By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
The first half of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season is in the books and Eurohoops takes what it learned from those 120 games into account to compose the third edition of power rankings for the 2016-17 season.
The power rankings have several differences from previous editions based on the teams form in recent games. Eurohoops details the dynamics of every team and their overall records, at home and away, in addition to the team’s scoring averages in offense and defense.
The criteria for the power rankings takes into consideration the teams overall records as well as recent form, performance compared to expectations, and unexpected wins or defeats.
Read here about the teams in positions 1-8
1. CSKA Moscow
Previous ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 12-3
At home: 6-1
Away: 6-2
Offense-Defense: 88.4 ppg. 80.7 ppg.
It is perhaps the first time since the start of the season that CSKA’s dominance can be called into question. The champs were defeated in two games in a row by Fenerbahce Istanbul and Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade and in the last game, in fact, without having the excuse of Milos Teodosic and Nando De Colo being absent. The former missed two games and the latter returned after a seven-game absence. Without them, Coach Dimitris Itoudis’s team did not have the same brio and imagination in offense, but was highly effective defensively in getting the results they wanted.
2. Olympiacos Piraeus
Previous ranking: 4 (+2)
Record: 10-5
At home: 6-2
Away: 4-3
Offense-Defense: 78.6 ppg. 74.2 ppg.
In the past month, Olympiacos had to deal with injuries to Daniel Hackett, who will miss the remainder of the season, and Georgios Printezis. The Reds, however, have only one defeat in the last six games (away at Bamberg), proving that homogeneity is a valuable element for every team of this level. The defensive armor was the cause of their improvement, as Olympiacos boasts the best defense in the competition, which holds opponents to the worst shooting percentages on two-point shots.
3. Real Madrid
Previous ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 10-5
At home: 6-1
Away: 4-4
Offense-Defense: 86.9 ppg. 80.2 ppg.
Madrid was rather inconsistent in its last five games, with consecutive road losses at Zvezda and Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul, while their wins over Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Zalgiris Kaunas weren’t too comfortable either. Los Blancos have the best performance index ratings in the EuroLeague and with the players’ supreme athleticism are able to score a lot of points in the open court and through offensive rebounds. Sergio Llull’s injury certainly disoriented the Spanish team, although Luka Doncic is having an impressive season despite his young age.
4. Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens
Previous ranking: 6 (+2)
Record: 9-6
At home: 7-1
Away: 2-5
Offense-Defense: 77.2 ppg. 73.6 ppg.
Panathinaikos’s momentum was interrupted by the loss to Unics Kazan in Russia, but the Greens are certainly in good form. Coach Xavi Pascual dramatically improved the team’s defensive function and Panathinaikos’s opponents have dished the fewest assists and shot two-pointers at poor percentages. At the same time, his players commit the fewest turnovers. Nick Calathes and Chris Singleton are among the top players in the EuroLeague and doing seemingly everything on the court. The Greens have only one defeat at home, to archrival Olympiacos, but have a 2-5 record on the road and that might make things difficult later on.
5. Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz
Previous ranking: 5 (-)
Record: 10-5
At home: 7-1
Away: 3-4
Offense-Defense: 80.2 ppg. 77.1 ppg.
Baskonia is making an impression with its consistency and strength at home. Coach Sito Alonso’s men can count five wins in their last six games (the only defeat was by Panathinaikos at Olympic Sports Center in Athens) and at the midway point of the regular season are looking to be serious contenders for a playoff berth. Baskonia leads the league in rebounding, is playing excellent defense in the paint and with Shane Larkin and Toko Shengelia having great performances in recent games, this team looks like they can consolidate itself very high in the standings.
6. Fenerbahce Istanbul
Previous ranking: 2 (-4)
Record: 9-6
At home: 6-2
Away: 3-4
Offense-Defense: 75.3 ppg. 76.2 ppg.
December didn’t go so well for Fenerbahce. The Turkish champion suffered three defeats in its last four games and by rivals that have similar goals (Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and Darussafaka). The win over CSKA in Moscow kept Coach Zeljko Obradovic’s team in the top six, but it seems that the small rotation has cost Fenerbahce, which relies on Kostas Sloukas, Ekpe Udoh and Jan Vesely, but has not been as effective in terms of offense.
7. Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul
Previous ranking: 10 (+3)
Record: 8-7
At home: 4-3
Away: 4-4
Offense-Defense: 78.0 ppg. 78.2 ppg.
Darussafaka faced many difficult opponents in its recent games and after defeating CSKA also managed to beat Madrid and Fenerbahce by clearly slowing down the tempo in those games. Coach David Blatt’s charges have played equally well at home and away led by backcourt stars Brad Wanamaker and Scottie Wilbekin plus forward Will Clyburn, which means the team is dangerous in every game. By acquiring center Ante Zizic, who has looked good so far, the season is even more interesting for Darussafaka.
8. FC Barcelona Lassa
Previous ranking: 8 (-)
Record: 7-8
At home: 5-2
Away: 2-6
Offense-Defense: 72.1- ppg. 74.5 ppg.
Barcelona has started to overcome the injury problems that plagued it at the start of the season, but still has not found the rhythm needed to stabilize its place in the playoff zone. The Catalan club has had a big problem on the road, where it has suffered five defeats in a row. The strength of Coach Georgios Bartzokas’s team is its defense, it has allowed the third-fewest points and collected the second-most steals in the league. Ante Tomic’s ascent gives the Blaugrana hope that they won’t have to rely only on just Tyrese Rice anymore.
9. Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Previous ranking: 9 (-)
Record: 7-8
At home: 4-3
Away: 3-5
Offense-Defense: 82.8 ppg. 84.2 ppg.
From the beginning of the season Efes has been able to flirt with the playoff zone without yet showing the consistency needed to be more secure. Coach Velimir Perasovic’s team plays modern basketball with a lot of possessions; it is best in the league in offensive rebounds, third in assists and with the addition of Brandon Paul, who took the place of Bryce Cotton, Efes has also increased its effectiveness on offense. Defensively, however, it has been a struggle; Efes has the third-worst defense in terms of point allowed.
10. Brose Bamberg
Previous ranking: 14 (+4)
Record: 6-9
At home: 4-3
Away: 2-6
Offense-Defense: 80.3 ppg. 80.3 ppg.
Bamberg is starting to be vindicated! After a bad start, largely a result of bad luck in losing games in the details of the final minutes, the German champion has four wins in its last five games – and with margins greater than 9 points in every one of them! How likely is it for a team that is the most accurate in two- and three-point shooting to be in 11th place? Bamberg has done it! Coach Andrea Trinchieri’s players are now freer and if they keep up with the virtues of team play that brought them this far, Bamberg can go even higher despite the tough schedule that follows.
11. Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade
Previous ranking: 13 (+2)
Record: 7-8
At home: 5-2
Away: 2-6
Offense-Defense: 74.3 ppg. 74.4 ppg.
Zvezda has been hot in recent home games, managing to beat Madrid and CSKA and reminding everyone how difficult it is for any team to win in Belgrade. The Serbian champs have improved their defense even more (it’s now second-best in the EuroLeague) and lead the league in steals. Led by the reborn Ognjen Kuzmic, Coach Dejan Radonjic’s side has put itself in the playoff conversation. Poor accuracy rate in three-point shooting (worst in the competition) and a lack of bench depth are the team’s prime weaknesses.
12. Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv
Previous ranking: 7 (-5)
Record: 5-10
At home: 2-5
Away: 3-5
Offense-Defense: 79.6 ppg. 82.9 ppg.
Maccabi’s decline in the last six games is pretty substantial, as they count an equal number of defeats and have dropped to 14th place in the standings. Ainars Bagatskis took over as head coach prior to Round 15 and became the team’s fourth coach this season. Bagatskis will try to improve the team’s image as they are first in turnovers in the competition and have lost four of the last six games by double figures.
13. Zalgiris Kaunas
Previous ranking: 12 (-1)
Record: 6-9
At home: 3-4
Away: 3-5
Offense-Defense: 81.1 ppg. 82.3 ppg.
Zalgiris is a team that carries the signature of its coach quite visibly on its game. Sarunas Jasikevicius has created a very competitive unit with athletic qualities and adaptability according to the conditions of each game. The Lithuanian champs are pretty consistent and in the last nine games have defeated every teams that is below sixth place except for Unics, and this certainly shows the team’s character. Zalgiris still hasn’t achieved an overwhelming win (except perhaps for the one against Baskonia in Kaunas), but has fought in many games and may be able to break through in due time.
14. Unics Kazan
Previous ranking: 16 (+2)
Record: 6-9
At home: 4-4
Away: 2-5
Offense-Defense: 80.2 ppg. 82.1 ppg.
Unics has improved considerably thanks to a streak of three consecutive wins in the prior two weeks. Unics is in form and are trying to make up for lost ground with Keith Langford as the absolute protagonist. This season’s top scorer (with 24.1 points per game), he was the MVP of both Rounds 14 and 15 and continues to give his team hope for something better, including a playoffs push. The consistency of Quino Colom and Artsiom Parakhouski as well as the improvement of others can give Unics that extra something.
15. Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul
Previous ranking: 11 (-4)
Record: 4-11
At home: 4-5
Away: 0-6
Offense-Defense: 77.8 ppg. 85.8 ppg.
Galatasaray is still having its ups and downs and trending downward over the past month. Coach Ataman’s side still hasn’t found a rhythm after several changes in its roster. Galatasaray has only celebrated once in the last six games and they definitely have to further improve defensively (second worst defense in the league) to climb in the standings. However Blake Schilb, Sinan Guler and Alex Tyus have been in form in recent games. Galatasaray is the only team that still doesn’t have an away win.
16. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
Previous ranking: 15 (-1)
Record: 4-11
At home: 3-5
Away: 1-6
Offense-Defense: 81.0 ppg. 88.0 ppg.
Milan has the longest losing streak in the EuroLeague this season. The Italian champion has dropped eight games in a row and is now at the bottom of the standings, next to Galatasaray. Coach Jasmin Repesa’s players concede 88 points per game and this number is by far the most for a defense in the competition.