By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The countdown for the 100 best Euroleague players continues on Eurohoops and it’s time for the spots between number 80 and 71. Of course you can still view – or review – our picks in numbers 100-91 and 90-81.
Τhe criteria
The first think that we have to do is explain our ranking criteria. We have divided our rankings into five different aspects, which create what we considered a total picture for every player and in the end our Top100. We present them to you according to the importance that they have in our final decision about the placement of each player.
1. Player’s value: The overall appraisal of each player on the court. His playing skills, his leadership ability, his quality as a unit not depending on the team he is currently playing.
2. Playing role: The importance of each player for his team, not only in the past but also in projection for the upcoming season. It’s an important aspect of our rankings, because that’s how players who are leaders in lesser teams are entering the top100 and quality players in loaded roster are being left out.
3. Team value: It’s the third most important criterion. Specially in Europe the team matters, because of the financial and quality differences, you can predict very accurately in most cases how far they can go in the season and their potential in the league.
4. Individual potential: That has to do only with the possible ceiling of each player. How much they can evolve and get near the top, depending their current state, their talent and their age.
5. The numbers: Each player’s stats, not only from past seasons, but also his possible performance in the upcoming season. As you can understand, it’s a part speculative criterion and that’s why it’s our last priority, because the way the game is played in Europe, this is something very related to the quality of each team and the role each player has .
Those are the five aspects taken into account in our top100 rankings. Considering the fact that in total there are more than 360 players in the 24 teams’ roster, our task was more than hard and in some cases torturing. Here’s the result.
#Euroleaguerankings 80-71
#80 Vladimir Jankovic 1990 2m.02 F Panathinaikos
It’s a choice which includes a lot of risks and has a lot to do with the roster of the Greens. Jankovic is the projected starting small forward of Panathinaikos, there’s no other more experienced player in his position and he is expected to have the chance to do damage. After all he is an all around player, providing help in scoring, rebounding and defense.
#79 Zoran Erceg 1985 2m.11 F Galatasaray
He is coming from a good season, averaging 11.2 ppg and 4.9 rpg and he is a solid value for his team. However he never reached the heights he seemed destined to as a Serbian prodigy. Still he is a useful asset and a solid long range shooter.
#78 Kenan Sipahi 1995 1m.97 G Fenerbahce/ Ulker
As you may imagine, his potential putted him so high in this list. He is one of the most talented Turkish young players, coach Obradovic gave him more than a chance last season and despite the fact that he will have to fight for his minutes in a loaded roster, this procedure may help him evolve ever faster.
#77 Cedi Osman 1995 2m.02 G Anadolu Efes
After a spectacular summer with the Turkish national U20 and Men’s team, he is ready to make a splash in Euroleague. Coach Ivkovic decided to keep a player like Zoran Planinic out of the team in order to use him and he is expected to have a key role in Efes. If he works in his explosiveness, his first step and his shot, sky is the limit.
#76 Μindaugas Kuzminskas 1989 2m.05 F Unicaja Malaga
He comes from a good tournament in FIBA World Cup, he is still growing as a player and he will have a much bigger role in this version of Unicaja. He has the chance to create some noise and make the step to the top level.
#75 Kostas Sloukas 1990 1m.90 G Olympiacos
He is the back up of Vasilis Spanoulis, but the team expects from him bigger things. Despite his age, he has his share of Euroleague experience, he is capable in pick and roll situation and a good shooter, specially on one on one situation and despite the pressure of the clock. This is the season that he must solidifies himself in the top level. He is a great worker and can do that.
#74 Dwight Buycks 1989 1m.91 Valencia
He is one of the most unpredictable cases of players in this Top100. He is a great scorer, he is quick and on the same time he has limited experience in Europe and has to adapt his game in coach Perasovic‘s demanding system. Some up and downs on his game will not surprise us.
#73 Nolan Smith 1988 1m.88 G Galatasaray
After a full and successful season in Cedevita, he changed level. Coach Ataman expects a lot from him in creation and execution, but above all in taking the right decision in crunch time. He has high potential, but rarely players without a long experience in Europe can be really consistent right away on the top level.
#72 Oguz Savas 1987 2m.13 C Fenerbahce/ Ulker
Sometimes is not just about stats, but also about experience and role in a team with high ambitions. He will share the position with Erden and Zoric and that means he is more than crucial for the offensive game for Fener, since he is the best option of the team for playing with his back on the basket.
#71 Charles Jenkins 1989 1m.91 Crvena Zvezda
In his second Euroleague season we expect him much better in every aspect of his game and of course in his three points shooting efficiency. He has the talent and the potential, he can be even more mature and take one step further in his career, being one of the leaders of the team.
For our picks in the 70-61 spots, click here.