EuroLeague: The Top 3 small forwards

01/Jan/18 20:58 January 3, 2018

Aris Barkas

01/Jan/18 20:58

Eurohoops.net

The end of the first phase! The 16 teams are exactly halfway through the season and Eurohoops singled out and presents here the EuroLeague’s big protagonists, based on specific criteria.

By Giorgos Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net

The sample from this season is now large enough: 15 rounds, 120 clashes and thousands of minutes of basketball, with the big protagonists often outdoing themselves.

Eurohoops follows up on a tradition that began last season and presents the Top 3 players in every position for the first half of the season. The criteria that shaped the final selection are the following:

  • Performance: A player’s performance and presence on the court in at least 10 games! His contribution in the different statistical categories and the degree to which he met the demands in terms of what was expected of him.
  • Role: How important is this player in the overall picture of the whole? How crucial is his role for the team, and to what extent can it remain at the same level without him?
  • Team’s course: It’s not enough for a player to have played well. He has to have guided his team on a decent course, according to the expectations that existed before the start of the season.
  • Quality: There are some players who belong to the so-called “top shelf,” with their value and quality seriously taken into account.

Subjective view: As is always the case in such matters, the subjective element has the final say. Besides, what could be better than conversations and arguments about basketball?

It’s the small forwards’ turn, among whom one comes across important “multi-tools” who play a key role in their teams and contribute in different areas of the game.

1. Will Clyburn

Team: CSKA Moscow

Stats: 12.7 points, 6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 14.7 PIR

Age: 27

Will Clyburn was transferred to CSKA Moscow from Darussafaka and right away proved that he has all it takes to shine in a top club. His start was more than impressive and despite the fact there was a small slump in his performance, he remains the top forward in the EuroLeague!

Who else in this position can grab a rebound (6), run the court, create plays for himself and execute from the perimeter with such ease? The American has the body and athletic qualities that are a perfect match for modern basketball and at the same time provide Dimitris Itoudis with the opportunity to attack in different ways with him on the court.

Clyburn grabs rebounds like a center, scores 12.7 points per game (41.3% 3p), and with his long limbs makes the difference in offense and defense coming from the bench. Never in the past did CSKA have a player with this set of characteristics!

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