By Aris Barkas/ barkas@Eurohoops.net
And while Final Four dreams are already being made, here you can see the playoffs couples, the final standings of the regular season and also the games of the last round. As for our MVP for the week, here you go…
MVP
Mike James
He is the MVP not because he had the best individual performance, but because he made the most crucial shot. He had 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and above everything else the winning bucket in overtime for Panathinaikos Superfoods over AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milano. Without that shot on Thursday, the Greens didn’t have a chance to get the home court advantage in the 11th hour, like they finally did.
BEST FIVE
Nemanja Nedovic: He had a stellar game in Unicaja Malaga’s road overtime win over Fenerbahce Dogus with 31 points – despite 2/10 threes – and eight assists.
Mike James: He made the biggest shot for the Greens on the way to the home court advantage.
Vitaly Fridzon: He scored 20 points and missed just two shots (2/4 2p. 3/3 3p. 7/7 FT) in CSKA Moscow‘s win over Crvena Zvezda.
Paulius Jankunas: He scored 15 points and won the game for Zalgiris Kaunas on the road against Olympiacos Piraeus. Together with James’ game-winner, he pretty much decided the playoffs picture.
Anthony Randolph: He had a stellar game, doing everything perfectly. He scored 23 points and he also had five steals, four assists and five rebounds in Real Madrid‘s win over Brose Bamberg. By the numbers, he is the official MVP of the week.
Coach of the week: Sarunas Jasikevicius
His team came back from a 16 points deficit and beat Olympiacos on the road. Yes, the Reds were missing four key players – which are half their front line – still Zalgiris Kaunas proved that they will not be an easy prey in the playoffs and that was their goal this week.
Last word: What a finish!
After last week, nobody expected much from the last round of the regular season. Well, guess again! Four road wins, the games decided in overtime and Panathinaikos snatching the home court advantage from Real Madrid thanks to Zalgiris’ road win completed an exciting regular season in style.