The draw takes place on July 8 in Barcelona. We know the seeds already:
1st seed: Panathinaikos, CSKA Moscow, Barcelona, Olympiacos
2nd seed: Real Madrid, TAU Ceramica, Partizan, Montepaschi
3rd seed: AJ Milano, Maccabi, Unicaja, Cibona
4th seed: Asseco Prokom, Lottomatica, Fenerbahce, Efes Pilsen
5th seed: Zalgiris, Lietuvos Rytas, Olimpija, Khimki
6th seed: Oldenburg, ASVEL, QR Winner, QR Winner
For more info about the draw see this article
http://www.talkbasket.net/news/euroleagu...unced.html
Real are a nightmare 2nd seed for any 1st seed team...
I want this group:
Panathinaikos
Real Madrid
Maccabi
Efes Pilsen
L Rytas/Zalgiris (Vilius get ready <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> )
X team
I have only watched 13/22 teams live, so I must improve my record <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
no one talks s I will get the honor to be the 1th
Group A:
Barca
Siena
Cibona
Fener
Zalgiris
Asvel
Group B:
Oly
Partizan
Unicaja
Efes
Rytas
Qualifier1
Group C:
CSKA
TAU
Maccabi
Roma
Olimpija
Qualifier2
Group D:
Pao
Real
Milano
Prokom
Khimki
EWE Baskets
So let's start: Group A I guess Barca and Cibona wont encounter any difficulties to finish at the top, I'll take the chance and say it will be Mp's to finish at 1th place...
Group B - Oly will probably finish 1th unless Efes and Partizan will make some noise. anyhow I don't see Partizan so strong this year after the departure of Novica and others. Rytas no matter what is always a good rival for any team and can make lots of problems in it's home court.
Group C - Death group, with old days rivalry in the form of Maccabi and CSKA it will always be a bloody battle though CSKA won't get stronger while Maccabi got an Improved roster.Tau also will rebuilt itself after the departure of Racko, Pit and probably Prigiony. it will be interesting to see CSKA after Messina age and the new Maccabi and TAU. Rome will try to make some noise this season but I don't see them do well. and ofc there is Olj, they didn't do well last seasons but I hope to see them step up to the top 16 this season.
Group D - the second death group with the current champs PAO, Real with Messina the great and Khimky with it's stars... good and interesting battles are expected.
Group D -
[quote name='GuyOFK' date='08 July 2009 - 04:31 PM' timestamp='1247059886' post='17912']
no one talks s I will get the honor to be the 1th
Group A:
Barca
Siena
Cibona
Fener
Zalgiris
Asvel
Group B:
Oly
Partizan
Unicaja
Efes
Rytas
Qualifier1
Group C:
CSKA
TAU
Maccabi
Roma
Olimpija
Qualifier2
Group D:
Pao
Real
Milano
Prokom
Khimki
EWE Baskets
So let's start: Group A I guess Barca and Cibona wont encounter any difficulties to finish at the top, I'll take the chance and say it will be Mp's to finish at 1th place...
Group B - Oly will probably finish 1th unless Efes and Partizan will make some noise. anyhow I don't see Partizan so strong this year after the departure of Novica and others. Rytas no matter what is always a good rival for any team and can make lots of problems in it's home court.
Group C - Death group, with old days rivalry in the form of Maccabi and CSKA it will always be a bloody battle though CSKA won't get stronger while Maccabi got an Improved roster.Tau also will rebuilt itself after the departure of Racko, Pit and probably Prigiony. it will be interesting to see CSKA after Messina age and the new Maccabi and TAU. Rome will try to make some noise this season but I don't see them do well. and ofc there is Olj, they didn't do well last seasons but I hope to see them step up to the top 16 this season.
Group D - the second death group with the current champs PAO, Real with Messina the great and Khimky with it's stars... good and interesting battles are expected.
Group D -
[/quote]
What "death" in group C?
D, indeed, a death one.
we got the worst possible 2nd and 5th seed <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thudown.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thudown:' />
Group C isn't a death group...it's pretty obvious that the top 3 seeds will finish in the top 3 in some order and chances are that Roma pick up the 4th seed over Olimpija. It's simply top heavy, not a death group.
Group B, IMO, is wide open. Olympiacos and Efes should both advance, but the other two spots are tough to decide on and so is the order of seeds (1-4). Unicaja, Partizan and Rytas are all pretty strong teams, and Benetton could advance to the 6th seed I believe. That group should be very, very interesting.
Group A: only Barca and Siena are the teams I see advancing for sure. Cibona should finish 3rd or 4th but Fenerbahce and Zalgiris should put up a fight for both seeds. I've never seen ASVEL play so I don't really know what to think of them.
Finally, Group D pits last year's champs (Pao) against the team that arguably improved the most during the offseason (Real). Should be two superb games between those two teams. Khimki were the nightmare 5th seed for any team and could even finish 1st IMO, though I don't see them making much noise later on in the competition. Prokom are weak and so are the Germans, but Milano will have to deal with them well if they want to advance from #4.
Group C has 3 teams : TAU CSKA and Maccabi that might be very equivalent and that will certainty complicate things. CSKA still has a great players, Maccabi is building what is seems to be a very solid squad while TAU's roster isn't done yet, but as we know TAU knows how to rebuild itself. Olj was always a place dangerous for the giants to play in , Maccabi, TAU and CSKA had big difficulties there so I really think we can call this group a death group.
[quote name='GuyOFK' date='08 July 2009 - 06:42 PM' timestamp='1247071362' post='17924']
Group C has 3 teams : TAU CSKA and Maccabi that might be very equivalent and that will certainty complicate things. CSKA still has a great players, Maccabi is building what is seems to be a very solid squad while TAU's roster isn't done yet, but as we know TAU knows how to rebuild itself. Olj was always a place dangerous for the giants to play in , Maccabi, TAU and CSKA had big difficulties there so I really think we can call this group a death group.
[/quote]
One of those 3 will have to face top 1st and 2nd from other groups in the top 16, so it is kind of a death group.
The first EL game will be at "Nokia" arena, while MTA will host Ljubliana at the 15th Oct.
I don't think there can be really a "death group" since 4 from the 6 team's advance to the top 16, and in every group there are about 2-3 great club's that will almost certainly will advance. for me the group stage of the EL is only an appetizer for the top 16.
In my opinion group C is the strongest since there are 3 contenders for the F-4 (CSKA, TAU and Maccabi).
[quote name='gambit' date='23 July 2009 - 11:39 PM' timestamp='1248381582' post='18279']
I don't think there can be really a "death group" since 4 from the 6 team's advance to the top 16, and in every group there are about 2-3 great club's that will almost certainly will advance. for me the group stage of the EL is only an appetizer for the top 16.
In my opinion group C is the strongest since there are 3 contenders for the F-4 (CSKA, TAU and Maccabi).
[/quote]
Group D is tougher because it also has 3 Final Four candidates (PAO, Real M, Khimki) and the two first ones are almost sure for the Final...
[quote name='gambit' date='23 July 2009 - 10:39 PM' timestamp='1248381582' post='18279']
I don't think there can be really a "death group" since 4 from the 6 team's advance to the top 16, and in every group there are about 2-3 great club's that will almost certainly will advance. for me the group stage of the EL is only an appetizer for the top 16.
In my opinion group C is the strongest since there are 3 contenders for the F-4 (CSKA, TAU and Maccabi).
[/quote]
imo only mac is a f4 contender of group c
[quote name='suricata' date='23 July 2009 - 01:21 PM' timestamp='1248394907' post='18282']
imo only mac is a f4 contender of group c
[/quote]
you bet about an entirely new team dude!
[quote name='GuyOFK' date='24 July 2009 - 08:06 AM' timestamp='1248415593' post='18283']
you bet about an entirely new team dude!
[/quote]
So is Tau practically. And CSKA changed their coach. Anyway i wouldn 't bet of course right now, it is only a feeling i get. If i was forced (pointed gun on my head etc) to pick 4 teams they would be Panathinaikos, Real, Barcelona and Maccabi (or efes).