By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
As you can see in our GameCenter this week most home teams prevailed and as a result, the trio of CSKA Moscow (9-2), Olympiacos (9-2) and Fenerbahce (8-3) have created some distance in the standings, with the “Army Team” and the defending champs getting wins on the road.
And that’s why our MVP is not decided only by his – great stats – but also about the status of the game he decided. For nights like that, he got the nickname “Saint George”.
MVP
Giorgos Printezis
He missed two crucial free throws at the end of regulation and he finished the night with 21 points – tying his season high – and 7 rebounds, leading Olympiacos in the overtime win against Real Madrid. The Reds got one more key result and they continue to share the top of the standings with CSKA Moscow.
Best Five
- Nando De Colo: One more big game on the road for the French star of CSKA Moscow who scored 20 points when his team needed them badly in order to beat Bamberg Baskets on the road.
- Alexey Shved: He scored a career high of 29 points and has also a 35 PIR – which makes him the “official” MVP of the EuroLeague this week – as Khimki Moscow Region beat AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano on the road.
- James Feldeine: One more career high of 29 points and a 32 PIR for the sharpshooter of Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade in the easy win over disappointing Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
- Janis Timma: We need to play small ball and with 24 points on 5/9 threes, the Latvian forward of Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz shined on the win over Unicaja Malaga.
- Giorgos Printezis: As we already wrote the patron Saint of Olympiacos fans.
Coach of the week: Sarunas Jasikevicius
Saras is already a very good coach and the question is if he will be one of the all-time greats. Against Panathinaikos, one of the clubs where he cemented his reputation as one of the all-time great players, and against one of his former coaches, Xavi Pascual, Saras led Zalgiris Kaunas to one more small miracle. On the way, he inspired Kevin Pangos to a Saras-like performance with 11 assists.
Last word: Fenerbahce back on track, Barcelona in trouble
There’s no shame in losing to the champs. Fenerbahce Dogus is a great opponent and after getting the road win in Barcelona has a solid 8-3 record and sole possession of the third spot in the standings. That’s almost the opposite of FC Barcelona Lassa, which has a 4-7 record, good enough for the 11th spot and one more EuroLeague season without playoffs seems like a real possibility at this moment.