Maccabi and Besiktas making a splash

By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net

Just two weeks before the end of Top16 almost anything can still happen, specially in group F as it was proven with the road triumph of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Piraeus and the home win of Besiktas against Siena. In group E the question is the final standings, a tangled affair after the win of Panathinaikos in Madrid.

And here are the standings. In group E, CSKA Moscow at this point has the advantage after beating on the road Unicaja Malaga in the three way tie with Real Madrid and Anadolu Efes (9-3) and also the Russians have secured a place in the play offs, Panathinaikos (8-4) is fourth with two wins more than fifth Unicaja (6-6) which still has some slim hopes. Zalgiris Kaunas (5-7), Alba Berlin (2-10) and Brose Baskets (0-12) are out of the play offs picture.

In group F, Barca rules (11-1) and then there is a four way tie between Siena, Olympiacos, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Khimki (7-5), while Caja Laboral is sixth with one less win (6-6). Fenerbahce/ Ulker (2-10) and Besiktas (1-11) are mere spectators.

Eurohoops ΜVP

Devin Smith

What makes a player the MVP? David Logan was the top scorer of Maccabi Tel Aviv (20 p.), Shawn James the top rebounder (10 r.), but Devin Smith made all the crucial shots of the road win against Olympiacos (73-67) and finished the game with 13 points, 5/6 shots, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and the biggest ranking (20) from the guests. He had the answer for every come back effort by the hosts and now Maccabi has the tie breaker advantage over the Reds.

Best five

1. Petteri Koponen: He shined with 23 points, 7 assist and 2 rebounds as Khimki toyed with Fenerbhace/ Ulker (99-76)
2. Tutku Acik: He had 17 points on 7/8 shots, but he is here for one reason only. He made the winning shots in the first Top16 win for Besiktas against Siena (72-70)
3. Devin Smith: He made all the big shots
4. Kostas Tsartsaris: His 24 minutes against Real Madrid were more than crucial for Panathinaikos, as he was the top scorer of the team with 16 points on 5/6 shots in the road win in Madrid (74-73)
5. Darjus Lavrinovic: He played for his pride and the pride of Zalgiris and he had 24 points in 21 minutes in the 79-71 win over Anadolu Efes

Best losing performance: Maciej Lampe

The center of Caja Laboral had the best individual numbers in the game against Barcelona. To be exact he had 21 points on 9/12 shots and 6 rebounds. However, he couldn’t alter the fate of his team in “Palau Blaugrana” and Caja lost a step in the play offs’ race. Also Bobby Brown with 19 points and 8 assist had a monster game, but couldn’t make the winning shot in the last one second possession of Siena in the loss against Besiktas.

The biggest win: Panathinaikos

The Greens needed a big road win in order to get the advantage over Unicaja in the quest for the play offs and they did it emphatically by beating Real Madrid (74-73). The Spaniards had won many close games this season, but this time the tables were turned, the Greeks found a way to escape Madrid and proved that they are chinks in the armor of coach Laso’s team.

The upset: Besiktas

The defending Turkish champions finally got their first Top16 win in the most crucial junction of the competition. Despite being out of the play offs, Besiktas beat 72-70 Siena, which needed the win in order to keep pushing for the second place of group F and the home court advantage in the quarterfinals.

The underachiever: Anadolu Efes

Anadolu Efes blew the chance to be alone on the top spot of its group by losing in Kaunas. Sure, Zalgiris at home is a very strong team, Efes was missing Vujacic, however the hosts are unpaid, they have threaten the management with a strike next week and they didn’t have Popovic and Jankunas on the court. The Turks should have won this game in order to prove that they will not let the home court advantage slip through their hands.

The disappointment: Brose Baskets

Yes, Brose Baskets is the unluckiest team in the season. No, this doesn’t apply to the home defeat by Alba Berlin (75-72). The defending German champions had the chance to get their first ever Top16 win against a team they have repeatedly beaten the last seasons for their domestic league. They couldn’t do it and they probably will have to wait until next year in order to get it.

The last word: Mickael vs Pascual

Barcelona is cruising in Top16 on the court, so a little drama is welcomed. Veteran American forward Pete Mickael reportedly cursed at coach Xavi Pascual after the end of the first half of the game against Caja Laboral and accused him for lack of respect. Can this be something more serious than a heated alternation of the moment? It remains to be seen, but the two sides after the game seemed ready to bury the hatchet with Mickael accepting to not be used in the second half of Barcelona’s win against Caja.

Euroleague 2012-2013 – 22nd Day