Around Europe…
We are at a wintery mood, and, as the teams are in the process of the preseason. Hoopfellas makes its first trip “around Europe” for the upcoming season…
So, it’s the preseason. Teams all around Europe have been playing friendly games and the coaches are trying to piece their teams together. This is a good time (on all terms) to make a trip around basketball Europe…
Khimki is now “full”…
Khimki closed their roster ideally, signing the former Laker, Thomas Robinson, who makes the Russian team very strong with his presence at “5”. Hoopfellas talked about Robinson this summer (he was our choice to cover the 5 position at Olympiacos after Birch left the team).
He is a mobile big man with a great physical/athletic package, much needed by Khimki if they wanted to look in the eye the best teams of this year’s Euroleague. It’s also important that the 26-year-old American will work with Georgios Bartsokas, a coach that knows how to exploit players with his assets, in his first year in Europe. His motor and his ability to go for the offensive rebound may be “money in the bank” for the Russians this year, with the coach being called to help him decode this new context in the spacing of European basketball, in conjunction with his tendency to put the ball on the court (a great advantage, but without the proper handling it may backfire).
Khimki completed their moves this year having created a full roster with quality, on which the coaching staff must work in order to bring these players and their asset on the same page. There is a very good core of Russian players, experience and lots of talent for this level. The trio of Honeycutt-Gill-Thomas is very intriguing, in particular their versatility on defense (athletic players that can defend on both lines) as they can dominate rebounds (especially offensive rebounds, which means extra possessions) and their speed. The key-player this year will be Markovic, who, in conjunction with the presence of two more low volume – compared to Shved – scorers (Anderson, as well as Jenkins, the former Cverna Zvedza guard will have more of a balancing role in the backcourt) he will be able to secure a good level of production on offense, when the Russian star will not be on the floor. The correct basketball culture of players such as Markovic and Jenkins (who use up a big part of their energy on defense) or the veteran, Monya, are a good basis for the coach to build his defensive philosophy (not the easiest thing to do in a Russian team) beginning a new personal effort in a country where his abilities are well recognised. Last year (in the beginning of his Barcelona year) the Greek coach bought the Khimki backcourt, Rice-Koponen, which was very successful in the fast pace-multi cutting offense of Kurtinaitis in Moscow. This year’s team and the general situation in the Khimki organisation seem to be a far more better fit for the coach. We wish him all the best…
The “recipe” is known, the “seeds” are similar, but the “soil” is different…
Milan won the Italian Supercup, playing well in “a victory that will help us go back to practising with greater enthusiasm”, as Pianigiani stated. The first samples of the Italian team lead us again to what we said in relation to coach “Simo”’s plan for this new project. The Italian coach-I think it became clear in the offseason- is trying to recreate the successful MPS team in Lombardy. A part of his offensive playbook is common in a guard-based team with a quick frontcourt and mainly big men who can move well away from the paint. Ok, I don’t know if he sees Gudaitis-Bertrans as the new Lavrinovic-Kaukenas, or Theodore as a new version of McIntyre, but I take for granted that this time he will have to “love” his role-players a bit more. Pianigiani loves short rotations, but the new Euroleague format requires fresh players and depth. EA7 (they had players missing the supercup) has quality players who can come from behind and give a boost to the team, especially on defense, as well as in terms of energy (Abass, Pascolo), but I am not sure if these players will find a role this year. Theodore was excellent in the final, and Doudelock (he played, not having fully recovered from the flu, but still scored 11 points in the final quarter) and M’Baye (14 PTS-10REB) were the key-players. The “red shoes” are waiting for Kalnietis, Dragic, Young, Tarczewski (injury trouble), so they can all work together before the start of the season, and it will be interesting to see how the coach will find a role for everyone. Don’t forget that the “soil”, where coach Pianigiani’s “seeds” will fall in Milan is different than the one in Tuscany.
Bayern strikes back…
We also can’t wait for Bayern Munich’s effort to take the reins from Brose Basket. Daniele Baesi’s move from one big German club to the other has given an extra incentive to the matchup of these two teams, with Bayern, in coach Djorjevic’s second year with the team, looking more mature to fight for the championship. “Sale” has “his” players on the team, as, next to Lucic, another two starters of the Eurobasket runner-up, Serbia, were added to the Munich club. With Jovic and Macvan, plus Braydon Hobbs (a good fundamental guard, he came from Ulm), the Bavarian team is very creative in its productive process, which will be to the benefit of the cooperation offense, which is in coach Djorjevic’s philosophy (and worked very well last year, this year everything is set for it to work even better). Despite its absences (in essence they only had Gavel in their backcourt), the Munich team played well, especially on defense, where they needed to improve in relation to last year’ performance. “Sale” will play Barthel (we saw him in this year’s Eurobasket) in Kleber’s place in the rotation, he has the presence in the post he was missing last year with Zirbes, and he also obtained the services of Jared Cunningham, a good scorer in the backcourt, an asset the team didn’t have last year. Bayern (they played a special friendly game against Real Madrid in Munich’s airport, where it was rather cold) has more quality and character in terms of players, and they can reach higher. They are not the favourites against an organisation that has a winning culture, a rare thing for the German league, but their first success, even if it is in a friendly match (they beat Brose 71-58) make them a bit hungrier in light of the new season.
Denmon & Roberts
The “eternals” have already started putting the pieces together in a period where their international players are coming back, and the coaches may get a first taste of how each player will be able to handle the responsibilities they are given within their team. It’s obvious how important the performance of Roberts and Denmon will be for Olympiacos and Panathinaikos this year. The assets of these two players may be replaced by other players in their team (for example Strelnieks’ game has a common basis with Robert’s, and for Denmon’s outside execution in the “Clover” there are good wings that can play at “2”), but the expectations the character of the new American players brings to their teams, and the way they handle themselves on the floor are important, especially with the way it affects the game of their teams.
You know I appreciate Bryan Robert’s game. He is the “fanciest” move of the Reds for this year. Although, to be honest, I was expecting a different sequence of choices in the backcourt, after Strelnieks signed. Roberts brings leadership and another dynamic on offense, which the team’s backcourt didn’t have last year. He is perfect from the free throw line, he is clutch, as he plays the game on the proper basis, as we have pointed out. The most important part of the Reds this year will be how coach Sfairopoulos will be able to solve the presumed problem in rim protection, and possibly defensive rebounding. Let’s not forget that Olympiacos was a top EL team last year in the way they protected their rim and defended their paint. They are a team that has learned to build their game through performing well in these fields.
On the other hand, Denmon is a player that is getting on the big stage for the first time, and his controlled game will be his main weapon in this transition. He knows how to work his movement away from the ball well, and the presence of Calathes will help him find good looks in the proper timing on half court. Most of all, the way he chooses his shots and his proper mentality in the floor may be a quality upgrade for Panathinaikos this year, especially in set conditions. This year the Greens have an excellent backcourt firepower, with a quartet of great shooters (Denmon, Rivers, Lojeski, Singleton). If Singleton remains as consistent as last year in shooting from the “4” position, the spacing context on offense will be far more beneficial for Panathinaikos to aim for the heart of the paint (in every form, drive, post-ups, PnR). Of course they need to WORK, in order to be able to play a different type of offense, for which we have talked about. Both teams are still in the beginning. We’ll have the chance to talk about them much more from now on…
P.S.: It’s rumoured that Hollis Thompson was annoyed by the many hours of video his new team watches. He, of course, found out soon enough why it is necessary in the new reality and how teams work in Europe. Ok, he may not be a moviegoer…
P.S.1: So, “Melo” at Oklahoma… Both he and the Knicks needed this change. Regarding his new environment… Of course the whole project won’t be easy. Paul George will need to show that he can be the best two-way player in the league, and if this happens, the entire game of the Thunder will look more efficient, covering some of Anthony’s bad habits. “Melo” himself must remember what made him stand out in the league. A few years ago we had called him the best offensive weapon “inside the 5-metre line”. I think very highly of Bill Donovan’s mind. The guy is one of the best products of the American coaching scene in the new era. He said “yes” to the NBA challenge, leaving the throne and the royal position Florida provided him. What he has to manage is very different. I can’t wait to see his ideas…
P.S.2: A big thumbs up to AEK for deciding to hand out season tickets to unemployed people and students. Basketball is more than just “business”, it’s a way of life. When an organisation makes such moves, it can only be to its benefit…
Translated by: George-Orestis Zoumpos
