By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
It’s not easy to make predictions on a competition of top quality, and that’s the case with this season’s 7DAYS EuroCup.
Most of the first ten teams of the initial EuroCup Power Ranking are performing as expected. Still, clubs like Promitheas Patras and Galatasaray Doga Sigorta are already exceeding expectations. The same can be said to a lesser extent for Germani Brescia Leonessa and, of course, Asseco Arka Gydnia.
Meanwhile Buducnost and Cedevita Olimpija, the only teams without a win yet, are gravely underperforming, to say the least, and the jury is still out on one of the main contenders, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar.
1.Unicaja Malaga (+1) (4-1)
There’s no surprise here. Unicaja Malaga, last season’s runner-up, is performing as expected and lost only one game, by three points on the road in Oldenburg. Things are going as programmed for the club. So far, so good.
2.Partizan NIS Belgrade (+3) (5-0)
The improvement of Partizan continues as the Serbs are the only unbeaten team in the competition and have now added former EuroCup champion James Bell. Can they go all the way? That’s the question that should be following them for the rest of the season.
3. UNICS Kazan (+1) (4-1)
UNICS has a solid start in the EuroCup but also has to resolve its share of roster issues. And while Errick McCollum‘s big shot against Darussafaka kept their record at 4-1, it’s evident that the team needs improvement, and that’s why forward Jamil Wilson was added. Still, they remain in the EuroCup’s upper echelon.
4. Segafredo Virtus Bologna (+1) (4-1)
Teodosic’ big shot in the game against Monaco is more proof that this team is for real. They are improving day by day, and they have all the tools to create something special for the Italian “basket city”.
5. Promitheas Patras (+6) (4-1)
Promitheas has made a six-spot jump on their way to this top five for a good reason. Despite a lack of tradition, the team has won three road games and has also beaten Virtus Bologna at home. The debut of the Greeks in the EuroCup is as good as it gets.
6. Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar (-5) (2-3)
We expected better from Lokomotiv, and they have the roster to achieve it, but you can’t overlook the fact that they have lost three out of their first five games. They were the top team in the initial power rankings, they are still among the favorites, but they have to step up.
7. Galatasaray Doga Sigorta Istanbul (+6) (4-1)
Galatasaray is playing the way they were expected from last season, and they have an excellent 4-1 record to prove it. Like Promitheas, Galatasaray has also made a six-spot jump forward. The good news for them is that they have only lost to Unicaja on the road so far.
8. AS Monaco (-2) (3-2)
They are the only team that beat Promitheas, but they also lost to Bologna and Maccabi Rishon LeZion. On paper they remain, contenders, still failing to Maccabi is a troubling sign.
9. Umana Reyer Venice (-) (3-2)
They remain on the same spot they had in our initial power rankings, and they are performing as expected. They are Top 16 material, and the question remains if they can do something more.