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. 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 may not match the strongest teams, but if Zalgiris remain competitive after the first round, it will be a great success
15. Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade
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 filling the gaps left by their departures will be 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 and Jenkins face a tough task in making the difference like Marjanovic, Zirbes and Quincy Miller in the past.
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, the depth of the roster will be tested in a long season. 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. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
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 excellent acquisitions. At first glance, it looks like Milano are going to face some 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. Brose 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 Vitoria Gasteiz
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 will take time to develop. 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 FOX 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 creators (Mekel, Ohayon) will have to try to match the level as the rest of the players on the roster and that may be difficult 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 Odeabank Istanbul
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.
8. Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Quality of roster 8
Chemistry 6
Status 6
Transfer moves 8
How far they will go 8
Total 36
Efes have taken part in the EuroLeague playoffs four times, but they have never managed to qualify for the Final Four. Velimir Perasovic returned to Istanbul to achieve what he did last year with Baskonia but with a clearly better material, a richer roster, and greater depth on the bench. Several of last year’s protagonists (Heurtel, Dunston, Osman, Brown, Granger, Balbay, Korkmaz) have stayed on and the additions have at least raised the quality level of the roster (Omic, Honeycutt, Cotton, Thomas). The Croatian coach wants to build a fast-paced team with athletic qualities without having a player-reference point in scoring. The pressure in defense, the good spacing, and the many different players who complement each other guarantee that Efes can go a long way. Granger is usually used instead of Heurtel and not alongside him and so the lack of a second creator aside from the Frenchman might cost them.
7. Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul
Quality of roster 8
Chemistry 7
Status 5
Transfer moves 9
How far they will go 8
Total 37
In their second consecutive appearance in the EuroLeague, Darussafaka are determined to become the surprise of the season. But how much of a “surprise” can a team be characterized when they have such a budget, David Blatt on their bench, and some of the most sought after players in the transfer market on their roster? The Turks have kept many of the players from last season, but all six new players who came to the team are going to have a leading role. The quality of Wanamaker, James Anderson, Moerman, Clyburn, and Bertans is indisputable, while Batuk is also going to come in handy. Darussafaka look like they have players for every task and every occasion, having built a full roster. Except for Marcus Slaughter (who had a complementary role in Real), not one of the team’s players has competed in the Final Four, which indicates the inexperience of the group in the EuroLeague. However, if all these players gel and pursue Blatt’s brand of basketball, then Darussafaka may consider that they will find themselves in the playoffs relatively easily, hoping for the best.
6. Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens
Quality of roster 8
Chemistry 7
Status 8
Transfer moves 8
How far they will go 8
Total 39
Panathinaikos want to return to the Final Four in Istanbul five years after their last appearance there, in the same city. The management spent a bundle of money and put the bar very high by bringing to the “greens” Bourousis, the most sought after Greek who is coming off the best season of his career, two athletic big men (Singleton, Nichols) that they badly missed last year, a defender-exterminator with a reliable shot (Rivers), and a guard with exceptional execution skills who is going to contribute in creation (James)but who is going to miss the start of the season. Pedoulakis is called upon to find chemistry quickly in order to cover the gap in creation that James’s injury created, but also to chase away the “ghost” of Diamantidis as quickly as possible as it will be looming over every bad night.The “greens” are going to try to play fast and attractive basketball and, based on their roster, they can accomplish the minimum goal they’ve set – which is advancement to the top eight – relatively easily.
5. Olympiacos Piraeus
Quality of roster 8
Chemistry 8
Status 8
Transfer moves 8
How far they will go 8
Total 40
Olympiacos were left out of the playoffs last year for the first time after 10 years of consecutive qualifications, but they won the second Greek championship and everyone decided to trust the main body that has been created and has led to the successes of recent years. The “red and whites” added only Erick Green in the backcourt as Vassilis Spanoulis’s alter ego with the aim of having a prolific offense, increasing the one-on-one plays and the game on the open court. Giannis Sfairopoulos seems like he’s going to let go of the reins so the team can run more. The big question mark has to do with the power forward position and whether they should have acquired a player behind Printezis or give space and time to Agravanis and Papapetrou. However, a lot is also going to be decided by the degree of Patric Young’s readiness, as he’s coming from a year of inactivity after his injury. In the meantime, Birch is going to try to cover the position and do what Hunter did in the past two years. Olympiacos are essentially a completed team, experienced and capable of advancing to the top eight and dream of… what comes next.
4. FC Barcelona Lassa
Quality of roster 9
Chemistry 8
Status 8
Transfer moves 8
How far they will go 8
Total 41
Barcelona have stayed away from titles and the Final Four for two years and they decided to exit the Pascual era and enter the Bartzokas era. The Catalans made few but important changes on their roster. Satoransky and Arroyo were replaced by Rice and Koponen, while Claver updated the Blaugranas’ line of forwards. Many players were bound by contract, but the Greek coach renewed his confidence in Doellman and Dorsey in the frontline and made few changes in persons. Already, though, he looks like he wants to play a different kind of basketball compared to his predecessor. This year’s Barcelona are less athletic compared to last year’s Lokomotiv, they’re missing a player like Hanga whom they tried to acquire in the summer, and they will have good chances for the Final Four if they manage to cover their defensive weaknesses.