By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce remains the only perfect team in Euroleague’s Top16 and everything else is up for grabs! Specially after the wins of Laboral Kutxa and Brose Baskets nothing can be taken for granted.
As you can see in the standings in Fenerbahce‘s group, Lokomotiv Kuban with a 4-2 record is second, while Anadolu Efes, Crvena Zvezda and Panathinaikos are tied at 3-3, while in the “Group of Death” Khimki , CSKA Moscow and Laboral Kutxa are tied on the top at 4-2 and Brose Baskets, Olympiacos and Real Madrid follow at 3-3, while Barcelona is left behind at 2-4. Most of this week’s games proved to be more than crucial, many players were amazing, but one stand outs from the crowd with ease.
MVP
Giorgos Printezis
Sometimes a player is all heart but this is not evident with numbers. In the game in which Printezis put his heart on the floor as Olympiacos needed a win, the numbers are nothing but a reflection of his frenzy. He registered a career high in points (30 p.) and in ranking (37) in Euroleague as he kept his team alive for most of the game against Khimki and when he got help, he was also there to close the game the way he should. It was a night to remember.
Best Five
- Malcolm Delaney: When he gets hot, there’s not way in stopping him. He had 21 points on 6/10 threes, 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 turnovers for a 31 PIR. He is true leader, he did it again in Lokomotiv’s win over Unicaja and he is emerging as an All-Euroleague team candidate.
- Nando De Colo: CSKA is rolling again and De Colo alongside Milos Teodosic, remains one of the best in the league. He had 19 points, 3/4 threes and also 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers and 1 block in his team’s triumph against Zalgiris Kaunas.
- Melih Mahmutoglu: Timing is more than important and that was the case for him in the win of Fenerbahce over Anadolu Efes. He had 14 points in 15 minutes, made 5/8 shots, four of them were three and all of them daggers on the body of Efes.
- Giorgos Printezis: In a time of need for Olympiacos, he had his best game yet…
- Miroslav Raduljica: He is a scoring machine and that was proved beyond any doubt in the win of Panathinaikos against Cedevita. In just 18 minutes of action he scored 21 points on 9/11 field goals and 3/3 free throws along with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 turnovers.
Best losing performance: Sergio Rodriguez
Real Madrid needed some one to step up and “El Chacho” tried his best with 18 points and 4 assists. He was the player who had the best ranking on the floor (18), still this is no consolation after the defeat by Laboral Kutxa. The champs are on the ropes for real and Rodriguez and the gang have to react soon.
Coach of the week: Andrea Trinchieri
There are many up and coming coaches in Europe, but the Italian did what none of them had accomplished before. He took over Brose Baskets and it’s making it not just the best German team – something that has been achieved also by Chris Fleming – but a force in Euroleague. The Germans tried during recent seasons to get their teams on a par with the best of the old continent and finally this is a fact this season. A team which didn’t have a single Top16 win, has beaten Olympiacos on the road and Barcelona at home and the playoffs are not such a crazy dream after all thanks to dear Andrea.
Biggest win: Brose Baskets
What’s the best way to show that a win against a big opponent is not a fluke? Beat also an other one. Brose Baskets has a 3-3 record, but two of those wins are solid gold. After beating Olympiacos on the road, they prevailed over Barcelona, having the game under control for most of the second half and holding on until the end, like they did in Piraeus. Plus Brose Baskets didn’t need a career game by anyone in order to beat the Catalans. A solid team effort was enough. So keep an eye for Freak City.
The first time: Dogus Darussafaka
The Turks in their first Euroleague season made it to the Top16 and finally they got their first win with Crvena Zvezda being the victim. In the big picture it may not be much, but it’s a start for a new team which entered the competition via a wildcard. Darussafaka can still be a factor in the playoffs race and noone can underestimate the players of coach Mahmuti
The last word: “Carácter Baskonia”
Laboral Kutxa became the first team which has beaten during three weeks CSKA Moscow, Barcelona and Real Madrid in a Top16 group. This is not a small feat and Bourousis and company are now aiming for the playoffs in a season that started with a very low profile.