By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
EuroLeague Regular Season Round 7 is in the books with FC Barcelona and AX Armani Exchange Milan leading the 18-team pack. Both sides are 6-1 to start the 2019-20 campaign, four more teams follow at 5-2 including streaking Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv that produced our MVP.
Eurohoops MVP
John DiBartolomeo
Make it five straight victories for Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv. John DiBartolomeo posted a career-best and game-high 24 PIR against ALBA Berlin with 19 points and three steals for two more career-highs in Europe’s premier competition. A pair of dimes and a couple of rebounds added on his impressive outing. The 28-year-old guard went into Round 7 with 26 PIR overall, almost doubled his tally on Thursday to earn our award.
Eurohoops Best Five
1. Shane Larkin: From strength to strength in Greece, this time around the American point guard’s 24-6-3 line proved enough for the win.
2. John DiBartolomeo: His breakout game was just what Giannis Sfairopoulos needed.
3. Cory Higgins: Barca is back on track with the 2-time EuroLeague champion banking five threes and pouring a season-high 27 points.
4. Derrick Williams: Three consecutive losses were enough for Fenerbahce Beko, especially with the dynamic forward finishing with 19 points in 24:44.
5. Devin Booker: Khimki improved to 5-2 by overcoming Zenit Saint-Petersburg with the 28-year-old American big filling up his stat sheet by posting 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block on the road.
Coach of the week: Zvezdan Mitrovic
Four wins in as many home games is a strong statement that makes Zvezdan Mitrovic proud. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has dropped all of its road games so far, but the Astroballe pushes Tony Parker’s club to a 4-3 start. Olympiacos, Panathinaikos OPAP, KIROLBET Baskonia and CSKA Moscow this week drew defeat as the visiting side opposite to the French team.
The big issue: CSKA drops second game after Clyburn’s injury
From Mitrovic and ASVEL to the losing side of Friday’s contest. Since Will Clyburn was sidelined, CSKA Moscow is 1-2, down to an overall 5-2 W-L record. Missing the EuroLeague Final Four MVP is certainly a big loss, but Dimitrios Itoudis’ side is struggling to maintain its winning ways and find the way to overcome Clyburn’s long-term absence.