By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The ten players we have picked from number 40 to 31 are pretty near in quality with the players who will end up even higher. However we have reached the spot in which the details count and every difference is minimal. In order to review our previous picks you can click here: 100-91, 90-81, 80-71, 70-61, 60-51, 50-41.
The criteria
Our well known at this point five criteria are the following.
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 .
#Euroleaguerankings 40-31
#40 Andres Nocioni 1979 2m.03F Real Madrid
He is still a standard of quality in the league, despite his age. He averaged 13.6 points and 5.7 rebounds last season, but his role in Real will be quite different and also his shots attempts are expected to be less. The big bet for the Argentinian legend will be to prevail as the missing piece of the puzzle in the games in which a win may mean a title.
#39 Brad Oleson 1983 1m.91G Barcelona
He is one of the most important players of Barca and one of the best off the drible shooters in the league. What’s lacking from him until now is stability in big games. He has quality, a great shot and he is never afraid to use it in clutch time.
#38 David Moss 1983 1m.95F EA7 Milano
His numbers just don’t do him justice. He is the kind of player who provides much more than the stat sheet presents. He is a great defender, he brings balance to his team and he is the “glue”. Add to that a reliable three point shot and you have an all around forward.
#37 Daniel Hackett 1987 1m.99G EA7 Milano
He is the player who changed the image of Milano during last season’s Top16. He is a jack of all trades who has to provide play making, defense, score and rebounding. He is a key figure in his team and a player who still has margin for improving his game. This year he should try to be among the league’s elite.
#36 Nenad Krstic 1983 2m.12C Anadolu Efes
He is one of the best centers in the league and one of the most skilled big men. He comes from a strange season, during which for the first time in his career he played so much as a “4”. If he is healthy and gets his rhythm, he can be very productive. That been said, since his return to Europe, he had never been great in big games.
#35 Sasha Kaun 1985 2m.13C CSKA Moscow
He is a great pick and roll finisher, a very good defender above the rim and a very solid rebounder. If his team feeds him the right way, he can do damage all night. He is not a good free throws shooter and he also needs to be consistent in the really crucial games
#34 Carlos Arroyo 1979 1m.88G Galatasaray
Once more he is the leader of his team. It’s a given than he will have good numbers, because his experience and quality are top level. Still the big question is if he can be the player who will help his team do more than expected in the league.
#33 Devin Smith 1983 1m.96F Maccabi Tel Aviv
He is a great team player, some times looking a little bit old school in a good way. He can score either in transition, or in set game, he is a gifted rebounder and he doesn’t “steal” in defense. He is one of the most complete players in his position.
#32 Jeremy Pargo 1986 1m.88 G Maccabi Tel Aviv
He wants to forget about coach Messina and last season, which was a black hole in his career. We expect his numbers to be like the 2010-11 season, but he still has much to prove on the matter of being a leader and making his teammates better.
#31 Marcelinho Huertas 1983 1m.90G Barcelona
His presence is more than crucial for Barcelona, his quality and skills are above doubt. On a good day, he is a joy to watch, but the truth remains that in three final fours he couldn’t make a difference and that’s what he will probably have to address also this season.
For the 30-21 picks click here.