By Stelios Toromanidis/ info@eurohoops.net
Which are the teams that have kept their home court impenetrable in at least one competition? Eurohoops reveals the teams that have celebrated only wins at home.
The European leagues throughout the entire old continent are in full swing and the sample of games is already large enough for us to highlight the strongest home courts in Europe. The battle for a better place ahead of the upcoming playoffs that are going to decide the champion of each competition has flared up for good. One of the criteria that attests to a team’s successful course is defending the home court.
Looking at the nine biggest European championships (Turkey, Spain, VTB, Greece, Adriatic, Germany, France, Israel, Lithuania) as well as the Euroleague and the Eurocup, only eight teams have remained undefeated in at least one competition.
In theory, it might seem easy for a country’s monster clubs to keep their… fortress intact, but in reality it’s proven otherwise. Teams of enormous strength like Barcelona, Real, CSKA have already made some slip ups, while those that can brag about their undefeated home record are only a few. The latest “casualty” is Valencia, who were defeated at home by Real, putting an end to their undefeated run in the Spanish championship.
Buducnost
Competition: Adriatic League
Place: 1st
Home record: 12-0
One of the two representatives of Montenegro in the Adriatic League are having their best season in the competition. They’re at the top of the table, three points ahead of Crvena Zvezda, who are excelling in the Top 16 of the Euroleague. This year, coach Luka Pavisevic’s team hold the record of most wins in a tournament with 13 wins at home!
Most important win: 19/12/2015 Buducnost – Crvena Zvezda 68-54
In the context of the 15th week, Buducnost faced Crvena Zvezda while being one win ahead. After making an excellent start, they took the reins of the game and got a relatively easy win that gave them a significant advantage in view of what was to follow.
Monaco
Competition: French championship
Place: 1st
Home record: 10-0
The recent French Cup winners, Monaco, are the country’s rising power. Within two years they’ve been promoted from the third category (NM1) to the first (Pro A). Even though still newly promoted, they’re at the top of the table and are among the title contenders. But the biggest achievement of the team from the princedom/ principality is that, in perhaps Europe’s most unpredictable championship, so far they have managed to safeguard their home court.
Most important win: 10/10/2015 Monaco – Nanterre 83-81
In a championship where the table leaders are just two wins from the eight in ranking, every win is of major importance. Despite this, Monaco’s toughest home win came in the 3rd week against Nanterre.
Bamberg
Competition: German championship
Place: 1st
Home record: 11-0
Bamberg are making an impression with their image and their accomplishments so far, inside as well as outside German borders. As far as their course in the BBL, they’re fully in control of the situation, having a three-win lead ahead of second-place Bayern Munich, eleven turns before the end of the regular period. In addition, Bamberg are the only team with an intact home record, when Bayern and Oldenburg have one defeat each.
Most important win: 06/12/2015 Bamberg – Bayern Munich 100-87
The 11th week brought face to face the two teams that met each other in last year’s championships finals. After an exciting game that was unpredictable up until the last minutes, Bamberg, with Miller and Wanamaker their best players, got the win and took two points away from their great rivals.
Reggio Emilia
Competition: Italian championship
Place: 2nd
Home record: 10-0
Last year they were one win away from the first championship in their history but, in the end, they couldn’t make it against Sassari. This year they have converted their home court into an impenetrable fortress and this has helped them to climb to second place behind Armani Milan. They have players with a lot of experience on their roster, like Kaukenas and Darjus Lavrinovic, who know the way to… the top.
Most important win: 06/12/2015 Reggio Emilia – Milan 74-72
Not even the leaders of the rankings, Armani Milan, managed to pass through Reggio Emilia’s home court intact. In a real derby that was decided in the… roulette of free throws, Massimiliano Menetti’s team was calmer reaching the victory.
Olympiacos
Competition: Greek championship
Place: 1st
Home record: 11-0
The red and whites might be facing several problems in the Euroleague, but in the Greek championship things are going much better. This is the 8th consecutive season that Olympiacos keep the Piece & Friendship Stadium impenetrable in the regular period (they’ve started out with 11-0). Their last loss was by Panathinaikos on 17/02/2008 with an 82-64 score.
Most important win: 25/01/2016 Olympiacos – Panathinaikos 80-66
With this win, the team from Piraeus took the lead in seizing the first place during the regular period and the absolute home court advantage in the playoffs. They prevailed over their opponents with a larger difference than the deficit of their first round defeat, so they have the upper hand in case of a tie in their points.
Panathinaikos
Competition: Greek championship
Place: 2nd
Home record: 11-0
The greens started out the season in the Greek championship with an 11-0 run in the Olympic Sports Center and this year it’s the fourth time in the last five years that they maintain a perfect record. Panathinaikos’s goal is to finish the regular period without any further losses, while at the same time they’re hoping for a slip up by the leaders, Olympiacos, in order to get the home court advantage in the playoffs.
Most important win: 19/10/2016 Panathinaikos – Olympiacos 73-69
A win against the “eternal rival” always has its own appeal, all the more so when it’s the second in a row within 11 days (the first on 08/10 for the Cup quarterfinals with a score of 70-64 in the SEF).
Aris
Competition: Eurocup
Place: Regular period, Last 32
Home record: 8-0
Aris is the only team left in the Eurocup that hasn’t had a home defeat. The yellows were impressive at home, winning all 8 games at the Nick Galis Hall, but were disqualified from the Last 32 because of three away defeats and, in particular, the especially heavy one in Berlin by Alba. Aris completed the season in the Eurocup with an 8-0 home record and 2-6 away…
Most important win: 2/12/2015 Aris – UNICS Kazan 76-70
The win over Armani Milan in the final game of the Last 32 was more impressive, but turned out to be for nothing. In contrast, the win over UNICS during the regular period secured them the first place in the group…
Fenerbahce
Competition: Euroleague
Place: Regular season, Top 16
Home record: 9-0
Last season, under the direction of Zeljko Obradovic, Fenerbahce took part in a Euroleague Final Four for the first time. The goal of the Turkish club for this season is to make that extra step and reaching the top. The signs are positive since Fener have shown the greatest consistency than any other team during this year, while they are the only team without a home defeat. Laboral Kutxa, Lokomotiv Kuban and CSKA Moscow all have one.
Most important win: 14/01/2016 Fenerbahce – Lokomotiv Kuban 85-79
Georgios Bartzokas’s “Loko” was a first class crash test for the hosts in the Ulker Sports Arena. The team from Krasnodar led for most of the game, but Vesely, Datome, and Bogdanovic took action in the fourth quarter, preserving their undefeated record.