By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Simply put, CSKA Moscow which prevailed over Real Madrid, Olympiacos after beating Fenerbahce Dogus and Zalgiris Kaunas with the win over Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, have real reasons to smile. Just look at the standings.
And as you can see in our Game Center, only AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano got a road win this week. And that brings us to our MVP and a home win which will play a role in the playoffs race.
MVP
Augustine Rubit
He had his best EuroLeague game with 26 points, eight out of nine made field goals, eight rebounds and two blocks in Brose Bamberg shockingly easy win over Panathinaikos. It’s not enough for the German champs in order to get back to the playoffs race, but it’s more than crucial in the fight for the home court advantage.
BEST FIVE
- Kevin Pangos: He continues his amazing season with 16 points on 6/8 FG and also 11 assists, making just three turnovers in Zalgiris Kaunas’ win over Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv.
- Errick McCollum: He was unstoppable with 24 points, 10/16 field goals, six rebounds and six assists as Anadolu Efes beat Valencia Basket.
- Vasilis Spanoulis: He had his best game yet for this season with 19 points and 3/3 threes. However, the most important thing is that he set the tone in the big win of Olympiacos over the defending champs Fenerbahce Dogus.
- Augustine Rubit: He did damage.
- Tyler Honeycutt: Khimki Moscow Region got a crucial win over Unicaja Malaga and his role was as big as his 11 points and 15 rebounds imply.
Coach of the week: Dimitris Itoudis
While five teams behind CSKA Moscow will fight until the end of the three spots that give the home court advantage in the playoffs, the “Army Team” has built a three wins advantage over them. It’s quite an impressive feat and even if for the Russian powerhouse the real season seems to start always in the Final Four, you can’t but take your hat off for coach Itoudis and his gang.
Last word: New season, same issues
Something is wrong in Barcelona and it was proven again in the home defeat by Milano. Simply put, after losing coach Xavi Pascual who has already rejuvenated Panathinaikos, the Catalans are not who they used to be. A second season away from the playoffs despite having a loaded roster proves that the club needs to have patience because the biggest issue there is at this moment in Barcelona seems to be the pressure to get results.