Home EuroLeague EL Week 8 MVP: Aleks Maric

EL Week 8 MVP: Aleks Maric

ImageFor the third time in a month, Partizan Belgrade center Aleks Maric earned MVP honors by amassing the highest individual performance index rating for regular season Week 8 despite his team's close Group B road loss against Entente Orleanaise.

A Euroleague rookie this season, Maric has now won or shared the weekly MVP honor three times since late November. On Thursday, Maric registered his fourth double-double in the last five games by leading Partizan with 20 points and 11 rebounds despite being the primary focus of the Orleans defense. Maric missed only a pair of shots all night, making 7 of 8 two-pointers and 6 of 7 free throws while also collecting 2 steals, a block and 5 fouls drawn to get that 29 index rating. Following him in second place was Igor Rakocevic of Efes Pilsen, who shined in a losing effort as his team fell at home to Unicaja. Rakocevic posted 21 points, 4 rebounds and 11 fouls drawn against Unicaja for an index rating of 27. Losing teams produced the two next-best performances, too, as Andrew Wisniewski of Maccabi Electra and Travis Watson of Zalgiris each had 23 index ratings in Week 8. Wisniewski had 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 fouls drawn against CSKA. Meanwhile, Watson shined against Barcelona with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Mindaugas Lukauskis of Asvel Basket and Cedrick Banks of Orleans – the sole winner among the week's top performers, having led his team to its first-ever Euroleague victory – tied for fifth place with ratings of 22 each.

Individual highs: Marko Tomas of Cibona, 28 points

Marko Tomas of Cibona was Week 8's top scorer with 28 points in his team's home win against FB Ulker. Matt Walsh of Union Olimpija is still the Euroleague's best scorer at 18.7 points per game. Watson led all rebounders by pulling down 14 against Regal FCB. He is also the competition's top rebounder at 11 per night. Theo Papaloukas was the only player to dish double-digit assists this week, distributing 10 of them as Olympiacos won an overtime road thriller against Lietuvos Rytas. Papaloukas is also the overall assists leader at 7.6 per game. Bojan Popovic of Lietuvos Rytas and Bo McCalebb of Partizan each collected 5 steals the week. Lukauskis of Asvel is first overall in steals at 2.6 per night. Robertas Javtokas of Khimki Moscow Region, Aron Baynes of L. Rytas and Semih Erden of Fenerbahce Ulker each had 3 blocks in this round. D'or Fischer of Maccabi Electra remains first overall in blocks at 1.76 per night. Maric, Watson, Javtokas – who had 11 points, 10 rebounds – and Linas Kleiza of Olympiacos – 19 points, 11 rebounds – registered respective double-doubles in Week 8.

by www.euroleague.net

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