While NBA fans were mostly talking about Blake Griffin and Carmelo Anthony last week, the buzzword around Europe last week was “upset.” Seemingly from end to end, Continental leagues saw their respective mighty – if not fall – at least stagger from a blow dealt by a lower seed.
Real Madrid lost to new no. 8 Power Electronics Valencia in the ACB block party but maintained a razor-thin lead over Olympiacos for the no. 2 spot in BiE’s top 100; by contrast, Montepaschi’s shocking loss to Pepsi Caserta dumped the Italian side to no. 4. In Turkey, former TBL no. 2 Banvit (now 14-4) was pummeled at seventh-place Olin Ederne; standard juggernaut CSKA Moscow is tumbling down the PBL table in Russia, dropping its second consecutive home loss Saturday night to Spartak St. Petersburg.
And so it went. The top 100 this week runs as follows.
1. (1) FC Barcelona (ESP), 380.60 points
2. (3) Real Madrid (ESP), 368.17
3. (5) Olympiacos (GRE), 366.58
4. (2) Montepaschi Siena (ITA), 360.96 – Could Siena finally be feeling the effects of no Bo McCalebb? The perpetual Italian champs showed sluggish ball movement throughout the 89-84 loss to Caserta, while the starting frontcourt of Nikolas Zisis and Marko Jaric accounted for just 15 points and three assists combined.
5. (4) Fenerbahçe Ülker (TUR), 357.83
6. (6) Panathinaikos (GRE), 354.86
7. (8) Caja Laboral Baskonia (ESP), 319.46+
8. (9) Power Electronics Valencia (ESP), 319.46
9. (7) Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), 315.02
10. (10) Union Olimpija (SLO), 288.32
11. (11) Efes Pilsen (TUR), 286.11
12. (13) Zalgiris Kaunas (LTU), 283.59
13. (12) Partizan Belgrade (SER), 280.74
14. (14) Unicaja Malaga (ESP), 277.32
15. (15) Lietuvos Rytas (LTU), 270.49
16. (16) AJ Milano (ITA), 247.77
17. (17) Lottomatica Roma (ITA), 245.58
18. (21) Galatasaray Café Crown (TUR), 228.82 – The Top 100’s highest-ranking non-Euroleague team increased their position here and in the TBL standings with a 92-62 immolation of hapless Tofaş plus the Banvit loss.
19. (25) Cajasol Sevilla (ESP), 222.33
20. (18) BC Khimki Moscow region (RUS), 220.96
21. (26) Aris BSA (GRE), 215.07
22. (20) Cholet Basket (FRA), 212.39
23. (19) CSKA Moscow (RUS), 212.01
24. (34) Asefa Estudiantes (ESP), 211.36
25. (28) Gran Canaria 2014 (ESP), 210.79 – Can’t win for losing? Tell it to ACB teams, with now represent eight of the first quarter on the chart despite Gran Canaria’s loss at Fuenlabrada (no. 54).
26. (22) Unics Kazan (RUS), 210.29
27. (29) Norrkoping Dolphins (SWE), 210.19
28. (31) Tartu Rock (EST), 207.86 – Even in Estonia, things got a little topsy-turvy. Thanks to a three-game win streak from the solid Rock, the repeat champs are back on top of the Estonian league. An overall record of 38-12 isn’t too shabby, either.
29. (23) Brose Baskets Bamberg (GER), 204.19
30. (24) Bennet Cantu (ITA), 203.26
31. (27) Asseco Prokom (POL), 199.94
32. (33) Budivelnik (UKR), 199.39
33. (39) BK Ventspils (LAT), 198.90
34. (30) BC Azovmash (UKR), 198.78
35. (32) Benetton Bwin Basket (ITA), 196.73
36. (37) Beşiktaş Cola Turka (TUR), 196.38
37. (35) Cedevita Zagreb (CRO), 194.10
38. (43) PAOK BC (GRE), 184.71
39. (41) KK Krka (SLO), 183.46
40. (40) Pepsi Caserta (ITA), 182.94
41. (38) Buducnost (MNT), 181.54
42. (36) Cibona Zagreb (CRO), 181.20 – It’s tough to put a fresh spin on the team that, though not quite Europe’s answer to the Cleveland Cavaliers (that would have to be Valmiera), finds unique and interesting ways to lose weekly. Here’s the clip from the Euroleaguers’ 89-79 loss to Radnički in Adriatic League play on Sunday.
43. (44) Banvit BK (TUR), 178.88
44. (42) Hemofarm Stada (SER), 178.14
45. (99) Kalev/Cramo (EST), 172.35 – BiE’s still trying to dig through the mathematics to account for this leap by Estonia’s number two team. Guess the numbers just caught up with ‘em…
46. (46) Siauliai (LTU), 171.96
47. (51) Bizkaia Bilbao Baskets (ESP), 171.32
48. (45) CEZ Nymburk (CZE), 170.39
49. (49) Valladolid (ESP), 167.51
50. (47) Gravelines Dunkerque (FRA), 167.21
51. (54) Pinar Karsiyaka (TUR), 164.35
52. (52) DKV Joventut (ESP), 163.70
53. (57) Panellinios BC (GRE), 162.03
54. (61) Fuenlabrada (ESP), 159.89
55. (48) VEF Riga (LAT), 159.86
56. (50) Alba Berlin (GER), 159.06
57. (55) Rudupis (LTU), 159.01
58. (53) Spirou Charleroi (BEL), 146.86
59. (58) KK Zagreb Croatia Osiguranje (CRO), 146.79
60. (63) BG Göttingen (GER), 146.74 – Göttingen may have punched its ticket to the next round of Eurocup play with its impressive 74-55 win over Aris last week. The Violets travel to Le Mans and with a win should clinch advancement.
61. (56) Le Mans (FRA), 146.67
62. (60) KK Zadar (CRO), 142.65
63. (62) Dnipro (UKR), 142.46
64. (59) Fabi Shoes Montegranaro (ITA), 137.93
65. (74) Maroussi BC (GRE), 135.13
66. (78) Liepaja Lauvas (LAT), 130.33
67. (66) KK Radnicki (SER), 129.17
68. (70) Nevezis (LTU), 128.02
69. (67) Asvel Basket (FRA), 127.52
70. (64) Chorale Roanne (FRA), 124.19
71. (76) Spartak St. Petersburg (RUS), 123.25
72. (65) Air Avellino (ITA), 123.20
73. (89) Olin Edirne (TUR), 122.90
74. (71) TTU/Kalev (EST), 120.65 – Hey, BiE fave Bambale Osby was named Baltic Basketball League player of the week! Sweet.
75. (69) L’Elan Chalon/Saone (FRA), 120.26
76. (68) KK Siroki TT Kabeli (BIH), 119.89
77. (73) Perlas (LTU), 119.60
78. (77) BC Minsk 2006 (BLR), 117.78 – Europe’s top team (relatively speaking, of course) is now 30-0 and a full 10 games better than the nearest opponents. Maybe these guys should be invited into that Mediterranean League thing in the interests of parity…
79. (72) SLUC Nancy (FRA), 114.08
80. (75) KK Igokea (BIH), 112.39
81. (83) BC Lokomotiv Kuban (RUS), 112.21
82. (n/a) CS Bologna (ITA), 112.14 – With its 71-70 squeaker win over Scavolini Pesaro, Bologna rose to 10-9 and … what? Eleven of the 16 Serie A teams have losing records? Whoa.
83. (84) Honka Espoo Playboys (FIN), 111.99
84. (80) Hapoel Jerusalem (ISR), 111.79
85. (82) Lukoil Academic Sofia (BUL), 111.22
86. (86) Anwil Wloclawek (POL), 107.91
87. (87) BC Donetsk (UKR), 107.21
88. (88) Deutsche Bank Skyliners (GER), 104.49
89. (90) Gasterra Flames (NED), 101.19
90. (95) BK Prostejov (CZE), 100.29
91. (92) EWE Baskets (GER), 97.42
92. (97) Pyrinto (FIN), 97.11
93. (96) Hoverla (UKR), 96.94
94. (98) Hapoel Gilboa/Galil (ISR), 92.63
95. (94) SKS Polpharma-Pakmet (POL), 92.28
96. (99) Ferro-ZNTU (UKR) 87.21
97. (103) BC Oostende (BEL), 86.49
98. (104) Kataja (FIN), 85.13
99. (105) Kryvbasbasket (UKR), 83.46
100. (n/a) Newcastle Eagles (GBR), n/a – BiE’s ceremonial no. 100 spot, held for the reigning leader of the British Basketball League, finally has a new holder as the Eagles rise to 15-5 on the season.
Bubbling under: Telekom Baskets Bonn (GER), 82.39; Korihait (FIN), 81.79; KTP Basket KOTKA (FIN), 81.32; Maccabi Haifa (ISR), 81.05; Krasnye Krylia (RUS), 79.96; Hyeres-Toulon (FRA), 78.74; Kouvot (FIN), 75.13; FMP (SER), 70.96; Szolnoki Olaj (HUN), 69.23; Dexia Mons-Hainaut (BEL), 68.27; Energa Czarni (POL), 67.58; Antwerp Giants (BEL), 63.46; BC Kyiv (UKR), 63.46; PGE Turow (POL), 60.65; Sundsvall (SWE), 58.11; New Yorker Phantoms (GER), 58.04; Lisboa e Benfica (POR), 57.86; Trefl Sopot (POL), 57.36; LF Basket (SWE), 55.46; Paris Levallois (FRA), 53.18; Artland Dragons (GER), 52.55.
