By "dark horse" I mean reaching the Final Four or close to reach it with some upsetting wins over major clubs.
I think we must have an eye at Zalgiris this season.
Five Lithuanian NT players, Salenga, decent foreigners, wealthy president, brand new great arena and a new coach.
I also like UNICS, Hemofarm and Lietuvos Rytas.
Žalgiris has one damn solid team this season. I don't know if could find them as dark horse? Specially knowing that some powerhouses might be a little bit weaker. I expect top 8 from Žalgiris. Now Rytas would be a damn dark hourse with 3 mill Eros Budget, but they are limited in front line, but again with Rytas you never know. Hemofarm already advanced to Euroleague? I think AJ Milano should do way better this season.
For the first time in a few years I think that Žalgiris could make some noise in EL. Their depth is really impressive:
PG's
Mantas Kalnietis
DeJuan Collins
Aleksandar Capin
SG's
Marcus Brown
Martynas Pocius
Tomas Delininkaitis
SF's
Dainius Salenga
Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Arturas Milaknis
PF's
Paulius Jankunas
Tadas Klimavicius
Travis Watson
C's
Mirza Begic
Omar Samhan
That's already 14 players (and a whole bunch of players on loan at other clubs)! There are no superstars on this team and the roster seems to be balanced. A lot will depend on the new coach.
On paper Rytas seems to have a weaker team this season compared to Zalgiris but they usually overachieve so it will be interesting to see what they can do in EL. Especially after claiming that their goal is Top 8.
P.S. Zalgiris won't play a single game in the new arena as it will be opened probably only in June or late May even though it was scheduled for the opening in October originally.
[quote name='Vilius' timestamp='1285230434' post='25145']
For the first time in a few years I think that Žalgiris could make some noise in EL. Their depth is really impressive:
PG's
Mantas Kalnietis
DeJuan Collins
Aleksandar Capin
SG's
Marcus Brown
Martynas Pocius
Tomas Delininkaitis
SF's
Dainius Salenga
Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Arturas Milaknis
PF's
Paulius Jankunas
Tadas Klimavicius
Travis Watson
C's
Mirza Begic
Omar Samhan
That's already 14 players (and a whole bunch of players on loan at other clubs)! There are no superstars on this team and the roster seems to be balanced. A lot will depend on the new coach.
On paper Rytas seems to have a weaker team this season compared to Zalgiris but they usually overachieve so it will be interesting to see what they can do in EL. Especially after claiming that their goal is Top 8.
P.S. Zalgiris won't play a single game in the new arena as it will be opened probably only in June or late May even though it was scheduled for the opening in October originally.
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How nice would it be to have Maciulis back? SF is the one area that Zalgiris could use an upgrade, Salenga is decent but if they want to make a run in the EL I think they'll be exposed at the SF.
I voted for Rytas because it would be morally wrong for me not to <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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Honestly, I have my eye on the Bojan Popovic situation. If he returns to Rytas, I'll be very excited about this season.
[quote name='skangles' timestamp='1285285311' post='25166']
I voted for Rytas because it would be morally wrong for me not to <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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Honestly, I have my eye on the Bojan Popovic situation. If he returns to Rytas, I'll be very excited about this season.
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It would be great but I don't think that's possible. Especially right now. Maybe injuries could make things like that, but I guess if he could get some new players, then they would be in C or PF positions. I would like to see Bojan PopoviÄ in the next season, because Jerry Johnson has only one year contract and there's a big possibility to see him in quite good team next season.
I still think that Barcelona has a strong chance of defending their title today, especially with a boost from the home crowd.
At the moment it seems that Olimpija could be titled as a black horse. Surely the new large arena had some influence too <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thup:' />
What about Khimki? I realize that they have a relatively big budget (it's about 11 million euros) and that they made the last 8 last year, but still I would consider them a dark horse. They have never made the final four before and have just one Euroleague season in their history and still don't have the type of budget of the huge clubs.
Yet, I think they have a chance at a final four if everything went just right for them.
Khimki didn't make the Top8 last season.
The dark horse this year will be Fenerbache. They have a great team. Ukic is a great point guard, Lavrinovic is a great bigman, Tomas is a great shooting guard etc. They have a very balanced team. They can make a very deep run this year. I expect much from Tomas and Ukic
They were overwhelmed by Barcelona and will probably lose the top spot of the group. They lost Vidmar for the entire season but signed May.
Sean May he is not bad.He play good against Barca.
Partizan could suprise anybody in the league I think. They have a great balanced team, one of the best support bases in Europe( and the world). They play like team. Maybe they will lose against PAO or Barca but if they start the game good, they can compete till the end. They won't win the Euroleague but they will go far.
[quote name='Kenneth23' timestamp='1293723710' post='27250']
Partizan could suprise anybody in the league I think. They have a great balanced team, one of the best support bases in Europe( and the world). They play like team. Maybe they will lose against PAO or Barca but if they start the game good, they can compete till the end. They won't win the Euroleague but they will go far.
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Like last year.To close so far from title. <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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Last year they had a magnificent year! They came every close, in my opinion they could have one the Euroleague. I think that I could reach the Final 4 and even further. they have a great team, very talented and very balanced. They also have great talents so the future is bright for Partizan.
olimpija has probably the highest team chemistry in the entire euroleague this season (my opinion). and with that they are capable of everything. at home they are playing like crazy. just don't know how to loose. keep an eye on this team. the sky is the limit for olimpija this year.
[quote name='nebodigatreba' timestamp='1293799251' post='27281']
olimpija has probably the highest team chemistry in the entire euroleague this season (my opinion). and with that they are capable of everything. at home they are playing like crazy. just don't know how to loose. keep an eye on this team. the sky is the limit for olimpija this year.
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They are very good.But my opinion is Quarter-finals for Olimpija maybe if they play like Partizan last year against Maccabi then it's not far Final Four. <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thup:' />
[quote name='nebodigatreba' timestamp='1293799251' post='27281']
olimpija has probably the highest team chemistry in the entire euroleague this season (my opinion). and with that they are capable of everything. at home they are playing like crazy. just don't know how to loose. keep an eye on this team. the sky is the limit for olimpija this year.
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With the new arena Olimpija has all the time (years) in front of them to achieve something great...
[quote name='Black Urum' timestamp='1293822207' post='27292']
With the new arena Olimpija has all the time (years) in front of them to achieve something great...
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Yes.Like Partizan against Maccabi last year in Arena.And only one lost in 4 games in Arena played. <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thup:' />