By Stefan Djordjevic/ sdjordjevic@eurohoops.net
A dozen newcomers and returnees joined the Basketball Champions League this season and they didn’t disappoint, putting on a challenge to the traditional powerhouses and making the competition that much more interesting and unpredictable. U-BT Cluj Napoca is one of those teams.
The Romanian champions came into the BCL regular season for the first time and it would be an understatement to say that they surprised the continent. And they’ve been doing it consistently from the initial tip-off. All of it while holding a perfect record in the Romanian league (10-0).
Cluj currently sits at the top of Group G with a 4-1 record and they’ve secured at the very least a spot in the play-in to fight for the next stage. They will also have a chance to get their fifth win and advance directly if they get the better of Darussafaka in the next game.
Group G
10/12 games played
Darussafaka – Cluj Napoca (December 22)
Hapoel Holon – Brindisi (December 22)
| GAMES | STREAK | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | Last 5 | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 | U-BT Cluj Napoca | 5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 |
|
420 | 404 | 16 | 84 | 80.8 | 9 |
| 2 | Hapoel U-NET Holon | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60.0 |
|
410 | 378 | 32 | 82 | 75.6 | 8 |
| 3 | Darüssafaka | 5 | 2 | 3 | 40.0 |
|
358 | 367 | -9 | 71.6 | 73.4 | 7 |
| 4 | Happy Casa Brindisi | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20.0 |
|
384 | 423 | -39 | 76.8 | 84.6 | 6 |
Guns blazing
Darussafaka was actually their first opponent and Cluj got a 66-60 win. The team’s playstyle has been quite adjustable depending on the opponent but it seems that Cluj has entered an impressive scoring form that makes the squad feel as they can outgun anybody.
And it shows. Their last two games in BCL were a testament to that as they scored 106 and 104 points against Hapoel U-NET Holon (double overtime) and Happy Casa Brindisi respectively. Cluj is ranked fourth in points scored in the competition with 420 total, behind MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, Galatasaray Nef and Filou Oostende.
The win against Brindisi eliminated the Italians and it was in an interesting firefight. The teams combined for 29 three-pointers which is the most in a BCL game so far this season.
Cluj scored 100+ points for the second time and that is as much as all the other teams combined so far this campaign. The 104 points is also the highest score for a team this season without the match going into overtime.
The Magnificent Seven
And perhaps the most interesting part about Cluj’s scoring effectiveness is that it’s basically all done by the starting lineup. Coach Mihai Silvasan relies heavily on seven players with the addition of one or two more with very limited minutes.
Out of the 104 points against Brindisi, as much as 89 was scored by the team’s starting five and that is the highest tally this season among all teams.
It comes as no surprise that a few players get the statistical spotlight in such a system. The team is led by Patrick Richard who is the team’s primary scorer with 18.2 points and a 17.6 index rating. His point average is ranked fourth in the competition, making him also a potential MVP candidate if Cluj makes the dream come true and reaches the final stage.
Richard’s not alone of course. Far from it. Andrija Stipanovic follows with 16.8 points while Brandon Brown averages 15.3 and Elijah Stewart 15 points. Dustin Hogue, Stefan Bircevic, and Karel Guzman complete the current main rotation for the team, which has also been influenced by the availability of the players. And every single one of them had a breakout performance at some point.
Brown logged 17 points and ten assists and registered 4th double-double in points and assists in the BCL. Only Marcelinho Huertas has a better tally (5) in the competition history.
Cluj has lost only a single game so far this season and, whether they go directly into the Round of 16 or have to face someone in the Play-In, the fact remains that they’re one of the most dangerous squads and can take on the most prominent teams of the competition.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League