Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 4:44 pm  |  22 responses

Euroleague Weekly Review

How about those Partizans?

by Erildas Budraitis

During the second Euroleague Top 16 week, there was a lot of action and unexpected results. Surprisingly, the league’s leaders fell down and some of them are now in big trouble.

Regal Barcelona, which was the Euroleague leader with 11 wins and no losses, lost 66-67 against Partizan “Legend Killers” Belgrade. The Spaniards will protest the result, but there’s little chance that something will be changed. Without a doubt, Partizan confirmed once again that they can beat everybody, everywhere – they were able to win against Panathinaikos Athens, Regal Barcelona, Efes Pilsen Istanbul and Olympiakos Piraeus. So what’s next?

Another sensation was recorded in Greece, where defending champions Panathinaikos lost their second-straight Top 16 game. Maroussi, the other Athens team, managed to beat the Greens, 80-78. Bad news for Panathinaikos – in the next two Euroleague tours, they will fight against Regal Barcelona, who will be hungry like never before.

But that’s not all of this week’s sensations list. Asseco Prokom Gdynia, which hardly made the Top 16, won its second-consecutive game and became the Group G leader.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Unicaja Malaga, one of the Euroleague’s favorites, was humiliated in their home court in losing by 20 points to Asseco Prokom team (50-70). The Poles now are on the top, and the Spaniards… at the bottom.

At the start of the game, Asseco Prokom showed that they came to win, scoring the first 8 points (8-0). At the 15th minute, the Poles were leading by 15 points (33:18) and it looked like it was a one-way game. Nevertheless, Unicaja found the way to come closer. At the beQyntel Woodsginning of the 3rd quarter, the difference was just 2 points (39-41). After that, the guests made the sprint 23-6 and took an easy win.

Unicaja head coach Aito Garcia Reneses didn’t deny his team needs some improvements: “Our problems began right at the beginning of the game, when we played without concentration or intensity. There are bad habits that you get in preseason and if you are not able to stop them, you have problems.” It’s easy: no concentration – no wins in the Top 16.

Qyntel Woods, the 21st pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, led Asseco Prokom with 17 points and 9 boards. Ronnie Burrell scored 16, and former University of Indianapolis star David Logan added 9.

Unicaja Berni Rodriguez scored 13 points, Omar Cook dropped 10 and made just 1-8 three-pointers.

PLAYER OF THE WEEKAlan Anderson

This week’s MVP award goes to Maccabi Tel Aviv’s forward Alan Anderson. Former Charlotte Bobcat swingman helped Maccabi beat Real Madrid and finished the game with 40 index ranking points. Anderson scored 20 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 5 assists.

Second in this week’s rankings is NBA prospect Jan Vesely from Partizan Belgrade. The young Czech was the key to victory against Regal Barcelona – he ended the game with 13 points and 15 boards (27 index ranking). Third place goes to Lior Eliyahu from Caja Laboral Vitoria, who got 25 index ranking points.

Next week there won’t be any mercy in the Group E match — there, Panathinaikos Athens will try to right a wrong and defeat Regal Barcelona. Which one of the top European clubs will celebrate the victory?

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  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    Some huge surprises this week. Wouldn’t it be crazy if the champs were knocked out in the Top 16?

  • paolo

    Vesely is a very interesting prospect. Reminds me a bit of Casspi who successfully has brought his game to the NBA. Czech is active, willing to crash boards and defend, though is matter how he can take best of his long and athletic body on offense. He is very happy to be with Partizan organization.

    Take a look at his:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQEKDA18TE

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    @Ryne….:it would be a surprise BUT not a huge one. PAO has never found form this year (for reasons a have repeatedly explained) and is “strugling” for their standards in all competitions. February is a big month for them,first title of the year (Greek Cup final at 20 february against Olympiakos) 2 game sagainst barca etc. At the same time PAO has never repeated as a European champion (only Maccabi has done it the last 20 years)and they usually come really sort the next year…having a roster full of players that are world wide stars (meaning: summer participation with their national teams ) has its negative impact…think of it as something like the Spurs.
    @Nick Gibson….:i was impressed by your Prokom pick, congratoulations(i was expecting a really open game in Belgrade, you know i am not that high on Barca)
    @Erildas…..: not a single mention on your Khimki’s humiliation from Olympiakos…?
    Player of the week is hands down Billy Keys…go and see his 5/7 three points…each one with a degree of difficulty of an “NBA play of the day”. If you think i am exagerating go and check the video,…
    I saw Olympiakos, i can say that we are on a roll, Linas says that we can win all six games in the group….

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    I saw the Partizan game,best one i’ve seen this year (suspense wise)first of all..:Mc Callebb WHOOO?????? The guy did what 95% of U.S speadsters do when faced with complicated/serious European defences D-I-S-A-P-E-A-R!!!! (stop drinking d.j…) except Vessely Partizan is a weak team (talent wise) relatively to the top-10 teams in Europe. BUT they play with faith and enthusiasm (as always) and they also have the perrenial incentive of poor Yugoslavians (no offense, its a well known truth): play well and get a good contract in a big European club (Velickovic-Real,Tripkovic, Pekovic-PAO,etc…). Seeing the legendary Sasa Gorjevic on the Belgrade stands was great…i am looking forward to next weeks game between Barca and PAO in Spain, a win or die for the European champs…until then i will enjoy the game between MAROUSI and Olympiakos for the greek league on Sunday. A happy weekend to everybody!!!!

  • http://Www.lkz.ch/basket Darksaber

    MAROUSSIIIII. Hehe, anytime Jasicabbages loses, i feel good inside.

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    @Darksaber….:Yasikevicious is the best player in Europe of the last decade, no mater how you feel. A true bball genious. I also do not like his arrogance but truth is that there are only very few players that achieved his level of bball briliance (Bodiroga,Dirk,Manu and that’s it).The best pure point guard in the last 15 years (NBA included).

  • http://slamonline.com d.j.

    wow this dimitris dude seriously needs to be banned from commenting here… partizan is a weak team ? im not gonna even argue this but they r so weak that they get all up in that greek ass every weekend right ? and Yugoslavians have no offense ? get educated dude… which current European country has the most euro championships (8) ? what about fiba world championships (5) ? what about Olympic medals (6)? which country had the most foreign players in the NBA in the 90′s and well in the 2000′s ? greece is far down that list… ok im done here… partizan in the elite 8 with a million euro budget… and pao head coach obradovic is surprise surprise ??? i think serbian haha… and google radivoj korac and dalipagic too while ur searching for no offence on there

  • kibic

    DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS is probably life banned member of “SpursTalk” forum who thinks european basketball begin in 1987. But it was not.

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    Serbs are good but not AS GOOD AS Greeks….this is according to FIBA. Do your homework kids….

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    And Drazen is 2 times better than any Serb player EVER easily….the same goes for GALIS and KUKOC.

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)
  • who are you

    ur right, drazen is, but what has that got to do with greeks? i can name at least 15 serbian players throughout history better than any greek player.

    greece has NEVER won a world championship and has never won an olympic medal unlike the aforementioned country. so PIPE DOWN, and stop making brainless comments.

  • al

    Diamantidis, PAO is done, no way they can beat Barca, sorry.
    You love yours too much to see reality. Time to change in Athens

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    @al…:i saw last night game against Marousi (i am an Olympiakos supporter) ,Marousi won proving that they are a real team. That means that Panathinaikos lost from a team they underestimated (partizan) and one(marousi) that won against the hottest team in Euroleague play at the moment(Olympiakos). I don’t think that PAO is going to pass the group, i just wanna say that the fact that they lost two games against really good teams doesn’t mean that they are 100% over….

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    @d.j,kibic,who are you,and the rest of the “-ic” S*rbian family….: according to the biggest and most comprehensive ever vote for the top 100 players of all time (non NBA), the only guys over GALIS were: Belov,Drazen,Sabonis,Cosic and Kukoc. Not one Serb.I repeat NOT ONE SERB. Sorry kids. Facts (as always). I repeat: Serbs are good former Y*gosl*via used to be great (but not at the level of former US*R). BUT at the last decade Greeks and Spaniards are simply better.Do your homework next time, you are talking with somebody that saw Meneghin at his prime, enough said. (you are lucky that almost nobody here has any idea of the history of European bball).

  • MVP_032

    @ DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS

    I don’t know why you don’t like Serbian players so much and “PARTIZAN” but that is not really important thing. The fact is that PARTIZAN won game against PAO (in greece), beat R. Barcelona in Belgrade, beat Olimpyiakos in qualifications (unicaja, efes , lyetus ,…) and he is now in top 16, club with smallest budget, but most important is that he have best fans in europe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlpYcI6kiwk.
    In PAO you have Serbian coach, and one Serbian player and one ex Partizan player, in OLimp. you have one Serbian player, in Marousi you have Serbian player, in Aris two Serbian players…
    And in NBA: Divac,Peja,Radman,Krstic,Pavlovic,Rebraca,Jaric,Milicic…
    And famous 2002 world championship? i dont know let others decide.
    In few weeks Partizan vs. PAO in Belgrade until then greetings from Serbia.

  • http://slamonline.com d.j.

    hey what exactly did Greece win last decade remind me again ? dumass lol… Indianapolis in 02, and euro last year behind Spain only… I admit it was a poor decade for Serbia this past one but we still did better than olive oil ass rubbing Greeks… Greece has been our (Serbia s) regular customer for years now, every time we need to boost our confidence we play yall for an easy W… Serbia has the best players outside of the NBA and its a fact any1 with a little basketball knowledge knows this, we dont need some tainted FIBA dumb pools showing us that ( that u call facts haha ) we dont belong, that organization is almost a political one anyways always hiding behind basketball.. Serbia is ranked behind Greece in those pools current rankings but if we played yall you would easily lose… O and @ MVP good facts my dude…

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    BLAH,BLAH,BLAH…..for facts though,you can check my previous comments….by the way, last time we played we beat won…(this summer, i was there). School’s out kids!!!!

  • cantona

    djordjevic > gallis anytime
    danilovic > gallis
    dalipagic > gallis
    kicanovic > gallis
    bodiroga > gallis

    one first team, we don’t need any subs

  • http://www.euroleague.net/competition/all-decade/main-page/i/65216/4259/euroleague-all-decade-candidate-dimitris-diamantidis?lang=en&itemid=65216&mid=4259&tabid=1143&itemname=EUROLEAGU DIMITRIS DIAMANTIDIS(click on my name)

    @cantona…..:this was the best comment of em’ all !!! just thinking any of these guys trying to chase GALIS (especially slowfooted Dejan) trully hilarious, like Calderon chasing Chis Paul, hilarious!!!! Thanks for this, you made my day (seriously) !!!!!!

  • cantona

    i guess dejan is the only player from the list you know how does he look. you’re 18-20 year old noob who compares physical attributs of players. well, dude, you are wrong. gallis was good, very good, among the best of his time, but look at the games and defences at the time… he was scoring too much easy points. nowdays, it’s impossible.

  • zwerko

    “Slowfooted Dejan” – you just discredited yourself for all eternity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQEzmPKdqt4

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