By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
We evaluated the players – with 10 being the highest score – in five different areas that can demonstrate the competitive value of each of them so far this season.
THE CRITERIA
Player performance: Individual performance in combination with expectations greatly affect the decision as to who deserves to be MVP. Certain players exceeded initial expectations and others confirmed their standing among the elite of European basketball.
Team progress: Basketball is a team sport and if someone cannot convert his individual performances into team wins, then he automatically loses points in the race for the MVP.
Player role: How would each team perform if we automatically removed the MVP candidate from the squad? There are players who are the alpha and omega of their squads, and the weight of their presence provides an advantage on the MVP Ladder.
Consistency: The performance of certain star players varies in big games. Some play consistently at full throttle, without fluctuations. Others specialize in making their teammates better in every game, even if they themselves don’t put up good numbers. As the season progresses, however, their value peaks.
Leadership: The biggest names in the EuroLeague step up when their teams need them most. Their contributions in those moments – both on defense and offense – can be as important as their overall numbers. These and other leadership characteristics are seriously taken into account when drafting the MVP Ladder.
Honorable mentions: Nando de Colo, Scottie Wilbekin, Alexey Shved, Facundo Campazzo
#7 MIKE JAMES
CSKA Moscow | Guard | August 18, 1990 | USA
19.1 pts | 2.7 reb | 4.5 ast | 0.7 stl | 0.1 blk | 2.6 tov | 27:52 min | 19.7 PIR | 10 G
Player performance: 9
Team progress: 7
Player role: 10
Consistency: 8
Leadership: 9
Total: 43
CSKA Moscow had a strong start, as usual, but its performance levels dropped abruptly, to the point that they now have four losses in the last six games. Mike James is doing everything he possibly can but, just as something is missing from the Russian team’s game (see Will Clyburn), something is also missing from his.
On an individual level, James ranks third in points and fifth in performance index rating (PIR). Scoring in double digits in nine games – with four games above 20 points and another over 30 – have not been enough to get the job done, however. He also missed the shot that could have prevented a road loss against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.
#6 SHANE LARKIN
Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Guard | October 2, 1992 | USA
19.0 pts | 3.4 reb | 3.3 ast | 1.1 stl | 0 blk | 1.9 tov | 27:56 min | 20.8 PIR | 9 G
Player performance: 9
Team progress: 10
Player role: 9
Consistency: 8
Leadership: 8
Total: 44
Shane Larkin missed Round 1 with an injury, but it didn’t take him long to return to great heights. Since then, Anadolu Efes Istanbul has been steady and is now tied with FC Barcelona for first place.
In fact, since Larkin returned to action, Efes has only one defeat, to Panathinaikos OPAP Athens at OAKA. Paradoxically, it was Larkin’s most productive game. The other performances of the 27-year-old American point guard were not too far off, though, as he ranks fifth in scoring and third in PIR.
#5 TORNIKE SHENGELIA
KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Forward | October 5, 1991 | Georgia
19.5 pts | 6.5 reb | 2.3 ast | 0.9 stl | 0.6 blk | 2.9 tov | 29:39 min | 22.8 PIR | 10 G
Player performance: 10
Team progress: 7
Player role: 10
Consistency: 10
Leadership: 9
Total: 46
KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz’s start was not the best possible, but Tornike Shengelia never gave up. On the contrary, he did everything in his power to lead them onto the right path. Baskonia’s recent home win over CSKA was the start. Then came another against Zenit St Petersburg, also at Buesa Arena, for the Spanish team’s first winning streak.
The 28-year-old Georgian power forward is one of just three players who has scored in double digits in all 10 games this season. His contribution extends to the other statistical categories and his averages in general have skyrocketed in many of them. As such, he is ranked first in PIR, second in scoring and sixth in rebounds.
#4 NICK CALATHES
Panathinaikos OPAP Athens | Guard | February 7, 1989 | Greece
14.0 pts | 4.7 reb | 9.1 ast | 1.3 stl | 0 blk | 3.6 tov | 34:04 min | 19.2 PIR | 10 G
Player performance: 9
Team progress: 8
Player role: 10
Consistency: 9
Leadership: 10
Total: 46
Few players do a lot of things really well, but Nick Calathes is one of them. Unfortunately for him and Panathinaikos, in successive defeats against ASVEL on the road and AX Armani Exchange Milan at home, he missed shots that could have turned those games into victories. Otherwise, however, the 30-year-old Greek point guard runs everything for Panathinaikos, a team that doesn’t want to even imagine life without him on defense or offense.
His scoring average of 14.0 points is slightly below his career high, but his three-point average is much higher (44.1%), as are his assists (9.1), where he is threatening to break his own all-time record. He also has five double-doubles, ranking first together with ASVEL’s Tonye Jekiri. These numbers have him ranked eighth in PIR.
#3 VASILIJE MICIC
Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Guard | January 13, 1994 | Serbia
16.9 pts | 3 reb | 6.7 ast | 1.8 stl | 0 blk | 3.5 tov | 31:43 min | 19.5 PIR | 10 G
Player performance: 9
Team progress: 10
Player role: 10
Consistency: 8
Leadership: 9
Total: 46
Their course to the championship game last season didn’t just raise expectations for Efes as a team, but also for each player individually, especially the ones that stayed on. Vasilije Micic is one of them and so far, he’s been doing even better.
The 25-year-old Serbian point guard is a barometer for Efes. It’s no coincidence that in two of his worst performances – against Barcelona at home and Panathinaikos away – the results were not positive. Otherwise, however, he has two double-doubles and his averages in general are well above his career highs. He ranks seventh in scoring, second in assists and sixth in the PIR.