By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
We evaluated the players – 10 being the highest score – in five different areas that can demonstrate the competitive value of each of them so far this season.
THE CRITERIA
Player’s performance: The individual performance in combination with the demands that existed before the start of the season greatly affects the decision as to who is the MVP. Certain players exceeded initial expectations and others confirmed they belong in the elite of European basketball.
Team’s course: Basketball is a team sport and if someone cannot convert their individual performances into wins for their team, then they automatically lose points in the race for the MVP.
Player’s role: How would each team perform if we automatically removed the MVP candidate from the squad? There are players who are the alpha and omega of their squad, with their key presence providing an advantage on the MVP Ladder.
Consistency: The performance of certain star players varies in big games. Some play consistently at… full throttle, without fluctuations. There are also players who specialize in making their teammates better in every game, even if they themselves don’t put up good numbers. As the season progresses, however, their value peaks.
Leadership: The biggest names in the EuroLeague have to step up when their team needs them. Their contribution in those moments – both in defense as well as in offense – can be as important as their overall numbers. This element, along with other leadership characteristics, adds points and is seriously taken into account when drafting the MVP Ladder.
Honorable mentions: Krunoslav Simon (Anadolu Efes Istanbul), Vladimir Lucic (FC Bayern Munich), Jordan Loyd (Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade), Kevin Pangos (Zenit St Petersburg)
#5 NANDO DE COLO
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Guard | June 23, 1987 | France
15,2 pts | 4,4 reb | 4,4 ast | 1,6 stl | 0 blk | 4,2 tov | 29:16 min | 18,6 PIR | 5 G
Player’s performance: 7
Team’s course: 7
Player’s role: 9
Consistency: 7
Leadership: 9
Total: 39
Contrary to what the consecutive defeats by CSKA Moscow (77-78 OT) and FC Bayern Munich (71-75) in Istanbul, and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (82-68) in Greece, might indicate, Nando De Colo is one of those players who are trying not to let the changes that were made in the offseason have a negative impact on Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.
The 2016 MVP contributes in all areas and he’s 10th in points, 13th in assists and 6th in the PIR, a position which would be higher if he wasn’t also 1st in turnovers, the most he’s ever had in his career.
#4 NIKOLA MIROTIC
FC Barcelona | Forward | February 11, 1991 | Spain
15,5 pts | 7 reb | 2,5 ast | 3 stl | 0 blk | 2,5 tov | 28:08 min | 21,5 PIR | 2 G
Player’s performance: 7
Team’s course: 9
Player’s role: 9
Consistency: 7
Leadership: 9
Total: 41
He’s only managed to play in the first two games and to lose the second, FC Barcelona is at 3-0 in his absence, but even so, Nikola Mirotic is still a benchmark in the team. It’s no coincidence that he’s the highest paid player in the EuroLeague.
This didn’t show to the maximum extent in the win over CSKA (76-66) in Barcelona and certainly not in the defeat by Zenit St Petersburg (74-70) in Russia. Nevertheless, he’s among the best in several of the main statistical categories or at least he would have been if he had reached the limit of 51% of total games played in order to be included among the qualified players.
#3 MIKE JAMES
CSKA Moscow | Guard | August 18, 1990 | USA
17,6 pts | 2,4 reb | 5,4 ast | 0,6 stl | 0 blk | 4,2 tov | 33:09 min | 16 PIR | 5 G
Player’s performance: 8
Team’s course: 7
Player’s role: 9
Consistency: 8
Leadership: 9
Total: 41
Just like CSKA, who, after the games against ALBA Berlin (88-93) in Moscow and Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (86-84 OT) in Serbia, count more defeats than wins in these first five rounds, Mike James too has definitely seen better days in the EuroLeague. Despite that, his performances remain at a high level.
Besides, his team relies a lot on him, hence the team-high 33:09 minutes of playing time. In this time, he has managed to be 4th in points, 6th in assists and 15th in the PIR, since he’s first in turnovers, with a career-high in fact.
#2 WILL CLYBURN
CSKA Moscow | Forward | May 17, 1990 | USA
19,2 pts | 3,6 reb | 1 ast | 1 stl | 0,4 blk | 1,6 tov | 29:58 min | 17,8 PIR | 5 G
Player’s performance: 9
Team’s course: 7
Player’s role: 9
Consistency: 9
Leadership: 8
Total: 42
His performances in the opening games are more than enough for one to realize that Will Clyburn is determined to make up for lost ground from the serious injury that kept him off the court for most of last season. The only buzzkill is CSKA’s three losses.
Other than that, he was the best player in the two wins over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (76-72) in Moscow and Fenerbahce (77-78 OT) in Istanbul. Overall, he’s 3rd in points and 7th in the PIR in the competition, with career-highs in both categories.
#1 SERGIO RODRIGUEZ
AX Armani Exchange Milan | Guard | June 12, 1986 | Spain
16,3 pts | 3,3 reb | 4,5 ast | 1,3 stl | 0 blk | 1,8 tov | 23:51 min | 19,8 PIR | 4 G
Player’s performance: 9
Team’s course: 9
Player’s role: 9
Consistency: 8
Leadership: 9
Total: 44
With just one defeat in four games – by Olympiacos Piraeus (86-75) in Greece – AX Armani Exchange Milan are one of the few teams that were aiming high before the start of the season that still haven’t veered off track (3-1). Sergio Rodriguez has contributed greatly to their course so far.
He may have turned 34, but the basketball he’s playing is comparable to his season as the MVP in 2014. He’s shooting better (53.8% FG) and scoring more than ever before in his career, while he’s 7th in points, 12th in assists and 5th in the PIR, again with a career-high. And all this coming off the bench in all the games.