In my view, the recent World Championships once again confirmed that the best basketball players in the world compete in the NBA, but the finest basketball is celebrated in Europe. Complex tactical strategies, goal-oriented and precise ball movement, and swift decision-making characterize our sport on the Old Continent. In this regard, the EuroLeague stands as the pinnacle. Today marks the beginning of the new season in the European premier league, with the Greek clash between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos taking center stage on the first matchday, especially given Kostas Sloukas' move to the Greens.
From a German perspective, we eagerly anticipate the showdown between Bayern and Alba Berlin, scheduled for Thursday at 20:30 in the Bavarian capital. However, instead of providing a preview of this encounter, I aim to assess the chances of both teams and take a closer look at the German players representing foreign EuroLeague clubs.
FC Bayern Munich
As clear as Bayern appears to be the favorite in the easyCredit BBL, I find it challenging to share the overly optimistic forecasts for their EuroLeague campaign. In my opinion, the Munich team will have to fight to reach the postseason, which now includes ten teams due to the introduction of Play-Ins in the premier league. The German Cup winners may lack the top-tier quality required to compete with the elite teams. Leandro Bolmaro and Sylvain Francisco may not represent the highest class in the point guard position. Serge Ibaka is in the twilight of his career, and Vlado Lucic is prone to injuriesfactors that could influence their performance.
ALBA Berlin
The capital city's team enters this season as a significant underdog. Most experts consider them the weakest team in the competition. The loss of Maodo Lo is substantial, as the national team player consistently performed better in the EuroLeague than in the Bundesliga. Additionally, the absence of Luke Sikma, who provided confidence and mental stability to a young squad even during losses, is keenly felt. Young guards Matteo Spagnolo and Ziga Samar are likely to face steep learning curves. If Israel Gonzalez's protgs could replicate the eleven victories from the previous season, it would be a noteworthy achievement.
German Players Abroad
With Maodo Lo and Johannes Voigtmann (both in Milan), Justus Hollatz and Tibor Plei (both at Anadolu Efes), and Oscar da Silva, five top German talents are contracted to foreign playoff-contending teams. Unfortunately, Maodo Lo suffered a muscle injury to his left thigh at the start of the Italian league, resulting in his temporary absence. Given that new players typically face challenges under Ettore Messina (as Joe Voigtmann experienced last season), this setback is particularly unfavorable. Voigtmann may also have to compete for minutes, as the incredibly talented EuroLeague player Nikola Mirotic has joined Lombardy. Mirotic's departure from Barcelona, however, should provide Oscar da Silva with more playing time.
I would have preferred to see Justus Hollatz in a prominent role on a EuroCup team rather than in the EuroLeague, where he may receive limited backup minutes behind Darius Thompson. Coach Ergin Ataman's relationship with Tibor Plei has been somewhat tumultuous. Under Erdem Can, it could become more predictable.
Which other teams should we keep an eye on? Real Madrid, as the defending champions, deserves a mention. Their roster remains largely unchanged, and the return of Facu Campazzo bolsters their lineup. While the team is slightly older, they possess a wealth of experience and the game-changing influence of Walter Tavares at center. Despite the departures of MVP Sasha Vezenkov to the NBA and Kostas Sloukas to arch-rivals Panathinaikos, Olympiacos remains a contender. This team plays smart and excels in defense. Monaco and Panathinaikos have made significant acquisitions but must integrate the pieces. The Monegasque guard quartet of Elie Okobo, Jordan Loyd, Kemba Walker, and Mike James could prove challenging to control for both opponents and Coach Sasa Obradovic.
The above is about The《EuroLeague Kickoff: Assessing Our Teams and Players' Prospects》, and finally, I would like to recommend you a pair of shoesair jordan 12 wings.
