play more than good. Back in the summer of 2009 he signed with Maccabi, but on January 2010 the club decided to release him, because he never got along with coach Pini Gershon. Add to this the fact that Maccabi’s best low post player, Shawn James, is injured and he will miss the game.
Life without Navarro: Khimki – Barcelona
Khimki is not the team it used to be in Euroleague and that’s good news for the Russians who are emerging as a consistent unit. Barcelona was sizzling against Real Madrid, but it will not have its leader, Juan Carlos Navarro on this game. Both opponents want to get their second win in Top16, but this time the favorite isn’t clear.
Τhe favorite: Olympiacos – Besiktas
The 2012 is history, but it will be always remembered by the defending Euroleague champions. The Reds are repeating that they have to leave behind them their miracle win in last season’s Final Four and after losing the game in Vitoria, they want to get their first Top16 against Besiktas, a good time, but not with the same basketball quality as Olympiacos. In this game the host team is expected to use for the first time their new center, Giorgi Shermadini.
The fight of the Greens: Zalgiris Kaunas – Unicaja Malaga
After losing in Athens to Panathinaikos in the last minute, Zalgiris wants to return to victories. Unicaja played with fire against Brose Baskets, but got the win. It will be an interesting duel, since Malaga is in the best shape it has been in recent seasons and can do damage as a guest. However, the team of coach Plaza seems to be one step ahead of the Spaniards.
Holidays in Germany: Brose Baskets – Real Madrid
Real Madrid spend Christmas in Berlin and now has to travel to Bamberg in order to face Brose Baskets. So, after their successful first chapter, the German Holidays of the “Whites” continue against a more dangerous opponent. The team of coach Fleming has improved since its bad start of the season and Real could be in real danger, even if the Spaniards have an extra motive to win this game after their defeat last Sunday in Barcelona.
Messina’s experiments: Alba Berlin – CSKA Moscow
Alba simply can’t match the quality of CSKA, even if in Berlin with 10.000 fans behind them the Germans can’t be underestimated. However, coach Messina’s defense is starting to click and that bad news for everybody in Europe. This should be a game in which the Italian coach will have the chance to experiment with his players and create what he really has in his mind.