Fenerbahce Ülker 1907 Unofficial

From True Fans Of Yellow and Blue I love Basketball, I love yellow and blue. I dedicate this site to european Basketball, Euroleague and first and foremost to one of the most renowned basketball clubs in the world: Fenerbahce Ülker Istanbul. Final Four Poll So, who's gonna make it to Milan in may, 2014? You can pick up to 4 Teams. If you do not see the buttons, just hit the names and click vote! Thank you for your vote!. Which Teams are your favorites for the Euroleague Playoffs? Friendly Disclaimer I am not associated with the Fenerbahce SK, Ülker or its products, or any of the players, management or marketing whatsoever. My opinions, views here on this Blog represent mine only and might appear subjective. Wanna join? I am not writing here to please or annoy anyone and wish to find co-contributors in you. If you're interested, and if you share the same passion, drop a line with you E-Mail or your tumblr-Blog, I'll contact to you soon. And if you find an error, a mistake or a typo, just feel free to correct me. If you want to provide more information, I'd be happy to see your comment on the post. Not only for Fener Fans! Yes, I am a true Fenerbahce Fan, I played for the club for 13 years, but I love THE GAME. So, if you want to drop a few lines on, say Nanterre, Olympiakos, CSKA, Zalgiris, Barcelona, Malaga or Cibona, or any other european team, you're most certainly welcome. Fenerbahce Ülker This is Basketball!

[fbulker1907]

The Euroleague Final Four Poll

So, who is your favorite team for the Finals in Milan? The reigning champions Olympiakos or the almighty Real Madrid? Fenerbahce came out strong in the regular season, so did Maccabi Electra, FC Barcelona, CSKA Moscow or Laboral Kutxa.

How to participate

just pick four teams on right and hit vote. That's it, every vote counts, once per IP.

[fbulker1907]

Hey, FBU Fans, here is our Twitter*-Profile pic for #fbufan. You might give it a follow or choose to bookmark #fbufan-hashtag.

(*) No ads, no spam, no annoying tweets. - we don't like that.

[fbulker1907]

8 Nationalities, 1 Great Team

Here's a map of europe, marked with Fenerbahce Ülker Players and the countries where they come from. I'll add Oguz later, as soon as he's back!

The Roster - Fenerbahce Ulker 2013/2014

#4 Mccalebb, Bo, Usa, Guard, 1.83m, 1985 born

#7 Onan, Omer, Turkey, Guard, 1.94m, 1978 born

#8 Bjelica, Nemanja, Serbia, Forward, 2.09m, 1988 born

#9 Ermis, Baris, Turkey, Guard, 1.94m, 1985 born

#10 Mahmutoglu, Melih, Turkey, Guard, 1.91m, 1990 born

#11 Kleiza, Linas, Lithuania, Forward, 2.03m, 1985 born

#12 Turkyilmaz, Izzet, Turkey, Forward, 2.10m, 1990 born

#13 Vidmar, Gasper, Slovenia, Center, 2.10m, 1987 born

#17 Olmaz, Ayberk, Turkey, Forward, 2.07m, 1996 born

#21 Savas, Oguz, Turkey, Center, 2.13m, 1987 born

#22 Zoric, Luka, Croatia, Center, 2.11m, 1984 born

#25 Sipahi, Kenan, Turkey, Guard, 1.97m, 1995 born

#33 Birsen, James Metecan, Turkey, Forward, 2.03m, 1995 born

#41 Karaman, Ilkan, Turkey, Forward, 2.05m, 1990 born

#44 Bogdanovic, Bojan, Croatia, Forward, 2.00m, 1989 born

#55 Preldzic, Emir, Turkey, Forward, 2.06m, 1987 born

*Bold: The actual starting five, although Obradovic has changed this formation many times during the season.

[fbulker1907]

Iceman Slams Big

A huge dunk from Nemanja Bjelica against Nanterre in France.

[fbulker1907]

Scenes from Nanterre.

[fbulker1907]

Top 16 Game Schedule for Fenerbahce Ulker

Here is the Top16 Game Schedule for Fenerbahce Ülker. The exact dates will be announced soon.

AWAY at Olympiacos Piraeus - January, 2014

HOME vs. FC Barcelona - January, 2014

AWAY at Unicaja Malaga - January, 2014

HOME vs. Panathinaikos Athens - January, 2014

AWAY at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan - January, 2014

HOME vs. Laboral Kutxa Vitoria - February, 2014

AWAY at Anadolu Efes Istanbul - February, 2014

HOME vs. Olympiacos Piraeus - February, 2014

AWAY at FC Barcelona - March, 2014

HOME vs. Unicaja Malaga - March, 2014

AWAY at Panathinaikos Athens - March, 2014

HOME vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan - March, 2014

AWAY at Laboral Kutxa Vitoria - April, 2014

HOME vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul - April, 2014

Source: Euroleague.net

[fbulker1907]

He is definitely the best coach I have ever worked with!

Linas Kleiza, 3 months after working with Obradovic in Istanbul.

The first question is about the team:

Euroleague: Fenerbahce is 2-0 and you got off to a great start, just like your last time around with Olympiacos. How have you adjusted so well? 

Linas: "Thank you. You know, there is no need to adjust: I just joined a very good team. So far we are a new team trying to build something special. We are playing OK so far, but we still have a lot of potential."

Here's the complete Euroleague.net interview with Linas.

[fbulker1907]

How did he do that?

Some crazy buzzer beaters of european basketball history.

[fbulker1907]

What a Crazy Night in Belgrade!

Partizan NIS vs Fenerbahce Ülker at the Pionir, November 8th, 2013

[fenerbasket]

Bojan Bogdanovic

[fbulker1907]

The Next Big Guns - The Play-Off Candidates

For the next two Final Four spots there are a few contenders, but all of these teams on this list, will definitely make it to the Playoffs.

I will concentrate on Olympiakos and Real Madrid later, so I'd like to review the these four here.

Playoffs? Check! - Final Four, too?

My #ff2014 candidates: So from the least likely to the most:

CSKA Moscow

CSKA might be a good bet, but I personally expect FC Barcelona to perform marginally better than Messina's power team from Russia, taking the fan support in Barcelona behind, and of course, Mr Moody himself, Milos Tedodosic's mood into account. The games in Moscow have been cold so far in this season, leaving CSKA fans distant and even silent, despite the outstanding half time show!

CSKA has a great lineup, if they work together, it'll be smoother tha they think. But if not... Let me put it this way then: A win in Moscow seems doable for a top team!

FC Barcelona

Here is a team in transition. As key players got replaced this year, it's been a bumpy ride for Barcelona in the Euroleague.

If won, none of those group games were easy for Barca, and the losses were demeaning. They made it up for that heartbreaking loss in Istanbul back in Barcelona, but putting a lot of more effort to stay alive in the group, as they've imagined at the beginning of the season.

Yet, even under these circumstances, Barcelona will be ready to play tougher in the new year.

Fenerbahce Ülker

Logically, you'd expect, the third spot should directly go to my home team Fenerbahce Ülker. And yet, it indeed goes to Istanbul.

But the road is very rocky. But Fener seems to have learned a great deal from Mr Obradovic, apart from learning from past mistakes. What a refreshing basketball Fener ist playing so early in the season. 

Fenerbahce is scheduled to play two insanely tough games in January to start the Group E, first against Olympiakos in Athens, then facing Barcelona in Istanbul, before taking a short breather against Unicaja. Fener should win at least one of those first two games to gain confidence.

Obradovic has found a great mix of young and experienced players in Fenerbahce, a team with has shown us some spectacular games, expecially at home vs CSKA Moscow and FC Barcelona.

CSKA might still be wondering: How to defend 5 big guys, who all shoot threes that good, at the same time? Well, the answer was 26 points deficit in Istanbul, the worst loss in CSKA Euroleague history.

Fener took a hit in Barcelona, which, odd it may sound, came at the right time, but they then lost home to Partizan, which was a mere Christmas present from Obradovic to his old sweetheart - which in fact made it possible, for Partizan NIS to grab the last spot to Top 16. 

If Fenerbahce Ulker wins the first three games as they did in October and November this year, and then face Oympiakos in Istanbul for the final four spot, it might be the basketball game of year, even before the Playoffs.

Maccabi Electra

I've been a fan of Maccabi all my life. Their passion for basketball, the wild atmosphere in the Nokia Arena, the enthusiastic fans! Any place better to play or watch basketball?

I might have doubted Maccabi early in the season, they lost to Laboral Kutxa twice and won two games at the buzzer, but they're progressing and getting better as we speak. The weak spot might be the fourth quarter performance, as Maccabi usually lead (or was in a point's distance) in both of those games till the fourth quarter as they often did.

It will be a huge challenge for every Top 16 team to play against Maccabi with this wild crowd in Tel Aviv. And on a good day, Blatt's team can beat any team in Europe, even Real Madrid.

I felt relieved, as I saw, that Fenerbahce won't be facing either Real Madrid or Maccabi in the groups. One tough nut!

The Playoffs-Story

Part I: "Letting The Chips Fall..." Part II: "The Usual Suspects" Part III: "The Next Big Guns" Part V: "Surprise, Surprise" - coming soon

[fbulker1907]

Part II - The Obvious Two

if you want to be the next king in town, these two are to beat!

In my opinion, the first two Final Four spots are already taken. No third team can match Olympiakos Pireaus or worse, Real Madrid these days.

Real Madrid

The spanish look uneatable today and remind me of the Lakers of the 1980's. They control the game from start to finish, and when they switch to the fifth gear, you are in trouble. As was Efes in Madrid, with a humiliating record 50-point loss.

Olympiakos Pireaus

The reigning champions from Pireaus, Olympiakos Pireaus, with one of my all-time-favorite players Vassilis Spanoulis, have not looked that "Superman" like Madrid, but they won some huge games and played some fantastic basketball. And Sir, Mr Bartzokas, you are a true basketball genius!

Every Top 16 team would hate to play against these two. But hey, if you want to be the next king in town, these two are to beat!

The Playoffs-Story

Part I: "Letting The Chips Fall..." Part II: "The Usual Suspects" Part III: "The Next Big Guns" Part V: "Surprise, Surprise" - coming soon

[fbulker1907]

Part I - Letting the Chips Fall...

The season has been a roller coaster ride for a few teams, as Anadolu Efes Pilsen, Bayern Munich or even Panathinaikos Athens qualified close, the first two with a negative record.

Partizan Belgrade

I was suprised to see FB Ulker lose to Partizan in Istanbul and I am surprised to see the serbian team in the Top 16, with the worst record of all 16 teams. I was skeptical, even frightened of what I saw from Partizan NIS in Moscow, where CSKA held them at 3 points one quarter. And these guys won a big game in Istanbul against a former coach of the club.

Nevertheless, two of my favorite players of this season come from Belgrade: Bogan Bogdanovic and Joffrey Lauvergne. 

I would love to see one or both of those guys playing for Fenerbahce some day in the future, but I fear, NBA scouts aren't sleeping either.

Playoffs? Not likely.

Presumably, these four teams will not make it to the Playoffs. Anadolu Efes seems to be too jammed in the head to find the rythym, FC Bayern too unexperienced, Partizan too young and Panathinaikos too seasoned.

From the remaining 12 teams, I picked 2 teams who will make it to the playoffs, Real Madrid and Olympiakos, and a further 4 who should make it there, and one suprise team, to fetch a final playoff spot by chance.

Next, are Part II of my Euroleague Final Four Projections, based on the performances so far.

The Playoffs-Story

Part I: "Letting The Chips Fall..." Part II: "The Usual Suspects" Part III: "The Next Big Guns" Part V: "Surprise, Surprise" - coming soon

[fbulker1907]

What a ride. Euroleague Season 2013/14

Thank you Euroleague for an exceptional season so far.

We've been experiencing some unbelievable Basketball since October, some great skills from the Europe's greatest teams and players, from Madrid or Milan, Athens, Istanbul, Bamberg, Malaga or Munich.

We, fans, we really feel the devotion.

Now let's take a first quick look at the qualifiers to see which teams would be the best bet to advance to the Final Four in Milan in May and which ones might be surprising to see there.

Euroleague GROUP E

Fenerbahce Ulker

Olympiacos Piraeus

EA7 Emporio Armani

Laboral Kutxa Vitoria

FC Barcelona

Unicaja Malaga

Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Panathinaikos Athens

Euroleague GROUP F

Real Madrid

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv

CSKA Moscow

Galatasaray Liv Hospital

Zalgiris Kaunas

Lokomotiv Kuban

Partizan NIS Belgrade

FC Bayern Munich

The best teams to qualify are, reigning champion Olympiakos Pireaus and Real Madrid, both with clean sheets (10 wins, no losses), followed by Fenerbahce Ulker and Maccabi Electra (8 wins, 2 losses).

The games will be played between January 2 to April 11, 2014. This year's Euroleague Final Four will take place in Milan, Italy on May 16 to 18.

The Playoffs-Story

Part I: "Letting The Chips Fall..." Part II: "The Usual Suspects" Part III: "The Next Big Guns" Part V: "Surprise, Surprise" - coming soon

[fbulker1907]

The final Euroleague group phase minutes are played last night, as Galatasaray won away vs Bayern Munich (both qualified) and Laboral Kutxa won home against Lokomotiv Kuban to qualify as the last Team for the last 16 of the Euroleague 2013/14 Season.

Pesic's Magic Hands Remarkable is FC Bayern's achievement, considering its first year in the Euroleague and the coaching crisis last year. Stetislav Pesic, with his son Marco taking care of business swiftly in the background, does once again what he does best: Create miracles!

FC Bayern is not on a quick stroll in the Euroleague. The renowned football club is on its way, to establish Basketball as "the next big thing" in sports. Not only in Germany.

And, if anything, one thing we know from FC Bayern: if they play, they don't play for fun!

Here are the qualifiers:

Euroleague GROUP E

Fenerbahce Ulker

Olympiacos Piraeus

EA7 Emporio Armani

Laboral Kutxa Vitoria

FC Barcelona

Unicaja Malaga

Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Panathinaikos Athens

Euroleague GROUP F

Real Madrid

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv

CSKA Moscow

Galatasaray Liv Hospital

Zalgiris Kaunas

Lokomotiv Kuban

Partizan NIS Belgrade

FC Bayern Munich

The best teams to qualify are reigning champion Olympiakos Pireaus and Real Madrid, both with clean sheets (10 wins, no losses), followed by Fenerbahce Ulker and Maccabi Electra (8 wins, 2 losses).

The games will be played between January 2 to April 11, 2014. This year's Euroleague Final Four will take place in Milan, Italy on May 16 to 18.

[fbulker1907]

New jerseys come from Nike. Here's what the FB Ulker players are saying.

[fbulker1907]

Bo.. Ja!

Bogdanovic. Too much to handle for Nanterre.