By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
This week we have Manuel Moreno, the former long-time EuroLeague writer for Sport newspaper in Spain; Matjaz Smodis, three-time EuroLeague champion and Euroleague Basketball Legend; Massimo Oriani of Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport; Bugra Uzar, Chief Editor, Eurohoops Turkey; and Frankie Sachs, Editor at Euroleague.net.
1. As we reach midseason, which player do you think will become MVP at the end of the season?
Manuel Moreno
I don’t see any room for surprises on the MVP front because the arrival of Luka Doncic to the elite cannot be considered a surprise. My vote is for him. Even if it’s only his second season as an important player on his team, even if he’s only 18, the role he acquired due to Sergio Llull’s injury seems like it will last at the same level as it did in the first 14 games. I think he will be able to handle the pressure of players like MVP specialist Nando De Colo and Alexey Shved, his followers on the PIR rankings. I am sure that other well-known names like Vassilis Spanoulis will also shine in decisive moments, but Doncic is more versatile: he can score, rebound and dish assists, plus he has that pinch of madness that only youth can provide, and he just knows what his limits are. His current 25.1 PIR average and what he still has to contribute will make him the EuroLeague’s youngest MVP.
Matjaz Smodis
It’s always a tough call to name an MVP midway through the season and this year is no exception. Nando De Colo of CSKA is my favorite right now as the go-to guy on the team tied for the best record in the league. He has big numbers, a history of clutch performances and experience too, so De Colo is on pace for what would be his second EuroLeague MVP. However our Slovenian sensation, Luka Doncic leads the pack right behind De Colo. The season is still long and if Real Madrid picks up the pace, I can see Doncic making a push and winning that prestigious reward in the end.
Massimo Oriani
Luka Doncic. I’ve never seen in the last 10 years (I don’t want to go too far back as we’d run into impossible comparisons with immortals like Drazen Petrovic) an 18-year-old do the things the Real Madrid guard does on a regular basis on the basketball floor at such a high level. We’re talking about facing the best Europe has to offer week after week and not being intimidated or afraid (maybe even a bit too much like the ejection against Valencia has shown). He’s the second-best scorer behind Shved and he’s number one in index rating. If Real has stayed afloat, even better, in the top eight, with all the injuries they have had, the reason is very simple: Luka Doncic.
Bugra Uzar
This season, we are seeing a lot of great performances from many important players in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. But to me, one of them stands out a bit more. That player is Nando De Colo from CSKA Moscow. It’s no surprise, but the French star is carrying his team with his unique talent. He is one of the most unstoppable players in Europe. De Colo plays like he can score whenever he wants and also he is not a selfish player because he likes to create for his teammates. Moreover, he does not hesitate to take responsibility at critical moments. In short, he is a true leader in every respect. CSKA’s place in the standings is another factor that makes De Colo my MVP.
Frankie Sachs
There are many factors that go into consideration when voting for the MVP of a league, but to sum it up would be the player that has contributed the most to making his team a championship contender. So if I had three votes, third-place would go to Paulius Jankunas, who is the team leader and top performer on a Zalgiris team that is surpassing all expectations. For second-place, I would choose Nick Calathes of Panathinaikos, who – despite missing two games – has helped turn the Greens into a legitimate force. But no player has done as much for his team as Luka Doncic. The Real Madrid injury list is ridiculously long, but the wunderkid makes us all forget about what is missing as he carries the team. His season meets every definition of valuable.
2. Which team is your favorite to win the title in Belgrade next spring?
Manuel Moreno
My bet is on Fenerbahce, despite its inconsistency over the first half of the season. But that’s nothing that should worry a Zeljko Obradovic team, because he knows when to step on the gas for real better than anyone, and he and his players and the pressure he exerts over them can handle some relaxation. Even if the team is 9-5, I think that the defending champs will get to Belgrade with the best chances to win again. We must not forget that this team will have more fans than anyone else in the Serbian capital if we discard the unlikely presence of Crvena Zvezda. The exciting regular season could serve up an unexpected matchup in the playoffs, but I think that their rivals in the Final Four will probably be CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid and Olympiacos or Panathinaikos. However, when push comes to shove, I think the most solid squad is Zeljko’s Fenerbahce.
Matjaz Smodis
My favorite is always CSKA 🙂 But it’s not only because I played there for so long and won two titles! CSKA is tied for first place right now and has played the best basketball in the league. The team is experienced as a Final Four regular and, after adding several new important pieces over the summer, like Sergio Rodriguez, Will Clyburn and Othello Hunter, should be even better in May than it is today. With a great roster, an elite coach and a well-run organization, CSKA is a natural choice to win it all, again.
Massimo Oriani
I still think Fenerbahce is the team to beat. They have had some ups and downs, just like last year, when after 14 games they had an identical 9-5 record. Coach Obradovic knows when to put the pedal to the metal and when it’s time not to push too hard. It’s a marathon, not a sprint with the new calendar of 30 regular season games, what matters is to arrive in April in top shape. Of course, CSKA and Olympiacos remain very dangerous contenders, as will Real once they get all their injured players back. There’s a good chance we might see in Belgrade the same Final Four teams that we had in Istanbul last May.
Bugra Uzar
CSKA is one step ahead of its rivals in terms of the championship, based on their performances so far this season. They lost a big player in Milos Teodosic but they acquired another really great player, Sergio Rodriguez. There is also Will Clyburn, who joined the team in the summer, raised his level and has performed great so far. Plus, they have two of the best players in the EuroLeague – De Colo and Kyle Hines, which makes them even bigger favorites. Of course, after I see the latest champions, Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul, and Real Madrid play with their full squads, I might change my mind because both teams have had to play without their important players.
Frankie Sachs
I believe CSKA Moscow has played the best basketball so far this season and I also firmly believe that you should never underestimate the heart of a champion. But there are other champions than just the reigning champion. Olympiacos Piraeus is tied for the best record in the competition and is playing the best defense. It played winning basketball without its leader, Vassilis Spanoulis, and now he’s back, too. The Reds are as deep as any team in the league, have a plethora of offensive options and the injuries have allowed more players to find their stride. Moreover, by missing the start of the season, perhaps Spanoulis will be fresher in May than otherwise. Olympiacos may not be the sexy pick, but it has reached the championship game in four of the last six seasons and has the tools to get there again.
3. Which player has surprised you most in the first half of the season?
Manuel Moreno
It’s not easy to stand out in a competition the level of the EuroLeague, both at the team and individual levels. Only the well-known and established ones can achieve that, and we all know who they are. Among surprises I would point at Zalgiris Kaunas as a team – currently fifth with nine wins – and its player Kevin Pangos as the product of the philosophy imposed by Saras Jasikevicius. Pangos grew up at Gonzaga University and played in the Spanish League with Gran Canaria, but he didn’t shine properly until this season, at 24 years old. His 11.9 points (with a 46.7% on two-point shots and 50% on threes) and his 5.5 assists made him an unexpected Zalgiris leader and a nightmare for opposing defenses. And he’s also a surprise in this season’s EuroLeague. A player to follow.
Matjaz Smodis
For me the surprise is Kevin Pangos, who is playing great under Sarunas Jaskevicius. I didn’t expect Zalgiris to be playing so well, though I imagine that only a few did. Pangos is definitely the main reason why. He is not the only player on the team enjoying a breakout season, however, Pangos is on the floor more than any Zalgiris player and is getting it done as a passer, penetrator and shooter. Fourteen games is no small number, but the real test will be to see if Pangos can continue at this level when he faces teams a second time. If he can, it will be a special season for him and Zalgiris.
Massimo Oriani
Kevin Pangos is not a name that is mentioned often enough. He definitely benefits from playing in a fantastic system like the one that Saras Jasikevicius has created in Kaunas, but one does what he is asked to do and Kevin is doing exactly that. He’s the maestro that directs the orchestra with the musical score provided by Saras. Now he will have some help with the arrival of Beno Udrih at his side, giving Zalgiris the chance to elevate even more its already stunning (maybe not so much, we must give credit to Jasikevicius and his players rather than be shocked by the fact that they are ahead of teams with much bigger budgets) results. Pangos is not a flashy player, but he fits the role perfectly.
Bugra Uzar
AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan may not have performed well so far, but this is certainly not Arturas Gudaitis‘s fault. Gudaitis makes a great effort to do useful things for his team whenever he is on the court and he has been very successful in doing this. The young Lithuanian star, who joined the team in the summer, has evolved considerably in almost every aspect of his game. He is a very good finisher, a solid rebounder, a reliable rim defender and the future looks very bright for him. He plays only 20 minutes per game, but he has the highest index ranking average in his team, so that speaks for itself.
Frankie Sachs
A glimpse at the list of league leaders features many familiar names and faces. For the most part, it’s players who have been there before or young players for whom greatness was predicted. Vladimir Stimac stands out from that list. Though he was once a superb young talent, Stimac is now 30 years old and playing for his fifth EuroLeague team. But in no way is Stimac playing like a journeyman; he is enjoying the best season of his career by far. Stimac is averaging more than 5 points per game more than his previous career high and his 7.9 rebounds per game lead the league. Though it’s not uncommon for centers to play their best basketball at this age, for me seeing Stimac as one of the most-productive players in the league this season was unexpected.
Source: Euroleague