By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
Status, dynamics, form and the significance of the results were the criteria for ranking the 16 teams.
#16 DARUSSAFAKA TEKFEN ISTANBUL
Previous ranking: 15 (-1)
Record: 1-9
At home: 1-4
Away: 0-5
Offense-Defense: 76.6 ppg.-89.4 ppg.
The win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (71-63) in the second round remains the only one for Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul. With another six defeats in November, they reached eight in a row and nine in total, a record that has placed them alone at the bottom of the rankings. Their performance on offense (second worst and with the second-highest number of turnovers with 13.7) and defense (second worst) is similar and makes up the worst team point differential, 12.8 per game. Michael Eric (13 points, 6.3 rebounds) and Ray McCallum (10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists) are fighting, but they have their fair share of turnovers too (2.2 and 3.0 respectively).
#15 BUDUCNOST VOLI PODGORICA
Previous ranking: 16 (+1)
Record: 2-8
At home: 2-4
Away: 0-5
Offense-Defense: 71.5 ppg.-81.7 ppg.
Buducnost have the worst offense, the seventh-worst defense and the second-worst point differential (10.2), but there are moments when they outdo themselves. They did it twice in November, once with their first win (99-84 over KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz) and once for the biggest upset in the competition so far (93-92 over CSKA Moscow). The three-point shot (third best percentage with 42.3%) was the key to their success in both instances, so much so that they registered an all-time EuroLeague record for three-pointers in a game while shooting 21-for-34 vs. Baskonia.
#14 HERBALIFE GRAN CANARIA
Previous ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 3-7
At home: 2-3
Away: 1-4
Offense-Defense: 80.8 ppg.-89.9 ppg.
In six games in November, Herbalife Gran Canaria managed to more than double the wins they had up to that point, while they also celebrated their first away win (71-75 over Darussafaka). Things could have been a bit better if their defense wasn’t the worst in the competition and if they had managed to limit their turnovers (third worst, at 13.5) on offense (eighth best), where DJ Strawberry (10.9 points, 2 assists), Clevin Hannah (10.9 points, 4.5 assists) and Christopher Evans (10.6 points, 1.3 assists) set the pace. This week’s release of head coach Salvador Maldonado points to uncertainty going forward.
#13 MACCABI FOX TEL AVIV
Previous ranking: 10 (-3)
Record: 2-8
At home: 1-3
Away: 1-5
Offense-Defense: 77.2 ppg.-81.4 ppg.
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv are one of three teams that changed coaches (Ioannis Sfairopoulos in place of Neven Spahija). But, for the time being, they haven’t totally changed their fortunes. The win over FC Bayern Munich (95-71) was the team’s first after six defeats in a row and only their second overall. Their offense (third worst) is trying to catch up with their defense (seventh best), but they need more work. Jeremy Pargo’s return to action is eagerly awaited.
#12 FC BAYERN MUNICH
Previous ranking: 12 (-)
Record: 4-6
At home: 3-3
Away: 1-3
Offense-Defense: 80.2 ppg.-81.5 ppg.
November was full of difficult missions at home and away for Bayern, who, in the end, managed to get a win in Munich (116-70 over Darussafaka) and one away (74-89 over Gran Canaria). The last and heavy defeat to Maccabi (95-71) took them down to 2-4 in this time period, a record that more or less reflects their overall image in the competition. They have the seventh-worst offense (Derrick Williams is the top scorer with 12.3 points) and the eighth-best defense.