It’s going to be weird going to the Final Four in May, for so many years, we have been used to one fixture being there and gracing us. But it’ll be all change when we reach the highway to Barcelona.
CSKA Moscow will not be making it nine straight Final Four appearances. They fell at the first hurdle this year, as the Russian powerhouses finished bottom of Group D with a 3-7 record. They did end on a high though – by beating Efes Pilsen on their home-court, 78-69. Efes were already though, at this point.
Losing Ramunas Siskauskas and Sasha Kaun to injury was always going to hurt Dimitry Shakulin’s side. After eight consecutive Russian titles, CSKA currently lie in third place in the Russian Superleague, behind second placed, Lokomotive Kuban and Unics Kazan, who tope the pile. So, it hasn’t been a fairytale end to 2010 to say the least – but who knows, a win recently over Khimki domestically, coupled with their Euroleague farewell win over Efes might be the start of something.
From saying goodbye to CSKA, to wondering how good Maccabi Electra Tel-Aviv will be in the next round?
After losing their first game in Vitoria to Caja Laboral, Maccabi have had their cuts-and-scrapes, but have emerged victorious, winning nine straight, on their way to topping a tricky Group A with ease.
Maccabi have finished with the best record in the Euroleague, following their 83-72 success in snowy Gdynia, against Asseco Prokom, who, after their heroics last year – narrowly missing out on a Final Four appearance – finished bottom this time around, ensuring that there would be no repeat of last season.
Looking at Maccabi’s roster is scary enough, a list of top Israeli internationals in Tal Burstein and Lior Eliyahu, Serbian, Milan Macvan, who made his debut in their last game against Prokom and the Greek giant, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, who’s been averaging a little over 13-points and five boards in the Euroleague so far and has met expectations since his big-money move from Olympiacos in the summer.
That’s just some of the names, Guy Pnini, free-scoring, Chuck Eidson, Jeremy Pargo, David Blu; Maccabi have quite the line-up. Let’s see how they fare in the second phase – so far though, they have got to where they are through working as a unit, being smart, playing defence and seeing games through – the necessary tools to win it all. Watch this space…
Good to see the two Lithuanian sides through to the Top-16, Zalgiris and Lietuvos Rytas. It’s been tough for them, but they can now look forward to the next round, but you have to wonder if they will go further than here?
Winning on Caja Laboral’s home court gave Zalgiris Kaunas the true confidence to believe that they could beat anyone and they followed that up with a big win at home to Khimki in Week Five.
I’m waiting to see who Zalgiris is drawn with in the Top-16, but they will fancy their chances against anyone, which is the right attitude to bring.
Lietuvos Rytas, who qualified on the final night with victory over winless, Cibona, helped by Cholet’s defeat to Fenerbahce, came back from a 1-6 record to qualify by the skin of their teeth, winning their last three matches to progress, amongst those three wins; the scalp of Champions, Barcelona, 88-87.
With legendary Lithuanian, Saras Jasikevicius on board, since Week Five, no doubt his influence has lifted Lietuvos and steered them to the Top-16. Will it last though? Out of the two, if I had to choose who would have the better shot at qualifying for the QF’s, it would be Zalgiris. They seem more at home in the Euroleague, and have been more consistent over the ten games – we shall see though.
With regulars, Real Madrid, Panathinaikos, holders, Barcelona, Olympiacos and Montepaschi through, the draw on January 4th is one not to be missed.
Oh, and as it’s Christmas Day – Happy Christmas to all and have a safe New Year.
John Hobbs for TalkBasket.net
