By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Euroleague’s sharp shooters went wild in the third week of action, a tone of records were set and when the dust settled five teams were still perfect. Real Madrid in Group A, CSKA Moscow and Unicaja in Group B, Barcelona in Group C and Olympiacos in Group D have a 3-0 record. On the contrary Dinamo Sassari in Group A, Cedevita Zagreb and Alba Berlin in Group B, Turow in Group C and Valencia in Group D are still at 0-3. So here’s what happened on Thursday and Friday, starting by our awards.
MVP
Vasilis Spanoulis: A road win over Neptunas is not such a big deal – even if Olympiacos had to fight in overtime in order to get it – but this is about Spanoulis. He finished the game with a personal best with 34 points on 11/21 shots. He also had 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 4 turnovers and also he became the 5th all time scored in the history of the league with a total of 2450 career points. You need more?
Best five
- Vasilis Spanoulis: A career night, even if Olympiacos should have got the win at Klaipeda without flirting with disaster.
- A.J.Slaughter: When he signed with Panathinaikos he was not the name the Green fans expected to hear. However, his game against Fenerbahce/ Ulker was just spectacular. In 23 minutes of action he had 23 points on 7/10 three pointers. He also had 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 turnovers, stealing the show from the 1000 assists milestone of 3D.
- Jaycee Carroll: Yes, Real was expected to win, but his numbers are just mind-boggling. He need just 21 minutes in order to score 32 points on 10/14 shots. He was a real machine.
- Brian Randle: The champs needed a big win and they got it in Berlin with the American forward proving that Pargo will not have to fight alone. He had 25 points, missing just one shot (8/9) and one free throw (6/7), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks and one turnover.
- Boban Marjanovic: After a mediocre game last week he was back in form, dominating the paint with 16 points on 6/8 shots, 9 rebounds and also 3 assists with only one turnover in 31 minutes of action.
Best losing performance: Vladimir Micov
His teammate, Zoran Erceg had 24 points, but Micov, who scored 20, gets an extra point for us, because he didn’t hide from a big shot. He took it, but missed it and Laboral Kutxa edged Galatasaray (91-90). Still, in order to make big shots, you first have to attempt them and Micov did it.
Biggest win:Panathinaikos
On the night of Zeljko Obradovic‘s second return to OAKA as an opponent, nobody was putting his money on Panathinaikos with ease. The modest best case scenario for the hosts was a good, close game and even a narrow defeat would have been acceptable. But after a 31-19 first quarter start, it was clear that this game was going to be exceptional. If the Greens needed a big win in order to finally escape Zoc’s shadow – even if his spot in the club’s lore will never be denied – that was the one, with 91-73 being the final score.
The upset:Zalgiris Kaunas
After a summer of uncertainty, some financial issues and an American point guard, Maalik Wayns, leaving just before the start of the Euroleague season, nobody expected Zalgiris to be a fearsome team in Euroleague, specially on the road. Well, never underestimate Lithuanians when it comes to basketball, as it was proven in Istanbul against the talented, but still raw Anadolu Efes of Dusan Ivkovic. Edgaras Ulanovas, the 22 years old player who led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds, just missed the cut.
The underachiever: Olympiacos – CSKA Moscow
Yes both teams got the win, but they only provided minutes of effective basketball. It’s important to win when you are playing bad, but we expect more from contenders. The same applies to an extent to one more unbeaten team, Unicaja Malaga, which prevailed over Limoges, after an ugly game.
The disappointment: Valencia
Well, Valencia is not the last team which will lose at Belgrade, but a 0-3 start for the Spaniards who in theory were the main rivals of Olympiacos for the top of the group D was not expected. The return of Dubljevic will help, but something is missing from Valencia which clearly at this point is not – or at least not yet – equal to last season’s team.
In trouble: Bayern Munich
Despite having the same record with EA7 Milano, the Germans are already in trouble in Group C after losing at home. The details are expected to decide the final standings of this group and Bayern needs at least a road win now – and not vs Turow – in order to cover the lost ground.
The survivors: Laboral Kutxa
With D.J.White and Orlando Johnson being spectators as they are getting ready to leave the team, somehow coach Crespi and his players found the way to get the win over Galatasaray. Laboral Kutxa’s roster is still a work in progress but if you combine a coach who knows about hardship and “character Baskonia” , this is what you get, even among rumors of Thomas Heurtel being offered again to Turkish clubs.
Last word: An icon for all
When you are in Zagreb, you can’t but pay respect to Drazen Petrovic. Even if you are Serbian, like Milos Teodosic who is leaning on the base of the Croatian legend’s statue. The “Mozzart” of basketball is unifying symbol of a globally beloved sport and even his heirs who didn’t have the chance to see him play are touched by his legacy.
Euroleague 2014-2015 – 3rd Day
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Unicaja Malaga |
Limoges |
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FC Bayern |
EA7 Milano |
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Neptunas |
Olympiacos |
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Laboral Kutxa |
Galatasaray MP |
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Cedevita Zagreb |
CSKA Moscow |
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F.C. Barcelona |
PGE Turow |
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Valencia |
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Panathinaikos |
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Alba Berlin |
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Zalgiris |
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UNICS Kazan |
Banco di Sardegna Sassari |
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Nizhny Novgorod |