IN THE GAME

A quite hot Euroleague week is coming to an end, highlighted by yet another outstanding performance by Partizan’s Aleksandar Maric. Maric had 34 points and 16 rebounds and is now averaging 18.1 points and 9.9 rebounds a game, better than a certain Nikola Pekovic two seasons back. At the same time he is shooting a sizzling 70.1 percent from the field, while the only problematic aspect of his game is free throw shooting [33/58 for the season]. Partizan had a key victory over Efes yesteday that could be the decisive victory on their road to Top16. While Maric got all the headlines, it was Dusan Kecman who first brought Partizan level in the last minute with a three point shot from the wing after curling off the baseline screen, and later hitting the game-winning midrange jumpshot 2.8 seconds from time, in a possession that once again showed Efes’ defensive incapabilities. No rotation whatsoever – wide open jumper for Kecman. This is not a successful way to defend the pick and roll, neither in the first, nor in the closing minute of a game.

Tempers flew high in Piraeus, where Linas Kleiza, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Shammond Williams and Patrick Beverley all had their fair share of responsability for two ugly first quarter disputes. The reds went on to win 89:68 and thus avenge the blowout they suffered in Malaga a few weeks back.

As gross as some of the guys behave, one has to admire Theodoros Papaloukas’ attempt to deescalate things.

Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered the first major setback of the season, losing at home to Caja Laboral. Mirza Teletovic is a more explosive, more athletic Vladimir Radmanovic with a quicker release, we have known that for years. Carl English is coming to life recently, which Caja Laboral badly needed after the Canadian’s catastrophic start to the season. Alan Anderson is 39.7 percent from the field this Euroleague season.

Among Martynas Gecevicius, Branislav Djekic and others, Angelico Biella’s Pietro Aradori is one of the big newcomers of this basketball season so far. Ararodi is averaging 19.2 points on outstanding percentages from both inside and outside the arc, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in Lega A, and he could even be considered for a late second round pick in next year’s NBA Draft, despite his subpar athletic abilities. It is certainly surprising to see a 1988 born native lead the US-dominated Italian league in scoring. But before I waste more words on him, I will guide you to Christophe’s latest scouting report on Europeanprospects, you have it all there.

Silent assassin: Aradori is 53.7 percent from three point range this season

As Talkbasket reports, Gerald Green is surprisingly joining Lokomotiv Kuban, not – as had been rumoured – Benetton Treviso. Green is known as a highflyer, but also not one of the smartest players around. I suppose Benetton was patient enough to not go for him.

Many former or borderline NBA players are struggling everywhere in Europe, most of them not on Euroleague or EuroCup rosters, but smaller clubs. Other US boys become huge successes, mainly those that embrace the European style of basketball sooner rather than later. If you are eyeing a NBA return every summer, spending time in summer leagues and as training camp additions [most guys will be cut when the better European rosters are already closed], you are rather not going to make it to the top in Europe.