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.
Status: 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 Istanbul 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 and the teams that would consider advancement to the next phase as a big success with a 6.
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.
16. Zalgiris Kaunas
Quality of roster 6
Chemistry 6
Status 6
Transfer moves 6
How far they will go 6
Total 30
Zalgiris Kaunas are a traditional team in the Euroleague. They are about to begin their 16th season in the tournament, but in recent years they have been reduced to the role of extras,without being able to ever qualify for the playoffs all these years. The Lithuanians are going to try to project a better image compared with previous years, with Sarunas Jasikevicius undertaking the building of a team from the summer for the first time. The staffing of the team is once again poor. They are relying again on native players and they’re hoping that the duo of Pangos-Westermann in the backcourt is going to make the difference, and that the athletic big man Augusto Lima is going to help himself and Zalgiris get to the next level. The quality of the roster and the depth of the bench do not allow for big dreams. If Zalgiris remain competitive after the first round, it will be a great success
15. Crvena Zvezda
Quality of roster 6
Chemistry 7
Status 6
Transfer moves 6
How far they will go 6
Total 31
Crvena Zvezda are going to take part in the Euroleague for the fourth consecutive season, every year appearing better compared to the last. From getting knocked out in the regular period in 2013-14, they qualified to the Top 16 in 2014-15, and last year they even got to the quarterfinals. The conditions this year to, at least, repeat what they accomplished last season, are not on the Serbs’ side. Dejan Radonjic stayed at the head coach position, but he lost Miller, Zirbes, Kinsey, and is called to fill the gap they left on the roster with Jenkins, Kuzmic, and Milko Bjelica. Extremely hard. Luka Mitrovic’s return after his injury is definitely good news. As is the excellent creator, Stefan Jovic, staying on. The biggest challenge for Zvezda is how they’re going to serve the model of previous years, since Kuzmic cannot make the difference like Marjanovic and Zirbes could, while Jenkins does not have Quincy Miller’s ability to execute.
14. UNICS Kazan
Quality of roster 7
Chemistry 7
Status 6
Transfer moves 6
How far they will go 6
Total 32
UNICS Kazan return to the Euroleague for the third time after the 2011-12 and 2014-15 seasons, having as their secret ambition to repeat what they did in their first ever season, qualify for the playoffs. However, this season they have a smaller budget compared to the other years, they didn’t try to make any flashy signings, and decided to rely on the chemistry they have created in previous years. Evgeniy Pashutin has stayed on as the coach, with Langford, Colom, Kaimakoglou, Parakhouski, Latavious Williams, and Marko Banic as leaders once again.The only young American that was added, Coty Clarke, is awaited with interest. The roster has quality, but it doesn’t look like they can make the difference and get into the top eight, since there is not a player who will lead in offense – aside from Langford – and furthermore, there is a small range of optionsfor most positions when it comes to quality players.They will probably drop out of the qualification battle for the playoffs early on, but they will do so afterdefeating several big teams along the way.
13. Olimpia Armani Milano
Quality of roster 7
Chemistry 6
Status 6
Transfer moves 8
How far they will go 6
Total 33
In their 10th consecutive appearance in the Euroleague, Olimpia Armani Milano are aiming to return to the playoffs, like they did in the 2013/2014 season. The Italians are coming off a very bad year, but they kept Jasmin Repesa in place, as well as players who tried to improve the team’s picture in the second half of last season (Sanders, Kalnietis). Once again the Croatian coach handed the reigns of the team to Gentile (even though he took the captaincy from him), with Simon, Macvan, McLean, Cinciarini, Cerella, at his side. Overall though, the roster has been reinforced compared to last season, as Raduljica, Dragic, Hickman, Pascolo, Abass are definitely better than Lafayette, Jenkins, and Batista, who left. At first glance, it looks like Milano are going to face very serious defensive problems, mostly close to the basket. Furthermore, the quality of Raduljica, Dragic, and Hickman is indisputable, but Gentile has to provide himself a boost to his career so that Milano can also benefit from that.
12. Bamberg
Quality of roster 7
Chemistry 8
Status 6
Transfer moves 6
How far they will go 6
Total 33
Bamberg were one of last season’s surprises, getting to the point on the very last game day where they were playing for the advancement to the top eight, something they had never done in their history. What better can they do after their best season in Europe? The German team did what was absolutely necessary by putting faith in all of last year’s protagonists. They kept in Bavaria Andrea Trinchieri on the bench as well as all the players, except for Brad Wanamaker. Causeur and Lo came in to cover the gap of last year’s MVP, but it’s quite hard for them to make it no matter how much quality the first one has, and how promising the second one is. The only American on the roster is the excellent forward Darius Miller, even though several are “American-bred”. Bamberg are hoping that the organized basketball of pressing defense, correct spacing, rational decisions, and the pursuit of the best available shot, will surely do a lot of damage, even though everyone take them into account now. In such a competitive Euroleague, though, they are not expected to make the extra step into the top eight.
11. Baskonia
Quality of roster 7
Chemistry 6
Status 7
Transfer moves 7
How far they will go 6
Total 33
Is it possible for a team that got one shot away from the final in last year’s Final Four to be out of the top eight in this season’s power rankings? Baskonia made a huge leap last year, against everyone’s predictions, and this year they are going to present a very different team. All the protagonists of last season – except for Adam Hanga – have left, and therefore the chemistry is very low. Shengelia, Blazic, Tillie, and Diop are going to retain their secondary roles with the hope that the new “bets” on the bench (Sito Alonso) and the roster (Bargnani, Larkin, Beaubois, Cooney, Voigtmann) are going to pay off. In any case, the void of Bourousis, Adams, James, Bertans and Causeur is not easy to fill, and even getting in the top eight would be a huge success. This scenario, however, does not seem very likely. The Basques have once again tried to put together an inexpensive team with great prospects to go upwards and to go downwards.
10. Maccabi Tel Aviv
Quality of roster 8
Chemistry 6
Status 7
Transfer moves 7
How far they will go 7
Total 35
Maccabi are coming off the worst season in their history. And Edelstein has to manage the accumulated pressure for immediate results after last year’s blunder in the Euroleague, the Eurocup, and the Israeli championship. Once more, their roster is full of offensive talent, with players who can destroy any opponent (Goudelock, Weems, Zirbes, Iverson, Rudd). Edelstein, however, has to manage a lot of personalities who are used to functioning only as protagonists. The issue of chemistry and of roles is the main one the Israelis have to solve. In terms of play, of course the fact that the creators (Mekel, Ohayon) are not at the same level as the rest of the players on the roster is a concern and it is expected to cost them at the top level. Lastly, Miller’s injury might have been covered with Rudd, but it’s still a major blow. Based on their material, Maccabi have to be regarded as one of the favorites to advance to the Final Four. Nevertheless, they have several issues to solve in order to be considered a team that has a guaranteed place in the top eight.
9. Galatasaray
Quality of roster 8
Chemistry 6
Status 6
Transfer moves 8
How far they will go 7
Total 35
It is going to be the fourth season of Galatasaray in the Euroleague and it arrives thanks to the accomplishment of “Cimbom” to win the Eurocup last year. They have a huge fan base, they spent a good amount of money in the summer, and Ataman is called upon to take the team back to the playoffs once again. Galata’s roster is in every position full of players who, the majority of them, regard this season as a chance to launch their careers (Dentmon, Daye, Smith, Thompson) or to bring it back to high levels (Pleiss, Tyus, Preldzic, Diebler). It makes sensethat all these signingshave dropped the level of chemistry, since everyone who has stayed on from last year (Guler, Micov, Schilb, Koksal) are going to have more complementary roles. Most of the new players do not have experience in the Euroleague and this might cost the team in the way they manage games. However, Galatasaray’s goal of qualification for the playoffs is actually attainable.