Our Italian friend Dario Marra from basketcentral.it is from Rome and still did all these great Euroleague previews on Siena. Let’s see what he thinks about Siena’s last one two games:
Looking for History. Siena tries to gain the first final of its european history against Maccabi.
The last two times MPS fell short in a couple of italian matchup against Benetton Treviso and Fortitudo Bologna. The good news for the Pianigiani’s crew is that there won’t be any other italian team in the final 4 (actually, looking at the Italian league, Siena would beat easily any of them…).
The semifinal won’t be easy for McIntyre and company, but the final 4 is already a great result for a team that had to give up its best player (Kaukenas) early in the season. Since that moment every player has stepped up: Sato (13.2 pts, 50% 3p in the top 16) and Thornton (13.7 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.8 ass in the top 16) were simply great in filling the spot left open by the Lithuanian injury.
Ther’s not just a single threat for the Israeli powerhouse: McIntyre – who’s had an ankle’s surgery but is already back in action – had a monstre season, going in double digit in 13 of the last 15 games; Eze and Stonerook (maybe the real leader, along with T-Mac, of the band…) were capable to give a solid effort especially in the defensive end and in rebounding.
Last but not least: Ksistof Lavrinovic. The Lithuanian (first in the ranking per minute in the top 16) was outstanding long all the competition, becoming on of the best frontcourt player of the entire euroleague.
A great mix that will give to Siena a real shot for joining – at least – the final match. I see MPS battling – and, maybe, winning… – with Vujacic and company ‘til the buzzer.
It’s time for the new green power to take another step towards european history.
Leave a Reply