By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Let’s get started for another season! A concept established in Europe by Eurohoops.net regarding the top league and which is, by nature, subjective! It can generate disagreements, objections, agreements, and, above all… interest!
In recent seasons, the choices are becoming even harder and more torturous to make! Because all the good players are packed in 16 teams and the top clubs in Europe have greater depth in their rosters in order to manage the new format of the EuroLeague and the levels of energy it requires. Which makes the ranking very difficult and leaves out of the list of the EuroLeague’s Top 100 players, athletes that could have easily been among our choices.
As we wrote last season, there are at least 50 players who could have been objective and subjective choices, especially between 100 and 80, and we ask for your understanding because, unfortunately, there is not enough room for everyone.
However, we promise that after the first 15 rounds, when we will have a substantial sample by the end of the first phase, we will rank the Top 100 players based on their performance up to that point, and so, any possible mistake will be rectified! You are familiar with our criteria from previous seasons. The only footnote is that, some players who are coming back from a long absence due to injury (for example, Zoran Dragic) were not ranked and that this will happen during the season. With the exception of Sergio Lull, who is in a category of his own!
Criteria
- The individual quality of the player IN COMBINATION with the role and playing time we anticipate he will get in his team.
- The strength of the club he plays for. The players of the teams that are in the Top 8 and that are title contenders every season always have an edge because they combine individual quality with their club’s high aspirations.
- What each player has achieved in his career in the EuroLeague combined with the prospects he has for the 2017-18 season.
Here are the previous picks: 50-41, 60-51, 70-61, 80-71, 90-81, 100-91
#40 Petteri Koponen (Barcelona)
Year of birth: 1988
Height: 1.94m
Position: G
His numbers were not bad at all (10.1 points and 2 assists) in Barcelona’s catastrophic season last year. An experienced guard whose strong point is his mid- and long-range shooting. A scoring guard who is a good creator and who expends energy in individual defense at the same time. It will be interesting to see his performance this year in a backcourt that has more options.
#39 Cory Higgins (CSKA Moscow)
Year of birth: 1989
Height: 1.96m
Position: G
One of the most quality and “economic” shooting guards in the league. He got close to a double-digit point average last season with consistently high percentages outside the 6m.75 line without forced attempts and by taking few shots. He can perform just as well in half-court situations and in transition, he knows how to pass and, at the same time, puts emphasis on individual defense.
#38 Derrick Brown (Anadolu Efes)
Year of birth: 1987
Height: 2.03m
Position: F
One of the most complete power forwards in the league. Last year he tallied 12.2 points with 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists on average. Very athletic, he has an excellent offensive game facing the basket. Effective above the rim and capable of scoring from long-range as well, although in the last two seasons his percentage from the three-point line is below 30%. His value is a given, the question is how important he will turn out to be so that his team can go the extra mile.
#37 Marcelo Huertas (Baskonia)
Year of birth: 1983
Height: 1.90m
Position: G
After two seasons with the Lakers, he returned to Spain for Baskonia! A player with great technique, a good scorer with a rather big repertoire of moves, a very good passer, and a charismatic ball handler. He lags behind in his defensive duties. Pablo Prigioni trusts him fully and seeing as there is great freedom of movement in Baskonia’s run and gun style, it’s quite possible that he will have high stats and some very productive and impressive performances.
#36 Jaycee Carroll (Real Madrid)
Year of birth: 1983
Height: 1,88m
Position: G
One of the most gifted scorers in the league in recent years. A charismatic shooter from the perimeter, very dangerous from mid-range too (either with floaters, or a shot after a dribble) with 43.3% outside the 6m.75 line in 6 seasons! Always important to Real’s offensive function, especially if Rudy Fernandez isn’t “reborn” this season either. Until Sergio Llull returns, he will probably need to increase the number of attempts he takes on.
#35 Norris Cole (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Year of birth: 1988
Height: 1,88m
Position: G
Yet another player with a career in the NBA and, in fact, a notable one (Champion with the Miami Heat), who will appear in the EuroLeague for the first time! A classic case of a scoring guard who, on a good night, can execute and create at a high level. He’s definitely destined for a leader in Maccabi. The questions are simple! How will he adjust in Europe and how will Maccabi appear this season? Better than last season, we hope…