As most European domestic leagues are taking a break for a week or two for national cup and/or all-star festivities, BallinEurope crunches the numbers again to determine where the Continent’s finest stand.
Near the top, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Euroleague-side punishment of Union Olimpija shook things up a bit within the top 10 and Olympiacos reasserted its (possibly temporary) superiority over their Green rivals to swap spots in the top five.
Read on to read up on the most dominant team in Europe (they’re down there at no. 71), the worst week, the weirdest week, the re-entry of a couple old favorites on the chart and some good video embeds. As always, in a show of solidarity with those who would Back British Basketball, the current top team in Great Britain holds the number 100 spot on the list. (Sorry, Maccabi Haifa fans…)
1. (1) FC Barcelona (ESP), 348.18
2. (2) Real Madrid (ESP), 339.85
3. (3) Montepaschi Siena (ITA), 334.11
4. (5) Olympiacos (GRE), 331.44
5. (4) Panathinaikos (GRE), 326.61
6. (6) Fenerbahçe Ülker (TUR), 322.83
7. (10) Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), 302.82 – The Stars’ dominant win to shrug off the Barcelona loss rewards Maccabi Tel Aviv with a relatively huge leap inside the top 10. Once again this looks to unquestionably be a Euroleague Final Four team.
8 (tie). (8) Caja Laboral Baskonia (ESP), 300.45
8 (tie). (9) Power Electronics Valencia (ESP), 300.45 – The gemini of Europe are once again knotted up in the ACB, knotted up in overall EL record, and knotted up in the BiE top 100. Perhaps things will become clearer after the Copa del Rey: On Thursday, Baskonia gets Bizkaia Bilbao Basket while Valencia takes on Vallalolid. Then again, maybe we’ll have to wait for March 9. (For the record, Baskonia won at Valencia in week six, 81-67.) And recall the stirring finish to these clubs’ meeting in the 2010 Supercopa…
10. (11) Efes Pilsen (TUR), 286.67
11. (7) Union Olimpija (SLO), 285.91 – The worst week in basketball? Well, that was certainly the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the pride of Slovenia was seriously saddened last week, first with the 104-67 demolishment Maccabi handed ‘em chased by this weekend’s 86-85 loss to Široki TT Kabeli (this week no. 80 on the BiE Top 100) that knocked Olimpija out of first place on the Adriatic League table (albeit certainly temporarily, given the wacky fluctuations of that association). How do you say, “Thank god that week’s over” in Slovenian?
12. (14) Unicaja Malaga (ESP), 283.03
13. (12) Partizan Belgrade (SER), 273.33
14. (13) Zalgiris Kaunas (LTU), 271.76
15. (15) Lietuvos Rytas (LTU), 262.19
16. (16) AJ Milano (ITA), 255.83
17. (17) Lottomatica Roma (ITA), 255.43
18. (19) BC Khimki Moscow region (RUS), 234.23
19. (18) CSKA Moscow (RUS), 231.78
20. (20) Cholet Basket (FRA), 228.70
21. (21) Brose Baskets Bamberg (GER), 217.86
22. (23) Unics Kazan (RUS), 217.80
23. (27) Cajasol Sevilla (ESP), 216.61
24. (22) Asseco Prokom (POL), 210.59
25. (28) Gran Canaria 2014 (ESP), 207.62 – The wildest week was certainly turned in by Gran Canaria. On Tuesday, the Islanders managed to shoot 53.4% overall (including over 48% on 3s) but lost the wild 104-100 overtime match to Cedevita Zagreb, which managed a ridiculous 54.4% success rate in a virtual clinic. Five days later, Jaycee Carroll followed his 28-point showing against Cedevita with a dominant 26-point display in a nail-biting two-point victory over Baskonia. Open note to Canaria fans: Try and give the heart a rest this week, eh? Do something more restful than watching your team before the Copa Del Rey; you know, like skydiving.
26. (33) Benetton Bwin Basket (ITA), 206.48
27. (30) Asefa Estudiantes (ESP), 205.23
28. (29) Tartu Rock (EST), 203.56
29. (34) Norrkoping Dolphins (SWE), 202.31
30. (31) BC Azovmash (UKR), 200.72
31. (24) Galatsaray Café Crown (TUR), 200.26
32. (38) Cedevita Zagreb (CRO), 199.54 – What’s that? Highlights from the Eurocup game of the week, i.e. Cedevita’s OT win over Gran Canaria? Sure!
33. (44) Budivelnik (UKR), 196.28
34. (32) Cibona Zagreb (CRO), 195.50
35. (41) Pepsi Caserta (ITA), 193.15
36. (40) Bennet Cantu (ITA), 191.67
37. (43) KK Krka (SLO), 190.92
38. (39) Aris BSA (GRE), 190.73
39. (42) BK Ventspils (LAT), 189.58 – This, posted on the Baltic Basketball League Facebook page this morning: “BK Ventspils’ board decided to fire team’s head coach Algirdas Brazys. At the start of the season, Brazys signed a two-year contract with the team, but lately got some bad losses and the loss to VEF juniors in LBL was the last drop in the cup. Brazys managed the team for 16 games in BBL and won 12 of them. BK Ventspils is currently [in second place in the BBL]. Gee, you’d never know these guys are 30-10 in 2010-11 and have a two-game lead in their domestic league…
40 (tie). (45) CEZ Nymburk (CZE), 184.02
40 (tie). (49) Hemofarm Stada (SER), 184.02
42. (47) Buducnost (MNT), 178.73
43. (50) Siauliai (LTU), 176.44
44. (46) Banvit BK (TUR), 176.16
45. (48) VEF Riga (LAT), 172.33
46. (26) Valladolid (ESP), 170.83 – The numbers caught up with the Blancos Rueda this week, but the surprise of the ACB will surely climb the post-Copa Del Rey charts.
47. (51) Alba Berlin (GER), 168.50
48. (53) PAOK BC (GRE), 166.06
49. (52) Pinar Karsiyaka (TUR), 165.26
50. (25) Spirou Charleroi (BEL), 164.42
51. (55) Le Mans (FRA), 160.83
52. (56) Panellinios BC (GRE), 159.53
53 (tie). (35) Bizkaia Bilbao Baskets (ESP), 155.83
53 (tie). (36) DKV Joventut (ESP), 155.83
53 (tie). (37) Fuenlabrada (ESP), 155.83
56. (54) Beşiktaş Cola Turka (TUR), 153.55
57. (57) Rudupis (LTU), 153.49
58. (61) BG Goettingen (GER), 149.37
59. (59) Gravelines Dunkerque (FRA), 149.29
60. (60) KK Zadar (CRO), 145.40
61. (58) KK Zagreb Croatia Osiguranje (CRO), 143.14
62. (64) Dnipro (UKR), 142.81
63. (65) Chorale Roanne (FRA), 135.29
64. (63) Asvel Basket (FRA), 133.77
65. (62) SLUC Nancy (FRA), 132.25
66. (71) Perlas (LTU), 131.67
67. (n/a) Air Avellino (ITA), 131.11 – The high debut of the week welcomes back old favorite Air Avellino. By outgunning Virtus Bologna in a 104-101 shootout on Sunday behind Szymon Szewczyk’s incredible 36-point 17-rebound performance, this side is now 10-8 and holds fourth place in the Serie A standings going into the cup tournament.
68. (70) Maroussi BC (GRE), 130.83
69. (72) TTU/Kalev (EST), 129.31
70. (73) Spartak St. Petersburg (RUS), 129.05
71. (83) BC Minsk 2006 (BLR), 128.76 – The most dominant team in Europe domestically? Not even close: Minsk now sports a ridiculous 28-0 record in Belarus, led by Larry Hall, Tywain McKee, and Melvin Sanders; you may remember them … you know, the only Americans playing ball in Belarus…?
Incidentally, as far as BiE knows, McKee is still searching for a new nickname.
72. (74) Nevezis (LTU), 128.16
73 (tie). (66) KK Igokea (BIH), 125.83
73 (tie). (67) KK Radnicki (SER), 125.83
75. (76) Liepaja Lauvas (LAT), 125.33
76. (69) Hapoel Jerusalem (ISR), 125.15
77. (75) Khimik Yuzhny (UKR), 124.01
78. (68) Turk Telecom Ankara (TUR), 123.12
79. (80) BC Lokomotiv Kuban (RUS), 121.67
80. (79) KK Siroki TT Kabeli (BIH), 119.08
81. (81) Lukoil Academic Sofia (BUL), 119.07
82. (77) BC Donetsk (UKR), 117.69
83. (85) Honka Espoo Playboys (FIN), 117.15
84. (78) Deutsche Bank Skyliners (GER), 113.33
85. (84) EWE Baskets (GER), 108.89
86. (87) Gasterra Flames (NED), 107.33
87. (89) BK Prostejov (CZE), 107.22
88. (82) Hapoel Gilboa/Galil (ISR), 104.24
89. (86) Hoverla (UKR), 101.33
90. (88) Anwil Wloclawek (POL), 100.38
91. (94) Ferro-ZNTU (UKR), 99.62
92. (90) KK Crvena zvezda (SER), 98.83
93. (91) Orleanaise Loiret (FRA), 96.81
94. (96) Pyrinto (FIN), 95.61
95. (95) Telekom Baskets Bonn (GER), 93.14
96. (93) Elitzur Netanya (ISR), 92.33
97. (106) Kalev/Cramo (EST), 91.58
98. (n/a) Hyeres-Toulon (FRA), 90.98 – Aaaaaand just squeaking in is this LNB team, who climbed to 10-7 and sixth place in France with an upset win in Orleans – better yet, the W also got Hyeres-Toulon into the French Cup tournament.
99. BC Oostende (BEL), 90.73
100. (100) Mersey Tigers, n/a
Bubbling under: Maccabi Haifa (ISR), 90.21 points; Kryvbasbasket (UKR), 89.71; KTP Basket KOTKA (FIN), 86.46; Krasnye Krylia Samara (RUS), 85.00; Szolnoki Olaj (HUN), 84.33; Energa Czarni (POL), 80.52; Dexia Mons-Hainaut (BEL), 78.75; BC Kyiv (UKR), 74.67; SKS Polpharma-Pakmet (POL), 73.96; PGE Turow (POL), 73.33; Lisboa e Benfica (POR), 68.77; New Yorker Phantoms (GER), 65.95; Antwerp Giants (BEL), 65.42; Paris Levallois (FRA), 63.92; Artland Dragons (GER), 63.58; Apoel Nicosia (CYP), 62.28; LF Basket (SWE), 60.56; Enterprise Dynamo Moscow (RUS), 60.56; FMP (SER), 59.83; Trefl Sopot (POL), 58.33.
