By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Welcome to the third edition of the 7DAYS EuroCup Power Rankings! Last week marked the midpoint of the 2021-22 regular season and some of the favorites have already gotten ahead in the standings battle.
However, with COVID-19 resurfacing on many squads, several games of Round 9 had to be suspended and rescheduled for later in the season, creating opportunities for underdogs to have their fair share of the spotlight. For this edition of the power rankings, we’re keeping in mind each of team’s momentum, health status/absences, and how much they have improved (or not) along the season so far.
Eurohoops presents the 7DAYS EuroCup Power Rankings Vol. 3:
#20 Dolomiti Energia Trento
Previous ranking: 19
Overall record: 1-8
Last 4 games: L-L-L-L
Has Trento run out of fuel? They definitely are not in good form since the last time we checked up on them in the Power Rankings. COVID struggles and lack of depth have been concerning, hence a worrisome four-game losing streak at the midpoint of the season.
#19 Promitheas Patras
Previous ranking: 16
Overall record: 2-6
Last 4 games: L-L-L-X
*X marks postponed games
Promitheas has been through a rough patch in its last three games, with evident struggle on the defensive end. The Greek side suffered three consecutive defeats before their Round 9 contest against Cedevita was suspended and they are definitely far from their early-season ambitions.
#18 Slask Wroclaw
Previous ranking: 20
Overall record: 1-7
Last 4 games: W-L-L-X
Just when the Polish showed a vital sign in their home triumph against Hamburg Towers in Round 6, their first win of the season, it quickly vanished with two defeats at the end of 2021. To their credit, they challenged Partizan head-to-head in a game that went down to the wire and a two-point home win for the latter in Round 8. Despite their disheartening 1-7 record, it’s true that a team is the most dangerous when they have nothing to lose.
#17 JL Bourg en Bresse
Previous ranking: 18
Overall record: 2-7
Last 4 games: W-L-L-L
The case of Bourg is a peculiar one. Their three-game skid in the last rounds doesn’t do the French team justice, as they have been competitive in all three. The brightest example of their resilience was their Round 9 near-upset of Virtus Segafredo Bologna, after the latter blew off an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Bourg fell short in the final seconds. Forward Jalen Jones’s arrival comes at a crucial point for the French team and could have a positive impact on the remainder of the regular season.
#16 Bursaspor
Previous ranking: 12
Overall record: 3-6
Last 4 games: L-L-W-L
Bursaspor is another team that has had a rocky course so far. From back-to-back wins to five defeats in their last six games, it looks like Dusan Alimpijevic needs to shuffle the pieces again and bring the team back to shape. The recent addition of forward Tolga Gecim, a 2021 EuroLeague champion with Efes, could perhaps revitalize the Bursa side.
#15 ratiopharm Ulm
Previous ranking: 15
Overall record: 4-5
Last 4 games: W-W-L-L
Ulm topped Gran Canaria with a statement 96-81 victory in Las Palmas in Round 6 to stir up the “kettle” of Group B and then held off Bourg in Round 7 to move upwards in the pack. However, the momentum didn’t hold up for long, as Bursaspor and Valencia managed to crack the German side in tough displays in Rounds 8 and 9, respectively.
#14 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
Previous ranking: 14
Overall record: 3-5
Last 4 games: L-L-W-X
Cedevita finally put an end to its five-game skid with a convincing win over Valencia on the road before their Round 9 game against Promitheas was postponed. Just like Bourg’s case, Cedevita is also a team whose actual record doesn’t do justice to the quality and strength of the roster. There’s still plenty of time to make amends for their skid and the return of Zoran Dragic to the squad in 2022 could signal the beginning of a fresh start.
#13 Boulogne Metropolitans 92
Previous ranking: 8
Overall record: 4-5
Last 4 games: L-L-W-L
A team of reverse speeds, Boulogne Metropolitans is going through a drought in recent weeks. To some extent, this is justified, as they had to face Joventut Badalona and Partizan back-to-back in December, in two very challenging contests for Vincent Collet’s squad. Their Round 8 victory against Andorra showed that they are still in the fight, though their slump against Lietkabelis placed them in a tough place from which they will need to recover soon in order to remain in playoffs sight.
#12 Hamburg Towers
Previous ranking: 17
Overall record: 4-5
Last 4 games: L-W-W-W
Arguably the hottest team at this point of the season, the German EuroCup rookies chipped their way into the playoffs zone slowly but steadily. After a disheartening loss to Slask Wroclaw on the road in mid-December, they faced favorites Lokomotiv and became the first team to score in triple-digits against the Russians this season. They turned this victory into a streak with a comeback against Trento and edged Turk Telekom with a three-point feast in Round 9. Hamburg has the right momentum but also faces two favorites of Group A in the next two weeks: Partizan and Joventut, which will be big tests for Pedro Calles’s team.
#11 Lietkabelis Panevezys
Previous ranking: 13
Overall record: 4-5
Last 4 games: W-L-L-W
Posting 87 points against the competition’s best defensive team (Joventut) on its own is a big feat, and it becomes even more significant when it’s accompanied by a win. Unfortunately, Lietkabelis didn’t convert this advantage in their favor in their last two games of 2021, though they returned to action strong to knock off Boulogne. 2000-born Dovydas Giedraitis emerged as a new force for Nenad Canak’s squad with a career-best 25 points in that win and Lietkabelis keeps on delivering above expectations.
#10 Umana Reyer Venezia
Previous ranking: 11
Overall record: 4-4
Last 4 games: L-W-W-X
Among improved teams, there’s also Reyer Venezia. A wobbly start to the new season didn’t hold them down and they showed they should still be considered a strong contender for a playoffs spot in Group B. Big man Mitchell Watt took on a starring role to lead the Italians to back-to-back wins in late 2021 and it remains to be seen if he can hold up his form to push Reyer further as the season progresses.
#9 Turk Telekom
Previous ranking: 10
Overall record: 5-4
Last 4 games: L-W-W-L
Turk Telekom was the last victim of the Hamburg storm last week and that 20-point defeat was far from an ideal scenario. However, they still hold a 5-4 record in Group A and have been reinforced by scoring ace Jared Terrell, Henrik Rodl’s first selection after taking over the bench in December. Despite all these adjustments and the necessary trial-and-error, the Turkish side remains a strong suitor to finish among the giants of their group.
#8 MoraBanc Andorra
Previous ranking: 9
Overall record: 5-3
Last 4 games: W-W-L-X
Since the last edition of the power rankings, Andorra stopped both Turk Telekom and Lietkabelis to protect their homecourt. A bad second half cost them this two-game winning streak against Boulogne, while their game against Slask – which arguably could be a chance to restore their momentum – has been postponed to February. With captain David Jelinek sidelined for at least two more months, Andorra is called to manage the pressure of setting their own expectations high this season. So far so good.
#7 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar
Previous ranking: 3
Overall record: 6-3
Last 4 games: W-L-W-L
Lokomotiv underwent a big change in the head coaching position, which seems to have taken a toll on the team’s solidity in the recent games. Loko still remains the top-scoring team of the competition, but they count two losses in the last four games which could be troublesome in a group with two clear favorites competing for the top and the home-court advantage on a route to the playoffs.
#6 Virtus Segafredo Bologna
Previous ranking: 5
Overall record: 6-3
Last 4 games: W-W-L-W
Virtus’ woes piled up with the recent injury of star guard Milos Teodosic, who is expected to be sidelined for at least 20 days. Though the Italians have picked up three victories in their last four games, their last few displays have been far from convincing. Which raises the question: How well can they adapt to those unforeseeable difficulties and defend their status as title contenders?
#5 Valencia Basket
Previous ranking: 7
Overall record: 6-3
Last 4 games: W-W-L-W
Valencia definitely presented a better look in recent weeks as opposed to their earlier results, all that before COVID-19 woes had an impact on the team. Regardless, they came out strong to beat Ulm despite trailing by 16 points on the road in the first half. Slowly but steadily, Joan Penarroya’s squad is getting back in form and can be a real threat for Group B suitors.
#4 Gran Canaria
Previous ranking: 4
Overall record: 6-2
Last 4 games: L-W-W-X
Gran Canaria has yet to play a game in 2022, as their Round 9 contest against Reyer Venezia was suspended. What we do know, though, is that when they return, they have the chance to extend their winning streak to three games and possibly tie Buducnost for the top of Group B. Their depth and energy led them to a blowout win over Virtus in their last game and will act as a compass for a challenging game coming up against Cedevita Olimpija.
#3 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
Previous ranking: 6
Overall record: 7-2
Last 4 games: W-L-W-W
Veteran Willie Reed saved the day for Buducnost in their Round 9 game against Bursaspor at home, with a block at the final buzzer that secured the top spot for his team. Buducnost has beaten all the favorites of Group B besides Gran Canaria, who was actually their only defeat in the last four rounds. Experience, team play and depth go a long way for the Podgorica side.
#2 Partizan NIS Belgrade
Previous ranking: 1
Overall record: 7-2
Last 4 games: W-W-L-W
Partizan has also been in top form for the entirety of the season with only a few exceptions to their well-composed and efficient game. Just in Round 9, they dominated Trento with a new career-high for youngster Yam Madar. Other than that, Kevin Punter remains a strong force for Zeljko Obradovic‘s squad, leading the team to a 7-2 record. The only flaw to their otherwise perfect course has been the Round 8 defeat to Lokomotiv when the latter dropped 101 points at home in the giants’ battle.