By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The regular season ended and now the real game of Euroleague starts. Still, before we get ready for Top16 (here are the groups) and say farewell to the teams which will continue to Eurocup (here are the Last32 groups) we have to review the final night which almost ended with a bang. Still the real bombs of the day were James Anderson and Nizhny.
MVP
He has done what every MVP should do. Not only he scored 26 points, but he also gave to Zalgiris the win with a goal foul almost at the buzzer. This result was more than needed for the Lithuanians who were in danger of missing the Top16, but Anderson, one of the standouts of the regular season, saved the day in the last moment.
Best Five
- Tarence Kinsey: Yes he is not a point guard, but we have to include him. He was the best of Nizhny by scoring 23 points, grabbing 6 rebounds and dishing 2 assists in the do or die game against Unics.
- James Anderson: The MVP of Zalgiris and also of the night.
- Devin Smith: He is “Mr. Fix it” of Maccabi Tel Aviv and proved it with a full stats line against Unicaja which included 22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.
- Linas Kleiza: The win of EA7 Milano over Turow didn’t change anything, but the Lithuanian star had his best game of the season with 29 points, 8/13 threes and 6 rebounds. A good sign for his team with the Top16 coming.
- Patrick Young: His team needed him desperately and he had a double double (13 p., 13 r.) against Olympiacos in the game which decided the Top16 qualification of his team, just weeks after being signed.
Best losing performance: Keith Langford
Last season’s top scorer will have to continue his career in Eurocup, but did the best he could in order to lead Unics to Top16. Langford not only scored 24 points on 9/14 shots. He also had 10 rebounds and dished five assists. It was a great game, but it was not enough for the ambitious Unics.
Biggest win: Nizhny Novgorod
A newcomer without its best point guard, injured Taylor Rochestie, managed to get to Top16 by beating last week Anadolu Efes and now a local rival, fellow Russian club Unics Kazan. Nizhny’s run no matter what happens next is going to be remembered as a prime example of resilience and team play.
The upset: Galatasaray
Playing without fans and with just seven players, Galatasaray got the win over the top of Group D, Olympiacos. Yes, the Reds didn’t have a real motive in order to get the win, but in any case the balance of the power between the two teams was uneven. That been said, after the tip off, Galatasaray more than deserved the win and a place in Top16.
The favorites: CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid, Barcelona
Three contenders for the Final Four ended the regular season with a bang. CSKA Moscow over Limoges, Real Madrid over ambitious Anadolu Efes and Barcelona in Athens against Panathinaikos got impressive wins despite having important absences and not being in full form. It remains to be seen if the can continue like this, or even improve in Top16, when the real game starts.
The “winners”: Neptunas
Nobody expected much from the newcomer from Lithuania. However Neptunas specially at home proved a good team and until the last day had the chance to qualify to Top16. It’s not a small feat for a low budget club which overachieved compared to more established names like Cedevita, Limoges and Valencia and did what a team like Turow or Sassari couldn’t do.
The “losers”: Bayern Munich
We knew from the start that a champion in Group C will be left out of Top16. However we were robbed from a thrilling fight until the end, mainly because Bayern proved to be less dangerous than its last season version, when the team stole the show and got to the Top16.
The last word: Not on his birthday
Sassari fought valiantly, but let’s be honest. We wanted a win for Zalgiris on Arvydas Sabonis’ birthday. It’s just felt right for the Lithuanians to get a win on the day that Sabas turned 50.
Euroleague 2014-2015 – 10th Day
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F.C. Barcelona |
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Laboral Kutxa |
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Nizhny Novgorod |
UNICS Kazan |
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Zalgiris |
Dinamo Sassari |
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Alba Berlin |
Cedevita Zagreb |
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FC Bayern |
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CSKA Moscow |
Limoges |
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Unicaja Malaga |
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PGE Turow |
EA7 Milano |
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Galatasaray MP |
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Real Madrid |
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Neptunas |