euroleague qtr finals

[la bomba]

CSKA V Caja Laboral.
Barca V Madrid.
Olympiacos V Asseco
Maccabi V Partizan.

I can't see a final 4 beyond CSKA V Barca and Olympiacos V Maccabi.
But you never know.
I think Olympiacos and cska will have no trouble 3 0 for olympiacos and 3 0 or 3 1 for CSKA.

Barca should beat Madrid 3 0 or 3 1 , but with barca madrid you never know, if Madrid sneak a victory in 1 of the first 2 games they might have a chance, albeit a very slim one. Partizan I hope suprises Maccabi , let's have an ALL European final.
23rd March can't wait!

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Terrible nightmare match ups for Barca. They get their rival for possibly a 5 game series then they get the most clutch and experienced team in CSKA. If they somehow manage to beat CSKA (Barca has a 50% chance against them) then they will get Olympiacos in the final.

Olympiacos is an awful match up for Barca because Barca's depth (what they use to win every single game) is not a factor against Olympiacos. If Barca wins the Euroleague with that road then kudos to them, because that will be incredibly difficult to pull off.

Poor showing by PAO to not let Maroussi through since Bertomeu is trying to take away Greece's 3rd spot in Euroleague. Anyway it is good for Maroussi in the long run because now they can focus on just Greek League and try to win 3rd place to get back to Euroleague. It would be really hard to play Euroleague playoffs and still have enough left to beat Panellinios, Panionios, Aris in the Greek playoffs.

Epic failure by Cibona's defense. Words do not even describe it. That is just unreal. They are the biggest chokers ever.

[Hyman]

Barcelona-Real Madrid, will be, if they arent strange injuries an easy 3-0 or 3-1 series. Barcelona are very superior not to them, but to any team in Europe and they dont winning this year EL will be an epic fail attending to their level

Barcelona-CSKA match IMO is 85-15 for Barcelona. It would be a major surprise them losing that match

I give Barcelona 75% chances of winning EL, Olympiakos 15% and CSKA 10%

All the rest have no chances

[Hyman]

No way this CSKA team is 50-50 against current Bar

[Hyman]

I dont think CSKA is superior than Real Madrid. I think they are at a similar level. Two steps away from Barcelona

[la bomba]

i think just like lakas underestimates barca you are underestimating CSKA. Siskauskas alone beat barca last year, no reason why he can't do it again. I hope not , i am an avid barca fan and obviously want them to win. if barca are favourites i would say it isnt more than 55 45 ! but first they have to eliminate Madrid. yes they have been superior top them but you cant just assume an easy tie, it won't be. I think Caja laboral do have a team to complicate things for CSKA but English has been a big disappointment for them and dusko has a knack of restraining players.He nearly ruined Ilyasova's and Vasquez's careers at barca. he doesnt know how to use Eliyahu.I give credit to PAO for beating Marousi ,it is always awful when a team in sports allows another one to go through and screws up another team's chances,it would have been unfair on partizan. Cibona choked because they knew that they couldnt go through when they found out khimki had won.

[kaktus14]

Terrible nightmare match ups for Barca. They get their rival for possibly a 5 game series then they get the most clutch and experienced team in CSKA. If they somehow manage to beat CSKA (Barca has a 50% chance against them) then they will get Olympiacos in the final.

Olympiacos is an awful match up for Barca because Barca's depth (what they use to win every single game) is not a factor against Olympiacos. If Barca wins the Euroleague with that road then kudos to them, because that will be incredibly difficult to pull off.

Poor showing by PAO to not let Maroussi through since Bertomeu is trying to take away Greece's 3rd spot in Euroleague. Anyway it is good for Maroussi in the long run because now they can focus on just Greek League and try to win 3rd place to get back to Euroleague. It would be really hard to play Euroleague playoffs and still have enough left to beat Panellinios, Panionios, Aris in the Greek playoffs.

Epic failure by Cibona's defense. Words do not even describe it. That is just unreal. They are the biggest chokers ever.

Not a choke,they knew that ****ers Oly didnt made eny effort,and Khimki was up 15 5min to go,so they just stopped playing,even let OT and Caja wins it big,if jews can play along so can Peras with caja:rockon:

[kaktus14]

Anyway,Barca is gonna kill Real,CSKA also will have easy job unless Splitter is back,without him Caja plays like GSW,I think Prokom cna take at least one game at home,they beat CSKA and Real home,and Oly can play as shit on some occasions,Partizan have chance against Maccabi,even tho I think they can't win in Tel Aviv,Maccabi always has refs on their side when they play at home

CSKA v Barca is final before final

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Barcelona-CSKA match IMO is 85-15 for Barcelona. It would be a major surprise them losing that match

You are an idiot.

[la bomba]

You are an idiot.
I hope Hyman is right!! but i put this at 51 49!

[baggy_b]

I can't see a final 4 beyond CSKA V Barca and Olympiacos V Maccabi.

These four teams are indeed the favourites to qualify for the Final Four. I think Caja Laboral could give a good fight against CSKA if they have Splitter back and healthy.

Hopefully Partizan can win at least one game as they will be playing at Belgrade Arena with 23,000 fans supporting them.

[la bomba]

These four teams are indeed the favourites to qualify for the Final Four. I think Caja Laboral could give a good fight against CSKA if they have Splitter back and healthy.

Hopefully Partizan can win at least one game as they will be playing at Belgrade Arena with 23,000 fans supporting them.
i hope partizan win one in tel aviv and then 2 in front of their fans!
Caja Laboral with dusko dont stand a chance. We will see how they do against barca this weekend in the spanish league.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

CSKA should still be considered the team to beat. Olympiacos is clearly the most talented team (although their coach is an idiot), Barca is certainly playing the best all season and if they maintain it should win, however CSKA is still the same old CSKA.

Even without Messina and Smodis they have not skipped a beat, just as they did not when they lost Papaloukas. If you meet CSKA in an elimination game you are going to get 30 plus minutes of Holden, Langdon, Siska, Khryapa and then along with them 20 plus minutes of Planinic and Kaun. If Kaun stays out of foul trouble, Planinic does not go crazy as he sometimes does, and if someone else steps up like maybe Bonsuh, then without any doubt CSKA will once again beat Barca or Olympiacos.

They still have the best individual player of all three of those teams in Siska and he has all the support he needs around him. Anyone that thinks Barca will cake walk on CSKA is delusional.

[la bomba]

CSKA should still be considered the team to beat. Olympiacos is clearly the most talented team (although their coach is an idiot), Barca is certainly playing the best all season and if they maintain it should win, however CSKA is still the same old CSKA.

Even without Messina and Smodis they have not skipped a beat, just as they did not when they lost Papaloukas. If you meet CSKA in an elimination game you are going to get 30 plus minutes of Holden, Langdon, Siska, Khryapa and then along with them 20 plus minutes of Planinic and Kaun. If Kaun stays out of foul trouble, Planinic does not go crazy as he sometimes does, and if someone else steps up like maybe Bonsuh, then without any doubt CSKA will once again beat Barca or Olympiacos.

They still have the best individual player of all three of those teams in Siska and he has all the support he needs around him. Anyone that thinks Barca will cake walk on CSKA is delusional.
I agree 100% with you.

[la bomba]

good warm up game for barca in acb. beating caja laboral in vitoria! first defeat at home for caja laboral in nearly two years(in acb regular season) For those that think Rubio cant shoot,I agree he is not a shooter,but he can have his day. 5 out of 5 3s. Bring on Madrid on tuesday.

[la bomba]

great qtr final games! apart from the very predictable blow out in Moscow, the other three games were great to watch.Partizan simply amazing! I really want them to make final four, they deserve it. Barca were poor against a really not so good real madrid. Navarro was terrible, his free throws saved him. Mikael was tremendous and saved the day with Ndong.Olympiacos i thought would win by more, maybe we have to give Asseco prokom credit. Bring on Thursday.

[Sakkreth]

If Kleiza keeps playing like this olympiacos going to win it all...

[Lakas Fan Yo]

If Kleiza keeps playing like this olympiacos going to win it all...

I think CSKA is still probably the favorite. They just know how to win.

[la bomba]

agree with lakas. cska are the favourites,barca have to play a lot better if they want to win any games in Madrid, Navarro is doing his usual disappearing act in the key games. I hope Partizan make it to Paris. To do so they have to win both games in Belgrade as i dont think they would win a game 5 in Tel Aviv.

[jamal99]

Partizan won game 3, 81-73 in front of 22000+ fans. It was epic... Every player gave 200%.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Partizan won game 3, 81-73 in front of 22000+ fans. It was epic... Every player gave 200%.

No doubt this is the greatest thing ever what Partizan is doing. Vujosevic = coach of year, Maric = MVP, Vesely = rising star, maybe even defensive player of year = Vranes

Maric and McAleb should be all Euroleague. Unreal season for Partizan.

[jamal99]

No doubt this is the greatest thing ever what Partizan is doing. Vujosevic = coach of year, Maric = MVP, Vesely = rising star, maybe even defensive player of year = Vranes

Maric and McAleb should be all Euroleague. Unreal season for Partizan.

Take a look at current voting results
http://euroleaguequiz.euroleague.net/voting10/all_eteam_10_results.php

Maric has most votes, and 4 of Partizans players are in All Euroleague team...

[la bomba]

I already have tickets for final four and I am hoping Partizan make it, their fans are incredible. I have been to many final fours with macabbi in it and , yes their fans go in massive numbers and create good atmosphere, but they are rude as! Partizan fans are far better. I am hoping for cska barca and olympiakos partizan semis

[la bomba]

oh and def vujosevic coach of the year whether they make it to f4 or not. I see lakas that you have changed your mind about Vesely, you use to say at the begining of the season that he was not to be considered a rising star and now you think he is. I can see why, you are right at 1st you could see a lot of inconsistency but now he really is coming through. Agree with you .

[Sakkreth]

Never could had thought that Mesina is so stupid he sit Lavrinovic, Garbajosa for whole game when everyone whos playing sucked badly.

[jamal99]

Never could had thought that Mesina is so stupid he sit Lavrinovic, Garbajosa for whole game when everyone whos playing sucked badly.

He benched Velickovic too...

[Lakas Fan Yo]

oh and def vujosevic coach of the year whether they make it to f4 or not. I see lakas that you have changed your mind about Vesely, you use to say at the begining of the season that he was not to be considered a rising star and now you think he is. I can see why, you are right at 1st you could see a lot of inconsistency but now he really is coming through. Agree with you .

Well to be fair I think Bartzokas was the best coach this year hands down and I also think he is the best coach in Europe today. But Vujosevic deserves the award if he takes Partizan to the final four.

[jamal99]

Partizan won 76-67 and advances to final 4 with 3-1 win against Maccabi!!!
Final four contestants are CSKA, Barcelona, Olympiakos and Partizan!
Amazing, simply amazing...

[Hyman]

Barcelona are going to wipe the floor against CSKA. At least a +10 win for them.

[la bomba]

He benched Velickovic too...
in game 3 he did, not in game 4. He played about 22 minutes today I think. Yet Messina like Ivanovic is one of these coaches that does not use his bench well and has a tendancy to punish players.Ivanovic almost ruined Vazquez,Ilyasova and Marc Gasol at Barca. I think vujosevic deserves more credit than bartzokas, I think his acheivement is greater, but true Bartzokas deserves credit. I am glad that partizan eliminated macabbi. They will have 0 pressure against Olympiacos.

[la bomba]

Barcelona are going to wipe the floor against CSKA. At least a +10 win for them.
I hope you are right, but I forsee a tight game. Today cska were dead and buried and it was Holden's turn to come up with an amazing 4th qtr. in the final 4 last year, barca were the better side until Siskauskas decided to win the game, on another day it will be langdon or khryapa. If all 4 of these players have a bad game maybe barca will wipe the floor with them,otherwise it will be a supertough game for barca.

[la bomba]

btw everybody spoke of the real madrid group as the group of death, rightly so they are all dead! :) none of them in the f4 yet 2 from barca and partizan group,showing how much credit partizan deserve.I hope that barca and partizan play the final.

[kaktus14]

Well Vujosevic is best coach in Europe for years now,Partizan got robbed of F4 two years ago,last year in quaters CSKA was just too good,now they got Maccabi who was really average with that clown on bench and they got schooled,Partizan with lowest budget in EL,well maybe Cibona has lower this year,and with 4 starters gone again are there,they scounting is unbelivable,every year they sell their best players and they find new ones which step up big time,Roberts was shit in Zvezda last year,Kecman bench warmer in Pao,McCallebb was ok in Turkey in shitty club,Vesely was playing for small club in Slovenia when Vujosevic found him,they have also new kids in this squad,just unreal

Well I hope they can beat Oly,cause they also can play very badly,and Yannakis is for me also very average coach,but it will be very though on neutral stand,not sure how many fans will come to Paris,there will be more greeks for sure

Barca showed that Real just got lucky in second game,Ricky schooled Prigioni,who showed that he is still the bigest choker in Europe

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Barcelona are going to wipe the floor against CSKA. At least a +10 win for them.

I remember all the Spaniards said the same thing last year. And as usual Navarro threw up brick after brick. And you forget that the only team that has CSKA's number is PAO and they are eliminated. The Euroleague minus PAO is like CSKA's playground and that included Barca last year. The same time when every Spanish fan guaranteed a blow out for Barca then.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Well Vujosevic is best coach in Europe for years now,Partizan got robbed of F4 two years ago,last year in quaters CSKA was just too good,now they got Maccabi who was really average with that clown on bench and they got schooled,Partizan with lowest budget in EL,well maybe Cibona has lower this year,and with 4 starters gone again are there,they scounting is unbelivable,every year they sell their best players and they find new ones which step up big time,Roberts was shit in Zvezda last year,Kecman bench warmer in Pao,McCallebb was ok in Turkey in shitty club,Vesely was playing for small club in Slovenia when Vujosevic found him,they have also new kids in this squad,just unreal

Well I hope they can beat Oly,cause they also can play very badly,and Yannakis is for me also very average coach,but it will be very though on neutral stand,not sure how many fans will come to Paris,there will be more greeks for sure

Barca showed that Real just got lucky in second game,Ricky schooled Prigioni,who showed that he is still the bigest choker in Europe

Maroussi had the lowest budget in Euroleague. As for Kecman there is no reason why he did not play in PAO and no reason why they chose to replace him with Tepic. Kecman is an excellent player and is very underrated. He is the guy that always makes the big one on one offensive scores when Partizan is in trouble and his defense is great.

Partizan making the final four is amazing but at the same time they got lucky that PAO had all those injuries or they would not have made it past the top 16. Besides, to be honest about it, Maroussi would have also beaten Maccabi. Macabbi was a very weak playoff opponent.

I give all the respect in the world to Partizan but they will not beat Olympiacos.

[jamal99]

Maroussi had the lowest budget in Euroleague. As for Kecman there is no reason why he did not play in PAO and no reason why they chose to replace him with Tepic. Kecman is an excellent player and is very underrated. He is the guy that always makes the big one on one offensive scores when Partizan is in trouble and his defense is great.

Partizan making the final four is amazing but at the same time they got lucky that PAO had all those injuries or they would not have made it past the top 16. Besides, to be honest about it, Maroussi would have also beaten Maccabi. Macabbi was a very weak playoff opponent.

I give all the respect in the world to Partizan but they will not beat Olympiacos.

We will see. They were underdogs whole competition and when they got this far everything is possible...

[Lakas Fan Yo]

We will see. They were underdogs whole competition and when they got this far everything is possible...


Yeah, but all those mitigating circumstances are over now. They won't beat Olympiacos in a one game on a neutral court with all the marbles on the line. The Cinderella story will end there.

[la bomba]

vesely reminds me of ****a. I think both games will be close.Barca werent beaten badly by cska last year, if i remember correctly barca were winning most of the game until Siskauskas on his own decided to win it for CSKA . I agree that Navarro has a tendancy to disappear,but to his credit when barca needed him in the 2 games in madrid ,he appeared. He had two great games. I think this year barca will beat CSKA but it is very close and i wouldnt be suprised if CSKA beat them in a 3rd consecutive semifinal encounter,I was in Prague when they also beat them there and it was also barca's game for 3 qtrs. Hopefully they will have a good 4th qtr this time.
I cannot believe they have censored a players name!! :) well the slovenian born italian national ex barca,roma,girona,bologna,milan etc etc. Gregor F

[jamal99]

vesely reminds me of ****a. I think both games will be close.Barca werent beaten badly by cska last year, if i remember correctly barca were winning most of the game until Siskauskas on his own decided to win it for CSKA . I agree that Navarro has a tendancy to disappear,but to his credit when barca needed him in the 2 games in madrid ,he appeared. He had two great games. I think this year barca will beat CSKA but it is very close and i wouldnt be suprised if CSKA beat them in a 3rd consecutive semifinal encounter,I was in Prague when they also beat them there and it was also barca's game for 3 qtrs. Hopefully they will have a good 4th qtr this time.
I cannot believe they have censored a players name!! :) well the slovenian born italian national ex barca,roma,girona,bologna,milan etc etc. Gregor F

Funny that some people who I ball with call me Gregor or ****a, because I kinda look like him and we're similar at height and playing style. And no, Vesely doesnt remind me of him, Vesely is more athletic and energy type player.

[Lebron23]

I hope some European would upload Sasha Kaun's Highlights in the Euroleague.

[la bomba]

I hope some European would upload Sasha Kaun's Highlights in the Euroleague.
there wouldnt be that much to upload.atleast less than Vazquez or vujcic(especially passing) .

[jamal99]

there wouldnt be that much to upload.atleast less than Vazquez or vujcic(especially passing) .

Here are 2 dunks from Jan Vesely, he is a beast...
against Maccabi (game 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv94UTAmagE&feature=related

and last yer against CSKA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTSB8oB35T4

[Lakas Fan Yo]

I hope some European would upload Sasha Kaun's Highlights in the Euroleague.

I like Kaun a lot. He is very underrated. He's a great finisher and he's very athletic and very strong. He does not have much offensive ability other than dunking, but his dunks are really strong.

[Lebron23]

there wouldnt be that much to upload.atleast less than Vazquez or vujcic(especially passing) .



I like Kaun a lot. He is very underrated. He's a great finisher and he's very athletic and very strong. He does not have much offensive ability other than dunking, but his dunks are really strong.


Thanks for the update. He's going to be the Cavaliers starting Center next year if Shaq and Z retires in the off season.

[la bomba]

Thanks for the update. He's going to be the Cavaliers starting Center next year if Shaq and Z retires in the off season.
That is if he decides to go. People forget that players might not want to go to the NBA, I think he will stay in CSKA atleast one more year. Is it confirmed that he is going? have CSKA released him from his contract? Has the player said he is going?

[Lakas Fan Yo]

That is if he decides to go. People forget that players might not want to go to the NBA, I think he will stay in CSKA atleast one more year. Is it confirmed that he is going? have CSKA released him from his contract? Has the player said he is going?

He only makes 900,000 euros net in CSKA so about the same as $2.5 million in the NBA. So as of right now he could make more in the NBA. Then again CSKA could pay him more than the MLE is.

I think it will depend on if the win the Euroleague. If they win the Euroleague then for sure Kaun will get offered more money than the Cavs can pay him.

[b.jerk]

Big factor next season is the nba is probably going to be in a lockout next season. How many business do you know of that's hemorrhaging $400 million dollars. It wouldn't be responsible for the league to continue to borrow money to pay for the exorbinate salaries.

[b.jerk]

There's a lot from the nba to stay away from. The commissioner is a control freak, the merchandise is overpriced made of cheapest made-in-china quality, the shirts and plastic stuff are paper thin, the thug image doesn't help, the league is full floppers, and it's hard to watch the gazillion free throw shots per game. I understand why people for the most part are staying away from the nba. It's wnba attendance for most of the teams.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

There's a lot from the nba to stay away from. The commissioner is a control freak, the merchandise is overpriced made of cheapest made-in-china quality, the shirts and plastic stuff are paper thin, the thug image doesn't help, the league is full floppers, and it's hard to watch the gazillion free throw shots per game. I understand why people for the most part are staying away from the nba. It's wnba attendance for most of the teams.


The NBA was ruined by Stern.

[la bomba]

There's a lot from the nba to stay away from. The commissioner is a control freak, the merchandise is overpriced made of cheapest made-in-china quality, the shirts and plastic stuff are paper thin, the thug image doesn't help, the league is full floppers, and it's hard to watch the gazillion free throw shots per game. I understand why people for the most part are staying away from the nba. It's wnba attendance for most of the teams.
Agreed. As for the cavs paying Kaun more than 2.5million dollars i doubt it. Navarro was on 568,000 dollars! when he was there ,in barca he is on 3 million euros.
I can see Rudy Fernandez joining a big european team next year. There was talk of Ginobili coming to europe but apparently spurs have offered or about to offer him a contract of 37 million dollars for 3 years. approx

[Huey Freeman]

Agreed. As for the cavs paying Kaun more than 2.5million dollars i doubt it. Navarro was on 568,000 dollars! when he was there ,in barca he is on 3 million euros.
I can see Rudy Fernandez joining a big european team next year. There was talk of Ginobili coming to europe but apparently spurs have offered or about to offer him a contract of 37 million dollars for 3 years. approx
I honestly think Rudy is being underutilized on the Blazers roster. He's such a talented and versatile player and he's only getting around 22 minutes a game!

.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Rudy was always vastly overrated. The only player more overrated than him from Europe is Rubio. Rudy was never close to as good as the pre-NBA hype said he was.

[b.jerk]

Rudy Fernandez's regression is more of an indictment of the Portland Trailblazers than Rudy Fernandez. Outside of Brandon Roy what other trailblazer developed, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Greg Oden, Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, Sebastion Telfair, Victor Kriapa, Bayless? Brandon Roy was the only guy to develop and he was a four year college guy.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Rudy Fernandez's regression is more of an indictment of the Portland Trailblazers than Rudy Fernandez. Outside of Brandon Roy what other trailblazer developed, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Greg Oden, Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, Sebastion Telfair, Victor Kriapa, Bayless? Brandon Roy was the only guy to develop and he was a four year college guy.


Rudy was always extremely overrated. He was never even among the best players in Europe, yet he was universally proclaimed the Jordan of Europe by all NBA fans. Anyone that was not biased could see him struggling was a foregone conclusion, based on the absurd expectations on him.

He is very physically talented obviously, but his game just isn't that well developed from a skills point other than shooting and passing.

[b.jerk]

Rudy was always extremely overrated. He was never even among the best players in Europe, yet he was universally proclaimed the Jordan of Europe by all NBA fans. Anyone that was not biased could see him struggling was a foregone conclusion, based on the absurd expectations on him.

He is very physically talented obviously, but his game just isn't that well developed from a skills point other than shooting and passing.

Fernandez was a top guy his last year in europe. What happened was Kevin Pritchard declared him the "best player outside the nba" which was ridiculous and that organization has a history of trying to control dialog by harassing and threatening a different point-of-view. So anyone that said what was more real, really couldn't. I don't blame Rudy Fernandez for his struggles in Portland, he is one of 20+ guys that didn't reach their potential there.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Fernandez was a top guy his last year in europe. What happened was Kevin Pritchard declared him the "best player outside the nba" which was ridiculous and that organization has a history of trying to control dialog by harassing and threatening a different point-of-view. So anyone that said what was more real, really couldn't. I don't blame Rudy Fernandez for his struggles in Portland, he is one of 20+ guys that didn't reach their potential there.

No he was not a top player in Europe. That is a total myth that NBA fans created. He was a top 3-5 player in the ACB and the Eurocup. But he was not a top 5 Euroleague player and would not have been if he played there that season.

He might possibly be a top 10 Euroleague player right at this current time, but even that is probably being generous. He's very talented, but his skill set is too limited to match the expectations on him.

Being the 6th man on an NBA Western Conference playoff team is pretty much exactly where he should be. He's no better than that, so I don't understand at all why Portland would be criticized.

[Sakkreth]

No he was not a top player in Europe. That is a total myth that NBA fans created. He was a top 3-5 player in the ACB and the Eurocup. But he was not a top 5 Euroleague player and would not have been if he played there that season.

He might possibly be a top 10 Euroleague player right at this current time, but even that is probably being generous. He's very talented, but his skill set is too limited to match the expectations on him.

Being the 6th man on an NBA Western Conference playoff team is pretty much exactly where he should be. He's no better than that, so I don't understand at all why Portland would be criticized.

The man says truth!:applause:

[la bomba]

i think he is not overrated, i think rudy is a very good player, not great but very good. and he could do very well in a top euroleague team, he had the chance to go to barca nd turned it down to go to the NBA, like Navarro, Rigeadeau,Spanoulis etc he got what he deserved! Players should open their eyes, do you want to play 83 useless games for Memphis,where players play for themselves to get good stats, or do you want to play in 3 different competitions where every game counts? If i was a player of that standard I know what I would choose.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

i think he is not overrated, i think rudy is a very good player, not great but very good. and he could do very well in a top euroleague team, he had the chance to go to barca nd turned it down to go to the NBA, like Navarro, Rigeadeau,Spanoulis etc he got what he deserved! Players should open their eyes, do you want to play 83 useless games for Memphis,where players play for themselves to get good stats, or do you want to play in 3 different competitions where every game counts? If i was a player of that standard I know what I would choose.

If he goes back to Europe yes he would either play for Barca (most likely) or Real. However all this revisionist history about how he turned down Barca and would have played for them is nonsense.

The truth is that he never even considered playing for Barca. It was CSKA or Portland. The stuff about he would have signed with Barca is just nonsense. His only considerations were CSKA and Portland at that time.

[la bomba]

If he goes back to Europe yes he would either play for Barca (most likely) or Real. However all this revisionist history about how he turned down Barca and would have played for them is nonsense.

The truth is that he never even considered playing for Barca. It was CSKA or Portland. The stuff about he would have signed with Barca is just nonsense. His only considerations were CSKA and Portland at that time.
never said he would have gone, said he had the chance because barca wanted him. that doesnt mean he would have accepted.
cska apart from the fact they play a shite league and that you would live in a pretty different city would have still been better than NBA.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

never said he would have gone, said he had the chance because barca wanted him. that doesnt mean he would have accepted.
cska apart from the fact they play a shite league and that you would live in a pretty different city would have still been better than NBA.

CSKA from next season will be in a league at least equal, if not better than the ACB. The Superleague ceases and the United League fully forms. The United League will be a damn strong league, to an unbiased observer it will be better than the ACB is, or no worse at least. Of course, Barcelona's weather or Moscow's weather? That would make it for me right there.

With that being said, if he did sign with CSKA (the contract was for 6 years and 20 million euros) he would have probably been moved this summer to another team. Because CSKA cut their budget down. They would not have kept a foreign player at that price. So if he stayed in Europe by going to CSKA he would probably be in a team like Olympiacos or something now.

Obviously the most logical team for him now is Barca if he returns to Europe. But then again I think we should not count out Real. Surely he will get more money from Real. Barca does not even need him truth be told. And don't forget a team like Olympiacos. They still don't have a starting SG that they really like. Halperin is a very good player but he's the biggest choker in history. So he's really more the backup type guy on a serious club.

Olympiacos could certainly spend more than Barca if they wanted to and Rudy is the exact type of player that Olympiacos likes.

[la bomba]

plus Rudy is not a big fan of barca! What's the superleague then? WHat teams will be involved?

[Lakas Fan Yo]

plus Rudy is not a big fan of barca! What's the superleague then? WHat teams will be involved?

The Superleague won't have the big Russian clubs playing as their primary league anymore. The first division Russian clubs will stop playing games in that league and will only play games in the United League.

The United League is one of Prokhorov's big projects. He has put about as much money into that project as he is with the Nets.

The teams so far that will be in the United League next year are:

1. CSKA Moscow
2. Khimky Moscow Region
3. Dynamo Moscow
4. UNICS Kazan
5. Triumph Lyubertsy
6. Spartak Saint Petersburg
7. Krasnie Samara
8. Lokomotiv Kuban
9. Enisey Kasnoyarsk
10. Lietuvos Rytas
11. Zalgiris Kaunas
12. Prokom Gydnia


Rytas and Zalgiris will leave the Baltic League and instead focus on the United League. Prokom will also join. The basic format is the top division Russian clubs, plus the top Polish club, plus the top 2 Lithuanian clubs.

After next season, the league will then expand to 16 teams. The next 4 clubs will be made up of the Ukrainian champion, the Latvian champion, the Estonian champion, and either the second place Ukrainian team or Maccabi Tel Aviv. They are trying to get Maccabi into the league once it goes to the complete 16 clubs. If they can't get Maccabi then they will add the second place Ukrainian club.

They are still negotiating with Maccabi and last I heard it is 50/50 that they get them. The main interest of this is of course that Maccabi is a huge club that plays in a worthless league.

ULEB is partnering in this as it is part of their plan to divide up the basketball in Europe better and to place Euroleague and Eurocup spots more fairly. The United League would get 5 Euroleague places without Maccabi joining, and 6 if Maccabi did join. Then it would get 6 Eurocup places. It would also get either 3 or 4 EuroChallenge places, depending on whether Maccabi or the second placed Ukrainian club joined. Either way it would get 15 spots in European competitions.

The United League is also working on making a rule that clubs would have to have 5,000 arenas in order to compete, just like Spain is, and just like Italy and the Eurocup will be. Plus, the United League already has a big website with everything available in English, and a big sponsor in VTB Bank. In addition to that, the league already has a big TV deal lined up.

You are basically talking about a super version of the Adriatic League, or a better version of the old USSR league in a way. If they get Maccabi then no doubt it will be at least equal to the ACB in my mind. Even without Maccabi, it is right up there with the ACB and probably even stronger than the Greek A1.

Players from all over will be wanting to play in a league like that.

[la bomba]

The Superleague won't have the big Russian clubs playing as their primary league anymore. The first division Russian clubs will stop playing games in that league and will only play games in the United League.

The United League is one of Prokhorov's big projects. He has put about as much money into that project as he is with the Nets.

The teams so far that will be in the United League next year are:

1. CSKA Moscow
2. Khimky Moscow Region
3. Dynamo Moscow
4. UNICS Kazan
5. Triumph Lyubertsy
6. Spartak Saint Petersburg
7. Krasnie Samara
8. Lokomotiv Kuban
9. Enisey Kasnoyarsk
10. Lietuvos Rytas
11. Zalgiris Kaunas
12. Prokom Gydnia


Rytas and Zalgiris will leave the Baltic League and instead focus on the United League. Prokom will also join. The basic format is the top division Russian clubs, plus the top Polish club, plus the top 2 Lithuanian clubs.

After next season, the league will then expand to 16 teams. The next 4 clubs will be made up of the Ukrainian champion, the Latvian champion, the Estonian champion, and either the second place Ukrainian team or Maccabi Tel Aviv. They are trying to get Maccabi into the league once it goes to the complete 16 clubs. If they can't get Maccabi then they will add the second place Ukrainian club.

They are still negotiating with Maccabi and last I heard it is 50/50 that they get them. The main interest of this is of course that Maccabi is a huge club that plays in a worthless league.

ULEB is partnering in this as it is part of their plan to divide up the basketball in Europe better and to place Euroleague and Eurocup spots more fairly. The United League would get 5 Euroleague places without Maccabi joining, and 6 if Maccabi did join. Then it would get 6 Eurocup places. It would also get either 3 or 4 EuroChallenge places, depending on whether Maccabi or the second placed Ukrainian club joined. Either way it would get 15 spots in European competitions.

The United League is also working on making a rule that clubs would have to have 5,000 arenas in order to compete, just like Spain is, and just like Italy and the Eurocup will be. Plus, the United League already has a big website with everything available in English, and a big sponsor in VTB Bank. In addition to that, the league already has a big TV deal lined up.

You are basically talking about a super version of the Adriatic League, or a better version of the old USSR league in a way. If they get Maccabi then no doubt it will be at least equal to the ACB in my mind. Even without Maccabi, it is right up there with the ACB and probably even stronger than the Greek A1.

Players from all over will be wanting to play in a league like that.
sounds like a good idea. still think its not the strongest. Perhaps if the asians joined it would be. Lyetuvos and zalgiris have not been a force of late and prokom although they did well in the euroleague , really did it with a poor record, as they did last year. Still if they attract a lot of players then the likes of lyubertsy , khimki dynamo etc could become stronger teams. if this was the case , yes potentially this will be the strongest league

[Lakas Fan Yo]

sounds like a good idea. still think its not the strongest. Perhaps if the asians joined it would be. Lyetuvos and zalgiris have not been a force of late and prokom although they did well in the euroleague , really did it with a poor record, as they did last year. Still if they attract a lot of players then the likes of lyubertsy , khimki dynamo etc could become stronger teams. if this was the case , yes potentially this will be the strongest league

You overrate the ACB. For example Maroussi is better than Malaga, Valencia. We will see how Valencia and Bilbao do against Panellinios and ALBA. Basically, the ACB is rated too strong.

Khimki could probably finish 3rd in the ACB.

[b.jerk]

I hope Macccabi does leave for the United League. It would finally force israel to develop what it has. Israel has the "raw materials" and money for 2-4 respectable teams but there is always an excuse for not doing so. It won't happen because of the maccabi-government relations but it would be a step forward.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

I hope Macccabi does leave for the United League. It would finally force israel to develop what it has. Israel has the "raw materials" and money for 2-4 respectable teams but there is always an excuse for not doing so. It won't happen because of the maccabi-government relations but it would be a step forward.

Hapoel Jerusalem will get their new big arena soon so that should help.

[b.jerk]

Hapoel Jerusalem will get their new big arena soon so that should help.

It's going to be more of the same as long as prospects can be paid more, have more security, and longevity with a college degree job. The only team that can pay people more is maccabi, the pay really isn't impressive and it's always a possibility that those guys can be cut for someone that will take that job.

[la bomba]

You overrate the ACB. For example Maroussi is better than Malaga, Valencia. We will see how Valencia and Bilbao do against Panellinios and ALBA. Basically, the ACB is rated too strong.

Khimki could probably finish 3rd in the ACB.
Valencia beat paellinios comfortably with De Colo injured in the 2nd half and are totally raping Alba in the finals.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Valencia beat paellinios comfortably with De Colo injured in the 2nd half and are totally raping Alba in the finals.

Your point? A team like Maroussi is much better than Valencia. That's a 3rd Greek club that is better than a 4th Spanish club. Is Valencia better than Khimki? I seriously don't think so. That's a 2nd Russian club that is better than the 4th Spanish club.

The point is that the ACB is really overrated. People actually believe the worst team in the ACB would be 2nd in Russia or 3rd in Greece. You can't be objective when you overrate the league like that.

Valencia is a good team. But the fact is that the ACB is really overrated. There are Barca and Real that are very good. Then the level drops a lot to Baskonia and then drops to teams like Malaga and Valencia.

This is how people overrate the ACB so much. "Oh ACB club won Eurocup it proves it's way better than Greece or Russia" etc. Well Khimki or Maroussi would easily beat a team like Valencia.

So teams like Valencia are automatically considered very good to great tams just because they play in Spain, while teams like Khimki and Maroussi are automatically considered horrible teams because they play in Russia or Greece.

It's pretty comical and is just stupid. And really, after Malaga there is not an ACB club that can even compare to Valencia. The ACB is too overrated and all it does is insult some good clubs from elsewhere that never get any credit.

[la bomba]

Your point? A team like Maroussi is much better than Valencia. That's a 3rd Greek club that is better than a 4th Spanish club. Is Valencia better than Khimki? I seriously don't think so. That's a 2nd Russian club that is better than the 4th Spanish club.

The point is that the ACB is really overrated. People actually believe the worst team in the ACB would be 2nd in Russia or 3rd in Greece. You can't be objective when you overrate the league like that.

Valencia is a good team. But the fact is that the ACB is really overrated. There are Barca and Real that are very good. Then the level drops a lot to Baskonia and then drops to teams like Malaga and Valencia.

This is how people overrate the ACB so much. "Oh ACB club won Eurocup it proves it's way better than Greece or Russia" etc. Well Khimki or Maroussi would easily beat a team like Valencia.

So teams like Valencia are automatically considered very good to great tams just because they play in Spain, while teams like Khimki and Maroussi are automatically considered horrible teams because they play in Russia or Greece.

It's pretty comical and is just stupid. And really, after Malaga there is not an ACB club that can even compare to Valencia. The ACB is too overrated and all it does is insult some good clubs from elsewhere that never get any credit.
Was only answering your quote of we will see how Valencia do against panellinios. You are the one that seemed to give it importance. I think Valencia and a few other clubs in Spain would beat Khimki , yes. Khimki are not that good. Baskonia are going through a bad phase, partly because of Ivanovic's ineptitude, but they are a side that has had a great decade. I have never said Khimki or Maroussi are not good sides.Infact I always said there should be more russian teams in the Euroleague, when they only had 1. I have never heard anyone say that the last placed team in ACB would be 2nd or 3rd in the Russian or Greek league, simply because that is preposterous! of course there will always be people who overrate things aswell as people who underrate. The only league I give little credit to is the German! they have big fanbase, their stadiums fill up and they still have poor performances, like ALBA's in the final and like a couple of Brose basket embarrassing results in euroleague and eurocup over the last couple years.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Was only answering your quote of we will see how Valencia do against panellinios. You are the one that seemed to give it importance. I think Valencia and a few other clubs in Spain would beat Khimki , yes. Khimki are not that good. Baskonia are going through a bad phase, partly because of Ivanovic's ineptitude, but they are a side that has had a great decade. I have never said Khimki or Maroussi are not good sides.Infact I always said there should be more russian teams in the Euroleague, when they only had 1. I have never heard anyone say that the last placed team in ACB would be 2nd or 3rd in the Russian or Greek league, simply because that is preposterous! of course there will always be people who overrate things aswell as people who underrate. The only league I give little credit to is the German! they have big fanbase, their stadiums fill up and they still have poor performances, like ALBA's in the final and like a couple of Brose basket embarrassing results in euroleague and eurocup over the last couple years.

OK. It's just that EVERY Spaniard I have talked to told me the last place ACB team would be 2nd in Russia or 3rd in Greece. I mean EVERY single one of them.

[la bomba]

OK. It's just that EVERY Spaniard I have talked to told me the last place ACB team would be 2nd in Russia or 3rd in Greece. I mean EVERY single one of them.
o.k maybe that is the case, but I am not spanish thats why ;)

[Hyman]

Valencia will wipe the floor against Maroussi in a 7 game series

Maroussi lost against Barcelona in a crucial match for them, by a 30 points difference playing home

Valencia could never lose to Barca by 30 points

A border ACB playoff team like Bilbao, who currently is 11th in ACB, beat Panelinios.

In ACB, both Panelinios and Maroussi would be border playoff teams, with a great possibility of not even making them

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Valencia will wipe the floor against Maroussi in a 7 game series

Maroussi lost against Barcelona in a crucial match for them, by a 30 points difference playing home

Valencia could never lose to Barca by 30 points

A border ACB playoff team like Bilbao, who currently is 11th in ACB, beat Panelinios.

In ACB, both Panelinios and Maroussi would be border playoff teams, with a great possibility of not even making them

Maroussi is way better than Valencia. You are the exact kind of Spaniard fan I am talking about. Completely delusional and unrealistic. Maroussi beat Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, played Barca within 10 on the road, won the season series against Partizan, they lost by CSKA only by a once in a lifetime miracle shot by Khryapa.

Maroussi is a much better team than Valencia and you are just talking the exact nonsense I am talking about. Spaniards have become Europe's version of NBA fans. Maroussi IS much better than Valencia. Maroussi is one of the 6-10 best teams in Europe.

[Grinder]

Bar

[Hyman]

Maroussi is way better than Valencia. You are the exact kind of Spaniard fan I am talking about. Completely delusional and unrealistic. Maroussi beat Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, played Barca within 10 on the road, won the season series against Partizan, they lost by CSKA only by a once in a lifetime miracle shot by Khryapa.

Maroussi is a much better team than Valencia and you are just talking the exact nonsense I am talking about. Spaniards have become Europe's version of NBA fans. Maroussi IS much better than Valencia. Maroussi is one of the 6-10 best teams in Europe.

You definitely dont watch any basketball. Its incredible how you can fail on your predicitions again and again

Valencia are wayyy better than Maroussi. At least give them a opportunity and watch a match of them. De Colo, Martinez, Kelati, Claver, Nielsen, Perovic, Pietrus, Lischuck... Maroussi dont have half the talent Valencia team has. You could argue that Valencia are a bunch of names but dont really a team, as it happenned in other years. But this year its not the case as they are coached by Spahija who is one of the bests of the continent

If you watched them play, you would agree that they are, not one but two steps over Maroussi

[jamal99]

Barca won by 10.
Now I hope for Barca - Partizan finals...

[kaktus14]

and Ricky was the best player on the court,suprise suprise:rockon: :rockon:

[Hyman]

Barcelona are going to wipe the floor against CSKA. At least a +10 win for them.

Finally Bar

[Lakas Fan Yo]

You definitely dont watch any basketball. Its incredible how you can fail on your predicitions again and again

Valencia are wayyy better than Maroussi. At least give them a opportunity and watch a match of them. De Colo, Martinez, Kelati, Claver, Nielsen, Perovic, Pietrus, Lischuck... Maroussi dont have half the talent Valencia team has. You could argue that Valencia are a bunch of names but dont really a team, as it happenned in other years. But this year its not the case as they are coached by Spahija who is one of the bests of the continent

If you watched them play, you would agree that they are, not one but two steps over Maroussi

You are an idiot. Maroussi is a much better team than Valencia. What is this talent Valencia has? Are you serious? They have one really good player and that is De Colo and he is not a great player and another guy in a similar level like that in Perovic. Nielsen is a good player but nothing special, the same with Martinez.

Pietrus, Lischuk, Claver, Kelati? :lol :roll:

You are such an extreme Spanish homer, you are no better than NBA fans.

Half their roster could not even get playing time on Maroussi.

[Math2]

lets go olympicanos!

[jamal99]

Teodosic won MVP award!

ALL-EUROLEAGUE FIRST TEAM
Milos Teodosic
Juan Carlos Navarro
Linas Kleiza
Victor Khryapa
Aleks Maric

ALL-EUROLEAGUE SECOND TEAM
Bo McCalebb
Josh Childress
Ramunas Siskauskas
Erazem Lorbek
Tiago Splitter

http://www.euroleague.net/final-four/paris-2010/main-page/i/71489/4218/all-euroleague-team-2009-10

[Sakkreth]

Teodosic winning MVP isn't right, well first team maybe, but not MVP. Maric or Kleiza for MVP imo.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Teodosic winning MVP isn't right, well first team maybe, but not MVP. Maric or Kleiza for MVP imo.

Teodosic is way better than Kleiza.

[Hyman]

Extremely easy win for Bar

[jamal99]

Teodosic winning MVP isn't right, well first team maybe, but not MVP. Maric or Kleiza for MVP imo.

I expected Maric to win, but Teodosic winning isn't bad either...

[Lakas Fan Yo]

[QUOTE=Hyman]Extremely easy win for Bar

[Hyman]

Rubio was never the best player on ANY of those teams. He has no buisness being mentioned with the elite players in Europe and you know it. Maybe in 3-5 years but not now.

Or should I bring up how many titles Alvertis won. I guess he's the best European baller that ever lived under your stupid "logic".

Rubio is not the best european baller ever lived. He is an elite PG at Euroleague level and has potential to be a superstar

You have underrated him all the season aswell as you've done with Bar

[chains5000]

At least this is the time for you, to admit you were wrong in your predicitions.
:roll: Like that's gonna happen

[la bomba]

:roll: Like that's gonna happen
great call.
Barca weren't good enough.
No way Barcelona would beat panathinaikos.
Valencia would not win the uleb.
Clearly not a good year for predictions for Lakas. But we all do it otherwise we would all be millionaire gamblers.

[la bomba]

As for the game. Barca proved to be clearly stronger than olympiacos. not only players but the coaching. pascual has been great and all his assistants as well as him are under 40. iannakis proved once again what a poor coach he is(great player that he was) his use of the bench is atrocious and his insistence on playing for sofo all the time suicidal!! sofo has been injured a lot and Olympiacos have played a lot better, why all of a sudden play all your offence to him. dreadful, especially as Sofo can't score a free throw to save his life.
Olympiacos also showed little discipline with kleiza and teodosic throwing their toys out the pram several times!

[Lakas Fan Yo]

[QUOTE=Hyman]Rubio is not the best european baller ever lived. He is an elite PG at Euroleague level and has potential to be a superstar

You have underrated him all the season aswell as you've done with Bar

[Lakas Fan Yo]

great call.
Barca weren't good enough.
No way Barcelona would beat panathinaikos.
Valencia would not win the uleb.
Clearly not a good year for predictions for Lakas. But we all do it otherwise we would all be millionaire gamblers.

What the hell are you talking about? I never said Valencia would not win Eurocup. It's not even called ULEB Cup either. I said Marouss is better than them. I never said Barca was not good enough. I said they are overrated.

Panathinaikos is the best team in Europe. You will see that in the Greek Finals. They were a team riddled with injuries when Barca barely eliminated them.

[chains5000]

What the hell are you talking about? I never said Valencia would not win Eurocup. It's not even called ULEB Cup either. I said Marouss is better than them. I never said Barca was not good enough. I said they are overrated.

Panathinaikos is the best team in Europe. You will see that in the Greek Finals. They were a team riddled with injuries when Barca barely eliminated them.
Excuses...

[Hyman]

You are an absolute joke. ZERO awards at a serious league that are not JUNIOR awards. Spanish team awards? LMFAO he should hand those medals to Navarro and Pau and Spain won in 2009 despite Rubio's horrible play.

He was so awful he almost got them eliminated by GB in the group stage. Guess you forgot about facts. Keep up your nonsense hype about Rubio. In 2 years you will be exposed just like your Rudy Fernandez crap.

Rubio is the most overrated player of all time.

Rudy Fernandez would be the best greek player of the last 15 years

Today Rubio has won another award, as he has been named best PG of ACB surpassing Lull and Prigioni. Totally deserved award as he has been the second most efficient player of his team (after Navarro)

http://www.marca.com/2010/05/12/baloncesto/acb/1273662944.html

Here is the list. 3 of the top 4 are IMO future NBA players and I think that the three of them can do good

How can you say that Rubio hasnt won any award at a serious league that are not junior awards? Is not a Euroleague championship enough? An ULEB cup being with 17 years the second best player of his team isnt enough neither? If u really watched the Eurobasket, can u put me the stats of Teodosic, Spanoulis and Parker against him?

The fact is that wherever Rubio plays, his team ends winning and always being a starter and having if not the most important, a quite important role.

As individual awards, he has lots of awards too, any of them of junior tournaments.

-Led the Spanish ACB League in steals: (2007, 2009)
-Won the Spanish ACB League Rising Star Award: (2007)
-3

[Hyman]

What the hell are you talking about? I never said Valencia would not win Eurocup. It's not even called ULEB Cup either. I said Marouss is better than them. I never said Barca was not good enough. I said they are overrated.

Panathinaikos is the best team in Europe. You will see that in the Greek Finals. They were a team riddled with injuries when Barca barely eliminated them.

Bar

[Hyman]

Surprisingly, current PAO is the same team (if not worse), that won last years EL combining in the F4 a +4 points advantage against coincidentally the same teams Bar

[Lakas Fan Yo]

Excuses...

What excuses? Injuries are not an excuse.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

[QUOTE=Hyman]Rudy Fernandez would be the best greek player of the last 15 years

Today Rubio has won another award, as he has been named best PG of ACB surpassing Lull and Prigioni. Totally deserved award as he has been the second most efficient player of his team (after Navarro)

http://www.marca.com/2010/05/12/baloncesto/acb/1273662944.html

Here is the list. 3 of the top 4 are IMO future NBA players and I think that the three of them can do good

How can you say that Rubio hasnt won any award at a serious league that are not junior awards? Is not a Euroleague championship enough? An ULEB cup being with 17 years the second best player of his team isnt enough neither? If u really watched the Eurobasket, can u put me the stats of Teodosic, Spanoulis and Parker against him?

The fact is that wherever Rubio plays, his team ends winning and always being a starter and having if not the most important, a quite important role.

As individual awards, he has lots of awards too, any of them of junior tournaments.

-Led the Spanish ACB League in steals: (2007, 2009)
-Won the Spanish ACB League Rising Star Award: (2007)
-3

[Lakas Fan Yo]

[QUOTE=Hyman]Bar