By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
As always, status, team dynamics, form and the significance of results were taken into consideration for ranking the 16 teams.
16. BUDUCNOST VOLI PODGORICA
Previous ranking: 16 (-)
Record: 0-4
At home: 0-2
Away: 0-2
Offense-Defense: 64.3 ppg.-80.0 ppg.
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica returned to the EuroLeague for the first time since 2003, but still has not found a return to victories in the competition. Paradoxically, defense is not the team’s biggest problem (third best). The offense scoring only 64.3 points (39.2% in field goals) is the worst by far – 11 points behind the next in line – as is its point differential of -15.7 points, though the most-recent defeat by Real Madrid, 89-55 in Spain, had a lot to do with this. Edwin Jackson (10.8 ppg.), Nemanja Gordic (10.5 ppg., 2.3 apg.) and Earl Clark (10.3 ppg., 4.0 rpg.), except for their last performance of -13 PIR points, stand out in the pursuit for the squad’s first win since a 91-75 victory over Siena in 2002.
15. DARUSSAFAKA TEKFEN ISTANBUL
Previous ranking: 14 (-1)
Record: 1-3
At home: 1-1
Away: 0-2
Offense-Defense: 77.5 ppg.-82.5 ppg.
Darussafaka fought hard in the last two rounds against CSKA Moscow in Russia and FC Barcelona Lassa in Istanbul, but despite that, its win over Buducnost remains the only one. The balance in terms of scorers is not reflected in the overall outcome (third worst offense) and is in contrast with their defense (eight worst). Michael Eric (12.5 ppg., third best rebounder with 8.0 per game and fourth best shot blocker with 1.3) stands out in the effort to turn around the situation with help from Stanton Kidd (12.3 ppg., 2.5 rpg.), Ray McCallum (10.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 3.8 apg.) and Zanis Peiners (9.0 ppg.).