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Written by Alleks
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Thursday, 06 November 2008 |
 Montepaschi Siena - Regal FC BarcelonaMATCH PREVIEWA high-profile showdown between two Euroleague powerhouses will take place in Siena, Italy, where Montepaschi hosts Regal FC Barcelona on Thursday evening. Both teams are tied for first place in Group B with 2-0 records, so the winner in this game will take a major step forwards to become a top-seeded team in the Top 16 Draw. Montepaschi and Regal FCB are also tied for first place in the respective domestic competitions, showing great form, so expect nothing but a stellar game in Siena. Barcelona forward Ersan Ilyasova has become the Euroleague October MVP, after averaging 16 points and 9 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game. And the visitors should be at full strength, since Fran Vazquez, who sat out this weekend’s Spanish League game with gastric problems, is expected to play against Montepaschi, offering intensity, shooting range and blocked shots. Former All-Euroleague center David Andersen, defensive ace Jordi Trias and big man Daniel Santiago round a deep, versatile Regal FCB frontcourt. Andersen and Ilyasova will have a tough test against Shaun Stonerook and Benjamin Eze. Meanwhile, Santiago and Vazquez are ready to battle All-Euroleague second team selection Ksistof Lavrinovic, one of the most unguardable players in the competition due to his combination of size, experience, shooting skills and quickness. Stonerook is ready to create mismatches, too, thanks to his high basketball IQ and all-around game. Barcelona is quite deep at point guard, which is important when you face Morris Finley and All-Euroleague playmaker Terrell McIntyre. |
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Written by Alleks
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Wednesday, 05 November 2008 |
 TAU Ceramica - Alba Berlin MATCH PREVIEWTwo teams with different goals in this year's Euroleague will battle each other in Vitoria, Spain, on Wednesday evening when Tau Ceramica welcomes Alba Berlin in a Group C clash at Fernando Buesa Arena. Tau, which reached the Final Four in each of the last four season, is the only team unbeaten in Group C at 2-0, while Alba, in its first Euroleague season since 2004, is right behind at 1-1. It will be a special game for Alba top gun Casey Jacobsen, who helped Tau reach 2006 Final Four. Jacobsen is one of the weapons that Alba can offer at the wing spots, alongside scoring machine Julius Jenkins, do-it-all swingman Immanuel McElroy and versatile forward Aleksandar Nadjfeji. McElroy is set to have a key matchup against another aggressive and intense player in Pete Mickeal. Meanwhile, Jenkins will test his scoring skills against Igor Rakocevic, a former Alphondo Ford top scorer trophy winner, who had 20 points in the first half of his only Euroleague home game this season. Jacobsen will have a tough test against former teammate and Tau captain Sergi Vidal, a defensive stopper ready to shut down anyone. The point guard battle will be equally interesting, as Tau offers two-time All-Euroleague second team selection Pablo Prigioni and up-and-coming playmaker Mustafa Shakur. Both players will have intense battles against athletic playmakers Steffen Hamann and Rashad Wright. Alba is set to travel to Vitoria without big man Patrick Femerling, which means that the entire team will have to work hard to stop all-Euroleague center Tiago Splitter. |
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Written by Alleks
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Wednesday, 05 November 2008 |
 Partizan Belgrade - Armani Jeans Milano
MATCH PREVIEWPartizan Belgrade will look to build on last week’s impressive win when it hosts Armani Jeans Milano at the Pionir Arena in the Serbian capital. A win for the hosts could go a long way towards establishing the paths these teams are on as the race for tickets to the Top 16 from Group D starts to take shape. Partizan has impressed this season, losing by a single point at Efes Pilsen in Week 1 and stunning Real Madrid last week. Head coach Dusko Vujosevic’s men have produced at both ends of the floor, with newcomer Stephane Lasme and giant center Slavko Vranes doing the dirty work in the paint, Aleksandar Rasic and Milenko Tepic outside and forward Novica Velickovic helping out everywhere. Meanwhile Milano has started the season with back-to-back losses, first at defending champion CSKA at last week at home against Efes. With another tough road game at Madrid next week, head coach Piero Bucchi’s charges must earn a tough road win to avoid a 0-4 start and will try to accomplish that goal in Belgrade. Making matters even more difficult is the team’s injury list, which includes three of the club’s most important players. Big man Pape Sow is out with a foot problem, while guard Massimo Bulleri and Luca Vitali have recovered from their respective injuries, but are not yet in gameshape. Accordingly, Milano will turn to swingmen David Hawkins, Marco Mordente and Jobey Thomas, who have carried the team’s offense in recent weeks, while looking to playmaker Yohann Sangare, forward Mike Hall and big man Mason Rocca to raise their production. |
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Written by Alleks
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Wednesday, 05 November 2008 |
 Prokom Sopot - Zalgiris KaunasMATCH PREVIEWA pair of national champions from neighboring countries will clash in a crucial Group B battle on Wednesday when Asseco Prokom Sopot hosts Zalgiris Kaunas. The Polish champs are coming off a big home win over SLUC Nancy, led by Dan Ewing’s 32 points, which improved its record to 1-1. Zalgiris meanwhile slipped to 0-2 with a 26-point loss to Montepaschi. Zalgiris led at halftime, but scored only 24 points in the entire second half as the game slipped away. Making matters worse for the Lithuanian champs, they will compete in Sopot without starting point guard Willie Deane, who suffered a broken nose in last week’s contest. Head coach Gintaras Krapikas will look to a trio of young guard to lead his team this week. Teenager Zygimantas Janavicius and Mantas Kalnietis figure to start with Rolandas Alijevas, who made his Euroleague debut last week, serving as their prime backup. They must improve the standard of play, since Zalgiris ranks last in the Euroleague with just 10 steals and it has committed 44 turnovers – more than any other team. |
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Written by Alleks
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Thursday, 30 October 2008 |
 Le Mans vs. CibonaMATCH PREVIEWTwo Euroleague classic teams in recent years face each other in Group A, as Le Mans welcomes Cibona on Thursday. Le Mans registered an 84-79 road loss at Unicaja in its opener, while Cibona upset Maccabi Electra 81-79 in Zagreb. Cibona has not won its opening two Euroleague games since the 1996-97 season, when it beat Estudiantes and Charleroi to move up to 2-0. Meanwhile, Le Mans only won one Euroleague home game last season - but it was against Cibona, 100-87. Both teams completely renewed their roster for this new Euroleague season. Coach J.D. Jackson, a former Le Mans player, has taken over on the sidelines and entrusted his team to floor general in Brian Chase, with up-and-coming playmaker Antoine Diot as his backup. Chase will have a strong test against Earl Calloway, while Vedran Princ and even combo guard Davor Kus will take turns as Cibona's floor general. Kus will also have the chance to test his scoring skills against Dewarick Spencer. Stopping Spencer, however, will be crucial for Cibona. His matchup against Rawle Marshall, who had an outstanding game against Maccabi, will be one of the keys to this game. Marshall can play at both wing spots and is virtually unguardable in one-on-one situations, so expect Le Mans to use a zone defense, especially if it opts to use a big lineup with David Bluthenthal at small forward. Branimir Longin can also help Cibona with his driving skills and experience. Meanwhile, Bluthenthal is set to offer his unlimited range and outstanding scoring skills. |
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