EUROCUP REGULAR SEASON GROUP B ANALYSIS
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GROUP B SCHEDULE
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GAME 1, NOVEMBER 25
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Lukoil Academic vs. Unics Kazan
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Barons/LMT Riga vs. Dynamo Moscow
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GAME 2, DECEMBER 2
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Dynamo Moscow vs. Lukoil Academic
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Unics Kazan vs. Barons/LMT Riga
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GAME 3, DECEMBER 9
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Unics Kazan vs. Dynamo Moscow
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Lukoil Academic vs. Barons/LMT Riga
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GAME 4, DECEMBER 16
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Dynamo Moscow vs. Unics Kazan
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Barons/LMT Riga vs. Lukoil Academic
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GAME 5, JANUARY 6
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Unics Kazan vs. Lukoil Academic
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Dynamo Moscow vs. Barons/LMT Riga
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GAME 6, JANUARY 13
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Lukoil Academic vs. Dynamo Moscow
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Barons/LMT Riga vs. Unics Kazan
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Some of the biggest highlights in the Eurocup regular season are set to take place in Group B, with four talented teams fighting for the two Last 16 tickets available. Dynamo Moscow of Russia won the ULEB Cup title in 2006 and reached the semifinals last season. Dynamo is ready to shine in the Eurocup as one of the teams to beat yet again this season. Bulgarian powerhouse Lukoil Academic in its Europe's second club competition for the sixth consecutive seasons and as usual, its goal is to survive the first round and see what it can achieve from that moment. It will not be an easy task, however, as its Group B opponents also have potential to go very deep in the competition. Reigning Latvian League champion Barons/LMT also won the FIBA Eurocup last season and are ready to take a bigger challenge in the 2008-09 Eurocup. Last but not least, even when Unics Kazan of Russia reached Group B through the Qualifying Rounds, it cannot be underestimated. In fact, Unics reached the ULEB Cup semifinals in 2007 and the Final Eight last season.
Dynamo has put together arguably one of the best rosters in club history, landing marquee free agents all around Europe and even beyond. Coach David Blatt, who won EuroBasket 2007 with Russia, is the new boss in town. Dynamo kept a powerful core of experienced players such as Travis Hansen, Robertas Javtokas, Sergey Monya, Dmitry Domani or Sergey Bykov, as well as adding some of the best free agents available. Former All-Euroleague second team selection Darjus Lavrinovic, versatile forward Bostjan Nachbar, shooting guard Jannero Pargo, playmaker Hollis Price or combo guard Arriel McDonald, a ULEB Cup finalist with Akasvayu that returned to his former club, round a deep, solid roster with no limits. Lukoil is back with Todor Stoykov, the ULEB Cup's all-time scorer and its assists leader, too. Stoykov plays a key veteran role in a team that features Bulgarian talents Chavdar Kostov and Hristo Nikolov, shooting guard Riste Stefanov, big man Kenny Adeleke, swingman Tim Pickett and recently signed playmaker Kevin Kruger.
Barons/LMT opted to keep the core of players that led the club to its biggest-ever success last season, such as veteran forward Dainius Adomaitis, guard Giedrius Gustas, scoring machine Armands Skele, center Kaspars Berzins and above all, star power forward Demetrius Alexander, its true leader on court. Barons improved its roster with several key additions, like forwards Adrian Henning and Corey Smith, playmaker Todd Abernethy or big man Charles Rhodes. Its options rely on Alexander and Skele as Barons' franchise players, as well as being strong at home, just as it has been in the Baltic League so far this season. Unics Kazan survived tough tests against Energa Czarni and 2004 ULEB Cup champion Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem in the qualifying rounds to reach the regular season. Do-it-all forward Tariq Kirksay will be its main reference due to its outstanding versatility and game knowledge. Unics also landed a well-rounded group of veterans ready to deliver right away, such as scoring guards Terrell Lyday and Marko Popovic, as well as power forwards Kresimir Loncar and Vladimir Veremeenko. Sharp shooter Sergey Chikalkin and up-and-coming center Dmitri Sokolov are set to play major roles for Unics this season.
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com
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