BallinEurope is previewing all 18 Euroleague Basketball teams ahead of the start of the season. Today it’s the turn of a team that is perplexing at the best of times. What exactly will FC Barcelona be this season?
Joan Penarroya inherits the core that Roger Grimau left behind alongside some interesting new additions. What this jumble turns into is anybody’s guess. It’s time for the least relevant Euroleague Basketball season preview of them all. What on earth do we make of FC Barcelona?
Last season
Euroleague record: 22-12
Regular season position: 4th
Playoffs: Lost to Olympiacos (3-2)
ACB record: 23-11
Regular season position: 3rd
Playoffs: Lost semi-finals 3-0 (Real Madrid)
Other: Lost Copa del Rey final (Real Madrid)
Who’s gone?
James Nnaji (Girona), Sergi Martinez (Girona), Michael Caicedo (Lleida), Oriol Pauli (Lleida), Oscar da Silva (FC Bayern), Nikola Kalinic (Crvena Zvezda), Rokas Jokubaitis (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Ricky Rubio (free agent), Roger Grimau (coach).
Who is new?
Joan Penarroya (coach), Youssoupha Fall (LDLC Asvel), Chimezie Metu (Detroit Pistons), Kevin Punter (Partizan), Justin Anderson (Valencia), Juan Nunez (ratiopharm Ulm).
Who stayed?
Jabari Parker, Nico Laprovittola, Jan Vesely, Willy Hernangomez, Tomas Satoransky, Alex Abrines, Dame Sarr, Dario Brizuela, Joel Parra.
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Need to know
The reason this preview feels irrelevant is not an indictment of FC Barcelona or interest in the club. No, the blame falls squarely on this site. There simply is no team that we have misread more over all the years. Last year was no exception. The Blaugrana feel like they are about to fall into a banter years period in Euroleague Basketball. Yet, the roster is still solid and there are some very smart heads that will play relevant minutes. Quite simply, we’re really bad at making picks with this team.
What the bookies think
There’s almost unanimity around FC Barcelona in Euroleague Basketball betting. The Blaugrana are priced at 10/1 on almost every market. That has them down as the sixth most favoured side in the whole competition.
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What we think
The bookies have pretty much got it right. Looking at this roster, there’s enough talent to make the playoffs. There also isn’t likely enough to challenge for the top of the table. Getting home court advantage is probably too much of an ask as well.
Depth is going to matter this coming season of Euroleague. While FC Barcelona aren’t drowning in it, they’re in much better shape than most basketball clubs. That should be enough to at least get them to the postseason party.
Fearless prediction
If there is one pick this site is almost nailed on to get wrong, this is it. The problem is, who knows what direction. Maybe the Blaugrana are terrible, maybe they’re brilliant. Right now, they look like a playoff team.
Pick: 6th in the regular season
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