Hello everyone, this is Javier Gancedo, always from Euroleague Basketball. Looks like it has been yet another great fantasy week for me. I am beginning to get worried after modifying all my previous entries because of injuries. Seriously. We’ll see what happens this week.
It has been a fantastic week in Euroleague, especially the nine-game marathon last night. We all finished at 2am, totally destroyed but happy to have experienced the best regular season in Euroleague Basketball history.:Buzzer-beaters, Louis Bullock, double-overtime games, Vlado Ilievski missing again at the buzzer, close games, passion, drama, upsets… Seriously, the Euroleague is getting better than ever, and it is impressive that CSKA is the only unbeaten team, despite being without J.R. Holden and Matjaz Smodis.
Before anything else, I would like you to introduce our new online game, the Eurocup FabFive Challenge!
This is a very down-to-earth, exciting game in which you can pick five players, one from each range, with no restrictions whatsoever. If you want to have five point guards, go ahead. Five centers? Be my guest. Just keep in mind that players may move from one group to another depending on their index rating and you will need to trade every week to have a valid, five-player team. The trades after Week 1 should be exciting. Players can go from the top group to the bottom one if they have a really bad night, and vice versa! Just build your team and maybe we all can put together a private league. OK, well, keep reading and then make a team, but don’t forget: It’s a great game, we all think.
As for Fantasy Challenge, I had a pretty decent week with good trades, especially Emir Preldzic. Preldzic rolled against Olimpija, showing he is the closest thing to Toni Kukoc in 1990 that European basketball has seen lately. If he keeps developing, Preldzic will be a hell of a player, mark my words. I moved up to 9th place in the BallinEurope private league and yes, I erased some of my deficit in the Kuqo situation. I even cracked the Top 40 with a different team. I’m telling you all this because bad times will come, no doubt about it. Of course, beating EVICROCK will be tough, as he is doing very, very well.
As for this week, I wanted to trade early because honestly, I wanted you all to know about FabFive as soon as possible. I may regret my trades before the deadline and if so, I will notify you right away – especially since it’s quite probable that someone will get injured, anyway.
Remember when I told you Nikos Zisis would be there until Holden comes back? I’ve changed my mind, since Belgrade is a tough place to play and I expect the game to be low-scoring. I also traded Bracey Wright due to the showdown against Tau Ceramica and then removed Felipe Reyes because Kerem Gonlum may out-rebound him. Those are my three trades this week.
I believe Armani Jeans Milano has been playing well lately and, since they play Panionios On Telecoms at home, I think it’s time for them to do well in front of their fans. Therefore, I added Michael Hall at power forwards and centers, a big moneymaker. My main move this week was picking up Chris Warren of Air Avellino. Warren plays against Cibona and even while Rawel Marshall will also be extremely motivated, I am sure that the Avellino swingman will have a good game. At point guard, I had to choose between Lynn Greer and Earl Calloway. I’m going with Greer for the sake of Euroleague experience, even though I wrote the Cibona-Olympiacos game report and Calloway was just UNSTOPPABLE in the third quarter.
So my team goes like this:
Aaron Miles – Another Cajasol playmaker that leaves the team and becomes a Euroleague star. Oh my.
Lynn Greer – Should have an interesting shootout against Dewarick Spencer in Le Mans.
Jonas Maciulis – The Bull returns home to play Regal FC Barcelona. He should be a solid choice.
Emir Preldzic – Has been unstoppable lately and is way underpriced.
Sani Becirovic – Sanny Boy is the Euroleague superstar he was several years ago. In top shape right now.
Chris Warren – Again the X factor. He should be ready to do well against Cibona.
Mirza Begic – It’s more than seven extra credits in our teams. You have him, right? C’mon, don’t lie.
Mike Hall – I liked what I saw in Madrid this week. Few power forwards are playing more minutes right now.
Mirsad Turkcan – Even when Andre Hutson knows him well, Turkcan should out-rebound EVERYBODY!
Mike Batiste – Big Mike always plays better on the road and the game in Sopot should be no exception.
As always, good luck in the Fantasy Challenge… And try the Fab Five, the great game with the gangsta name!
