#partizannis

[fbulker1907]

What a Crazy Night in Belgrade!

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

[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