By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
With the week having one more round, the stakes are high. After a very long time, there’s a tie on the top of the standings between CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid, while every thing still goes in the playoffs race.
Olympiacos was defeated by EA7 Emporio Armani Milano and with a 13-6 record is behind the “Army team” and the “Whites” duo who have one extra win (14-5). Fenerbahce is fourth at 12-7, three teams, Panathinaikos, Baskonia and Crvena Zvezda are tied at 11-8 and Darussafaka Dogus follows at 10-9, but as you can see in the standings it’s not safe after losing to Anadolu Efes. Still we have to go back to Panathinaikos for the MVP…
MVP
Giannis Bourousis
Euroleague Giannis freaked out against Barcelona and registered one of the best games of his season so far. Bourousis had 14 points ,11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks and no turnovers. His role is quite different compared to what he did last season with Baskonia, but he is always one the top centers of the league.
BEST FIVE
- Sergio Llull: The leader of Real Madrid had one more amazing game with 26 points, the winning buzzer beater, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, giving his team the road win over Brose Bamberg.
- Jon Diebler: He was a machine for Galatasaray in the worst defeat ever of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Diebler scored 21 points on 6/7 threes and also had 6 rebounds.
- Marko Simonovic: The captain made all the big shots for Crvena Zvezda, as the Serbs got the road win against Baskonia, as he finished the game with 23 points (6/9 2p., 4/6 3p.) and he also grabbed 5 rebounds.
- Gigi Datome: He was the top scorer of Fenerbahce in the road win against Unics Kazan with 18 points and 4 rebounds, while missing only one shot (3/3 2p., 3/4 3p., 3/3 FT).
- Giannis Bourousis: Finally he delivered what Panathinaikos was expecting.
Best losing performance: Ante Zizic
The young stud of Darussafaka Dogus – whose ΝΒΑ rights belong to Boston Celtics – couldn’t lead his team to the win, but he registered every possible career best in Euroleague with 16 points and 18 rebounds. He stayed almost for 34 minutes on the court, had three turnovers, but if he continues like that, then finally Luka Doncic will have some competition for the rising star trophy.
Coach of the day: Sarunas Jasikevicius
Even if he was ejected, Saras and Zalgiris Kaunas registered an important win against CSKA Moscow. Yes, this win may not mean much in the big picture for the winners, still it’s one more testament to their work as Jasikevicius proves that he is already a big time coach.
The upset: EA7 Emporio Armani Milano
Olympiacos had the huge chance to be tied with Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow at the top of the standings. However, this was not the case. Milano playing mainly for its pride managed to get the win over the Reds who had one of their worst quarters in the fourth period of the game. So the bottom line is simple: Never underestimate anyone in Euroleague.
Biggest win: Crvena Zvezda
Contrary to Zalgiris success, the win of Crvena Zvezda by 18 points against Baskonia is a huge step for the winners who can now touch the home court advantage. They have the tie breaker against Baskonia and with a win over Panathinaikos tomorrow by 12 or more points they will also get it against the Greeks. After the win in Vitoria, the Serbs are playoffs-bound and only if they commit suicide, they will destroy what they have build.
Last word: The Catalan curse
Being unlucky is part of sports, but what’s going on in FC Barcelona Lassa is absurd. Since the start of the season ten players have been injured – Shane Lawal, Petteri Koponen, Tyrese Rice, Juan Carlos Navarro, Pau Ribas, Justin Doellman, Victor Claver, Stratos Perperoglou, Brad Oleson, Alex Renfroe – and at this point three of them, Lawal, Ribas and Renfroe are out. If Barcelona somehow enters the playoffs, it will be a miracle.