By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
It’s Top16’s 4th gameday, there’s still a long way to go until the Euroleague’s playoffs, but the wins don’t lie, specially if you are undefeated. In group E, CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid are still unbeaten (4-0), Anadolu Efes and Panathinaikos share a 3-1 record, Zalgiris Kaunas and Unicaja Malaga are two steps behind (1-3), while Brose Baskets and Alba Berlin still search their first win (0-4). In group F, Caja Laboral and Siena are still perfect team (4-0),Barcelona and Khimki are at 3-1, Olympiacos and Maccabi follows (1-3) and Fenerbahce/ Ulker together with Besiktas are at the bottom of the standings (0-4). Keep in mind that Olympiacos already officially objected Siena’s win and the standings may change.
Εurohoops MVP
He didn’t started the game well, but he did finish it with a 74-72 road win over Olympiacos. He had 22 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, the three free throws that got the game even at 72-72 and the winning lay up. That’s the definition of being the Eurohoops MVP, even with a little help from the shot clock, which was stuck during Olympiacos‘ second to last offence and gave time to Brawn in order to score the winning basket.
Best five
- Milos Teodosic: In the win against Zalgiris he had 24 points, made all the big shots and also dished 5 assists. He is almost 26 years old and that means he is on the doorstep of his primes. Oh, and he is eager to win his first Euroleague.
- Bobby Brown: He had no fear against the champions…
- Jonas Maciulis: The Lithuanian forward had one of the best games of his career as he scored 28 points by missing just two shots (2/2 2p., 6/8 3p., 6/6 FT) in the 79-73 road win of Panathinaikos in Berlin
- Nemanja Bjelica: He scored 16 points in just 16 minutes on 4/9 three pointers and he made the difference in the first half in the unexpectedly easy win of Caja Laboral at Fenerbahce‘s court
- Paul Davis: He set the tone for Khimki early in the game against Maccabi with a dominant performance, his best ever in Euroleague with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.
The best losing performance: Nihad Dedovic
The Bosnian tried his best with 21 points and 4 rebounds against Panathinaikos, having 4/5 three pointers. He was the Germans’ answer to Maciulis and it was an admirable feat, specially if you consider his age. Dedovic became this week just 23 years old and he is emerging as one of the top players of his generation in Europe.
The biggest win: Siena
CSKA and the win in Kaunas was occupying this space, until the end of the game in Piraeus. Siena survived Olympiacos and “stole” the 74-72 win thanks to Brown. The no surrender mentality of the Italians is to be admired. Sure, the clock made a favor to them as it was stuck during the home team’s last offence, but also Olympiacos after the five straight points scored by Spanoulis, did everything it could in order to lose the game. Still, after Olympiacos’ objection, things may change. As Siena’s coach Banchi said after the game: “The clock stuck, I hope it was not done on purpose. It could have helped Olympiacos, but it helped us”
The “upset”: Khimki
Vitaly Fridzon said it on Monday, but Maccabi Tel Aviv just didn’t listen. In sports in general a team that has problems off the court usually reacts on the court and that lead to Khimki’s 88-67 win against the Israelis. However, only the strike of Khimki’s players, which in this case translated to individual practices, gave hope to Maccabi for a road win in Moscow. The Russians are just better this season and it was proven beyond any doubt.
The disappointment: Fenerbahce/ Ulker
It’s just sad. A team that was build with the highest of ambitions and still has the potential to win its domestic league, was a shadow of itself in the game against Caja Laboral. The Basques got the road win without feeling any real pressure by the home team which theoretically should show at least passion on the court. That was absent and Fener‘s fans started to leave the gym by the end of the third quarter in the 97-75 defeat.
The underachiever: Unicaja Malaga
In order to get far in Euroleague you have to defend your home court and Malaga did that in regular season with only one home defeat on opening night by Maccabi Tel Aviv. After a total 8-2 record in the first phase, a triumph over Real Madrid would validate the team’s improvement. That didn’t happen, Real escaped with a 72-64 win and the partial score in the last quarter was 29-14 in favor of the guests.
The last word: Caja Laboral
Who knew that Zan Tabak was a miracle worker? His team is the hottest in Europe and just reached 250 wins in European competitions with style. That means with a road win in Istanbul and the future looks bright
Euroleague 2012-2013 – Τop16, 4th Day
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Fenerbahce |
Caja Laboral |
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Olympiacos |
Siena |
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Khimki |
Maccabi Tel Aviv |
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Besiktas Milangaz |
F.C. Barcelona |
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Unicaja Malaga |
Real Madrid |
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Brose Baskets |
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Zalgiris |
CSKA Moscow |
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Alba Berlin |
Panathinaikos |