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By Nikos Varlas / varlas@eurohoops.net
The season gets under way in a few days and the time has come for the top 100 Euroleague Rankings. A difficult concept, subjective, one that – by nature – creates differing opinions and disagreements!
Eurohoops begins the presentation from the bottom up and the main thing that has to be made clear is that our Rankings are not made based on those that are published about NBA players in the USA. It’s true that the individual element is very important, but we equally evaluate the team’s dynamics and potential.
You can surf on Eurohoops’ Trademark Section and check out all the previous choices of Top 100 list.
Criteria
1. PLAYER’S VALUE: The overall competitive evaluation of players. The characteristics of their game, their worth, their leadership skills, their quality as a unit independent of the team they play for.
2. PLAYER’S ROLE: The importance of a player for their team as we evaluate and predict it for the new season.
3. TEAM’S WORTH: The team the player we choose plays for, its apparent value in the league in the long term and the potential it has. How far the player’s team that is chosen for the new Euroleague season can go.
4. INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL: The individual potential of the player, exclusively. The extent to which they can grow and improve, how high they can go based on their value, talent and age.
5. THE NUMBERS: The statistics we speculate the player can tally on average, when their team’s run in the Euroleague is completed. This is definitely an important criterion but the last priority for our choices, since it depends directly on the quality of the team they play for and their role in the team.
These are the 5 criteria that we factor in in order to reach an overall assessment of every player individually and from that point to draw the Top 100 Ranks. If you consider that around 360 players are registered on the rosters of the Euroleague, you will comprehend how hard and tortuous it was to make these selections!
So many players of value that we respect infinitely for whom there was not enough space and, really, from a total of 150 players, the list of the 100 was drawn up with great difficulty. Especially in the bottom 20 slots, there could be any name from the 50 that were necessarily not included and we ask for your understanding for this in advance.
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[lptitle title=”50 Antonis Fotsis “]
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#50 Antonis Fotsis
1981 2m.09 F
Panathinaikos
One of the most experienced forwards in the league, he’s getting ready for his 11th season. He has a flair for rebounding, runs the court well, is effective in defense over the rim and his strongest point offensively is the long-range shot. A key player, and often a barometer, for Panathinaikos.
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[lptitle title=”49 Alex Tyus “]
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#49 Alex Tyus
1988 2m.03 F/C
Anadolu Efes
A significant addition in Ivkovic’s team. He climbed a level in the spring of 2014 and in the Final Four he had in Milano. The definition of the athletic undersized big man, a player who specializes in pick and roll situations. He has quick feet in defense and is an excellent blocker, while in offense he executes the creations of backcourt players with strong finishes and impressive dunks. A good rebounder, an even better blocker, but without any noteworthy post play.
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[lptitle title=”48 Nikola Kalinic “]
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#48 Nikola Kalinic
1991 2m.02 F
Fenerbahce
It only took one season in the Euroleague for him to establish himself and get a transfer to the top level. A consistent defender and good rebounder, with his style he can easily integrate into a team’s system and deliver. He produces a lot of energy on the court and he can be a threat from long-range in offense, to go to the post if he’s facing a shorter opponent and punish bad close-out defenses. A useful tool for Fenerbahce.
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[lptitle title=”47 Othello Hunter “]
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#47 Othello Hunter
1986 2m.03 F/C
Olympiacos
For the second season in Olympiacos. An athletic player, he can play in both positions in the racket, but is a better performer in the ‘5’. He finishes plays after a pick and roll, sometimes he attempts mid-range shots or moves with his back against the basket in the post. A good rebounder and blocker, his biggest contribution in the defensive area is different: He’s one of the best players in the Euroleague in hedge out defenses. He can respond in marking the backcourt players after switches on the screens as well.
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[lptitle title=”46 Bryant Dunston “]
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#46 Bryant Dunston
1986 2m.03 C
Anadolu Efes
Another strong addition in the frontline of Ivkovic’s team. He has won the best defender award twice but this is somewhat misleading. He might be an effective blocker but he doesn’t respond as well in other types of defense, such as matching up with rival guards after switches on the screens. He’s a good finisher in pick and rolls and he can score on contacts as well. He’s going to have some strong competition since, aside from Tyus, in small line-ups in the ‘5’ we might see Derrick Brown as well.
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[lptitle title=”45 Daniel Hackett “]
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#45 Daniel Hackett
1987 1m.99 G
Olympiacos
Signing with Olympiacos and the incorporation in a completely different system from the one in Armani Milano was a big change in his career. A big sized guard who looks better and better with every passing season in the creative part and the way he reads the game. He can play pick and rolls, penetrate defenses, but he’s still inconsistent in his long-range shooting. A good rebounder because of his size, forces shorter opponents to the post. In contrast, it’s difficult for any guard to post him. Alongside Spanoulis, because of the Greek’s class and diversity in his game, it’s possible that he’ll emerge at the top level.
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[lptitle title=” 44 James Gist “]
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#44 James Gist
1986 2m.06 F/C
Panathinaikos
In Panathinaikos he changed levels as a player. His trademark is his athletic abilities that are now combined with a better perception of the game and a multidimensional contribution on the court. He’s very good in all types of defense and he can mark in all positions. He can protect the rim, cover spaces and deal with backcourt players. In offense, he has improved noticeably his shooting along the perimeter, is a good pick and roll finisher and he scores through skillful movements away from the ball.
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[lptitle title=”43 Alex Abrines “]
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#43 Alex Abrines
1993 1m.97 F
Barcelona
Abundant talent in offense, a very good athlete and, overall, a player with a high ceiling and impressive characteristics. He has to be more productive and complete from the overall package he presented us last season. He can score in every way and he’s excellent on the open court. He has to add more strength to his body and improve his defense. In offense he has room for improvement in the area of facilitating.
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[lptitle title=”42 Trey Thompkins “]
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#42 Trey Thompkins
1990 2m.08 F/C
Real Madrid
A very impressive first season in the league with Nizhny Novgorod that became his passport for his transfer to the European champions. He has a wide range in his scoring, he threatens in many ways and at the same time he knows how to score from long-range. He has a good sense of space and timing in rebounding, while another advantage is that he’s a good passer for his size. In defense he’s not at the same high level. It’ll be interesting to see how he’ll fit in with Real, what his role and playing minutes will end up being throughout the season.
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[lptitle title=”41 Dario Saric “]
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#41 Dario Saric
1994 2m.07 F
Anadolu Efes
Everyone knows that he has huge potential and that the “(basketball) sky is the limit” for him. In his second full season in the top league we expect him to be better and more efficient in crucial games. He can do everything at a high level on the court: Score, rebound, facilitate, defend, read the game in both defense and offense. He needs to stabilize his shooting from the perimeter even more and to improve his decisions and the initiatives that he takes at the top level. Only then will he be able to meet the expectations that his big talent has justly created.
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