[lptitle title=”Start the countdown”]
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By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
The countdown for the start of the season has began and Eurohoops.net ranks the teams according to their dynamics, evaluating each one in five different areas.
We rated the teams with 10 the highest grade in five different areas that can reveal the capacity of each team at the start of the season.
The criteria
The quality of the roster: What is evaluated here is the talent of all the players on the roster of every team and their completeness in every position.
Chemistry: The big and fancy names do not guarantee a good team. Even though it’s very early and the teams are still trying to create their core, the chemistry that the players have between them is very important, as is the level of familiarity with their coach.
Tradition: The name and the history of the team do not play basketball but in crucial games sometimes the weight of the jersey can determine the outcome.
Transfer moves: In this particular category we evaluate the moves made in the transfer market and estimate the weakening or strengthening of a team.
How far they’ll go: Our assessment regarding the course of each team. The teams that are big favorites to get in the Final Four and win the title are graded with a 9, the teams that have a targeted presence in Berlin and good chances of making it are graded with an 8, the teams whose big goal is to reach the Final Four with a 7, the teams that are expected to have a dignified presence to the Top16 with a 6, and the teams that would consider advancement to the next phase as a big success with a 5.
The evaluation regarding the course and dynamics of every team has of course been developed before any official games have begun and so it is expected that it will change throughout the season.
Here are the full rosters of the 24 teams and their moves during the summer
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[lptitle title=”16. Brose Baskets“]
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Quality of roster 6
Chemistry 7
Tradition 5
Transfer moves 6
Reach 6
Total 30
Andrea Trinchieri took Bamberg back to the top last year and returned to the Euroleague. In their six previous appearances the German team managed to go through to the second stage only two times, so if something like this happens again it’ll definitely be a big success. The Italian coach clearly has an easier task compared to last year since he kept most of the players from last year’s core (Strelnieks, Wanamaker, Theis), made some smart player selections (Zisis, Melli, Staiger), while he also invested in talented players who haven’t played at this level before and see the season as a chance to launch their career. Bamberg is expected to be a cohesive whole that will, nevertheless, find it hard to make the big leap.
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[lptitle title=”15. Darussafaka “]
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Quality of roster 7
Chemistry 6
Tradition 4
Transfer moves 7
Reach 6
Total 30
Only a season after the team’s return to the first division of the Turkish championship, Darussafaka is going to play in the Euroleague. The Turkish team is robust financially, made some impressive moves in the transfer market further strengthening the team that finished third in last year’s Turkish championship. Oktay Mahmuti has a quality roster to manage, a roster that is comprised of very experienced players with history in the Euroleague, while the Turkish players are also of a very high level. The frontline is excellent with many different players who complement each other. Along the perimeter there are many players who do a lot of things well on the court (Gordon, Redding, Markoishvili, Preldzic), but not one of them is a consistently high level scorer. They might, however, become the pleasant surprise of the competition.
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[lptitle title=”14. Laboral Kutxa“]
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Quality of roster 6
Chemistry 6
Tradition 6
Transfer moves 6
Reach 6
Total 30
Laboral Kutxa has been on a constant downward spiral in recent years, having qualified to the quarterfinals only once in the last four years. The budget is getting smaller and smaller, the financial problems are big and Velimir Perasovic is called upon to build a team that’s held onto most of its core from last year, but that has several players who haven’t yet undertaken leading roles in their career so far. Adams, Causeur, James, Hanga and Blazic along the perimeter are looking for the chance to establish themselves at the highest level, while in the frontline the experience of Bourousis, Shengelia and Tillie can help Laboral have a good run and maybe even reach the Top16. If, however, Bertans and Shengelia get back in a good condition quickly, the Basques will be smiling more often throughout the season.
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[lptitle title=”13. Karsiyaka “]
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Quality of roster 7
Chemistry 6
Tradition 5
Transfer moves 7
Reach 6
Total 31
The Turkish champions are going to play in the Euroleague for the first time, but their constantly ascendant course in the past few years and the experienced players that make up their roster, can turn her into a “Cinderella.” Τhey can go much further than anyone expects, considering their tradition and their name. Ufuk Sarica lost a lot of the players who were keys in last season’s success (Dixon, Diebler, Strawberry among others). However they were replaced by players who are quite similar and the same big motive to prove that they belong in the top level (Ragland, Justin and Josh Carter, Colton Iverson, Sipahi). This is a deep and athletic roster which can make it all the way to the Top16.
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[lptitle title=”12. Milano“]
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Quality of roster 7
Chemistry 5
Tradition 6
Transfer moves 7
Reach 7
Total 32
Αfter last season’s failure, Milano decided to create a new team almost from scratch in order to provide better result during the current season. Jasmin Repesa is the new coach, replacing Luca Banchi and captain Alessandro Gentile along with Bruno Cerella are the only players left from last season’s roster. So the team chemistry is a work in progress and Repesa has a lot of work. The Italian team can be a really dangerous unit, specially if the five Americans – Lafayette, Jenkins, Hummel, McNeal and Lawal – find their roles. Cinciarini, Simon and Macvan has less athletic abilities, but their basketball IQ is a given. We really don’t know what to expect, but the play offs seem to be an incredible success.
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[lptitle title=”11. Unicaja Malaga “]
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Quality of roster 6
Chemistry 7
Tradition 6
Transfer moves 7
Reach 6
Total 32
Unicaja Malaga is a real solid Euroleague team, but during the last eight seasons the Spaniards seem to be underachieving and even the playoffs are a distant dream. Coach Joan Plaza is doing an admirable job and his roster this summer seems to be improved. A lot of players see Unicaja as the team in which their career will explode (Nedovic, Jackson, Diez, Smith) or get back on track (Hendrix). Yes, Granger, Green, Toolson and Golubovic maybe missed – specially the first of them – and Malaga will be a different team. The question is the right chemistry between the four guards (Nedovic, Markovic, Jackson, Smith) who with the exception of Markovic are not really concerned about defense.
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