By John Rammas/ info@eurohoops.net
As always, status, team dynamics, form and the significance of results were taken into consideration for ranking the 16 teams.
16. Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Previous ranking: 15 (-1)
Record: 6-19
At home: 4-9
Away: 2-10
Offense-defense: 76.9 ppg.-83.4 ppg.
With seven defeats in its last eight games, Anadolu Efes Istanbul is stuck in last place and it will be difficult to get unstuck. Despite the addition of Sonny Weems, the team’s offense remains one of the worst (second worst), as does its defense (third worst), and Efes also has the worst points difference (-159). Despite all this, with a schedule that includes three games against top-eight teams (vs. Khimki Moscow Region in Round 27, at Olympiacos Piraeus in Round 28 and at Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz in Round 30), Efes‘s impact on the competition can still be meaningful.
15. FC Barcelona Lassa
Previous ranking: 11 (-4)
Record: 8-17
At home: 7-6
Away: 1-11
Offense-defense: 80.4 ppg.-79.8 ppg.
The loss to AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan was the last game for FC Barcelona Lassa under the instructions of Sito Alonso, but changing coaches (Svetislav Pesic returned) didn’t change the results either. The 88-54 win over Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade in Round 25 was Barca’s first after five consecutive defeats, which were enough to keep them pinned at second-to-last place since Round 22. At the same time, it was the seventh win in 13 home games, which is completely at odds with Barcelona’s away record, the worst in the entire competition with only one win (65-79 at Khimki in Round 15).