By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
It’s not an easy job, especially after a preseason with EuroLeague teams having so many absences due to the Eurobasket, but at least on paper some teams already look more than good. We evaluated the 18 teams on a scale from 1 to 10 in five different areas that can reveal the dynamic of each at the start of the year. Let’s start by reviewing those criteria.
THE CRITERIA
Quality of the roster: What is evaluated here is the talent of all the players on the roster of every team and their depth at every position.
Chemistry: The big and fancy names do not always guarantee a good team. Even though it’s very early and the teams are still trying to create their core, the chemistry that the players have between them is very important, as is the level of familiarity with their coach.
Status: The name and history of a team do not play basketball, but in crucial games sometimes the “weight” of the jersey can determine the outcome.
Transfer moves: In this particular category we evaluate the moves that were made in the transfer market and estimate the weakening or strengthening of a team.
How far they will go: Our assessment regarding each team’s course. The teams that are big favorites to get in the Final Four and win the title are graded with a 9, the teams that aim for an appearance in the big event and have good chances of making it are graded with an 8, and the teams whose big goal is to reach the playoffs with a 7, the teams that are expected to have a decent run with a 6, and those that are out of the running for qualification early on are graded with a 5.
Of course, especially the evaluation in this last criterion is the first that will change in many cases during the season and that’s why at the start of the season a number of teams start from the same spot and we have a number of ties.
#18-16 ALBA BERLIN
Quality of the roster: 6
Chemistry: 8
Status: 5
Transfer moves: 6
How far they will go: 5
Total: 30
ALBA Berlin is the EuroLeague team that made the fewest changes in the offseason. The departure of Oscar da Silva stands out in the whole give-and-take, but the bottom line is that the core remained untouched. Is this what Coach Israel Gonzalez was looking for aiming for a more stable and dignified path? High-level competition does not leave much room for high ambitions…
#18-16 ZALGIRIS KAUNAS
Quality of the roster: 6
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfer moves: 6
How far they will go: 5
Total: 30
The motto “for the love of the game” will always drive a team like Zalgiris Kaunas from a country like Lithuania where basketball means so much. Coach Kazys Maksvytis, who replaced Jure Zdovc, hopes his players fully embrace it, especially since he has a lot of youth to work with on the roster. The presence of Ignas Brazdeikis stands out against the mass departures of players such as Arturas Milaknis, Josh Nebo, and Joffrey Lauvergne, while Paulius Jankunas retired.
#18-16 LDLC ASVEL VILLEURBANNE
Quality of the roster: 6
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfer moves: 6
How far they will go: 5
Total: 30
One could say that ASVEL changed a lot, with Chris Jones and Eli Okombo being the most significant departures, as it looks to improve on last season’s 8-20. With signings like Nando De Colo and Joffrey Lauvergne, the club now has the experience to be better. Overall, though, Coach TJ Parker has a tough job to do.
#15 CAZOO BASKONIA VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Quality of the roster: 6
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfer moves: 6
How far they will go: 6
Total: 31
Baskonia has always been a team that loves to destroy predictions, but maybe things this season are much more obvious. Coach Joan Penarroya replaced Neven Spahja and his roster lost the likes of Wade Baldwin, Alec Peters, Jason Granger, and Simone Fontecchio. They have been replaced with players from the Spanish market (Dani Diez), the EuroCup (Maik Kotsar, Darius Thompson), and even from the NBA (Marcus Howard), but most of them are rookies in the EuroLeague.
#14 CRVENA ZVEZDA BELGRADE
Quality of the roster: 7
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfer moves: 6
How far they will go: 6
Total: 32
Although much has changed, the doctrine of “too hard to die” is expected to characterize Zvezda again. Rookie coach Vlada Jovanovic cannot count like his predecessor Dejan Radonjic on players such as Nate Walters, Austin Hollins and above all Nikola Kalinic, however, new signings John Holland, Hassan Martin, Nemanja Nedovic, Filip Petrusev, and Miroslav Radulica, among others, create a unit that every opponent must treat with respect.
#13 VALENCIA BASKET
Quality of the roster: 7
Chemistry: 8
Status: 6
Transfer moves: 6
How far they will go: 6
Total: 33
Valencia is back again – until it leaves for the EuroCup once more? – and once again the club has a project that is certainly intriguing. The changes within the roster were minimal. Coach Alex Mubru will sit on the bench instead of Coach Penarroya, Chris Jones was added and the duo of Mike Tobey and Louis Labeyrie departed. Pretty much the rest of the roster remains the same with key figures like Klemen Prepelic, Sam Van Rossom, Martin Hermansson and, above all, Bojan Dubljevic remaining.
#12 PARTIZAN BELGRADE
Quality of the roster: 7
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfer moves: 8
How far they will go: 6
Total: 34
After eight years, the EuroLeague welcomes back Partizan and after just two seasons, Zeljko Obradovic. What will the most successful coach in the history of the EuroLeague be able to present on the court? The core of Kevin Punter, Zach LeDay, and Mathias Lessort among others was strengthened with players like James Nunnally and Ioannis Papapetrou, so there’s obvious potential.
#11 PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS
Quality of the roster: 7
Chemistry: 7
Status: 7
Transfer moves: 8
How far they will go: 6
Total: 35
Panathinaikos is one of the teams that have to cover the longest distances on the way back to a competitive role. At least the roster has changed, from Dejan Radonjic on the bench to Paris Lee, Marius Grigonis, Nate Walters, Derrick Williams, Arturas Gudaitis, and Mateusz Ponitka who took the spots of Nemanja Nedovic, Daryl Macon, Ioannis Papapetrou, Okaro White and Howard Saint-Ross, and in doing so have lent a tone of optimism to the whole venture.
#10-9 VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA
Quality of the roster: 8
Chemistry: 8
Status: 6
Transfer moves: 7
How far they will go: 7
Total: 36
Winning the EuroCup paved the way for Virtus to return to the EuroLeague for the first time since 2008, and now “Basket City” has a representative in Europe’s top competition again. And what a representative! The likes of Milos Teodosic, Marco Belinelli, Toko Sengelia, and Daniel Hackett carry on from last year, Jordan Mickey and Iffe Lundberg among others have stepped in to help out, all under the guidance of Sergio Scariolo. The rest must be proven on the floor.