Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

We've moved! www.whatsbev.com for the new board
Have you signed up yet? See the post in the BBL board for assistance

Welcome to What's Bev Got To Do With It?. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Spanish Basketball; full ACB PREVIEW
Topic Started: Sep 30 2007, 08:39 AM (634 Views)
Bada Bing
Member Avatar
El Crack
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
ACB PREVIEW PART ONE

PART ONE

The ACB is back. It might be viewed by the rest of the world as the second best basketball league around but as badaball stands for passion and basketball, we believe it is the BEST basketball league anywhere. This weekend the ACB Supercup takes place in Bilbao with the hosts playing Barcelona and a mouth watering clash lined up between Tau Ceramica and Real Madrid. In terms of the regular ACB season, that tips off in a couple of weeks but as ever there have been a number of big transfers and as we ASK YOU ALL TO SELECT AN ACB TEAM TO FOLLOW this season.

REAL MADRID

Giants of the Spanish and European game, Joan Plaza guided the side to ULEB Cup success last season and entry back into where they belong - namely Euroleague. They have retained the likes of Luis Bullock, Charles Smith, Alex Mubru, Raul Lopez and Felipe Reyes. The names just roll off the tongue. Stacked with talent, Plaza has a style that generally means set minutes however the game us going unless there is an exceptional reason to change his ethos. Real have added the giant Greek Centre Papadopolous from Dynamo Moscow and will have their eyes on more European glory let alone domestic success.

BIG IN - Papadopoulos (Dynamo Moscow)
BIG OUT - n/a
RANDOM FACT - The Real fans are known as “White Army” “White Family” and more commonly “The Beserkers”
PLAYER TO WATCH - Felipe Reyes - El Crack’s favourite ACB Player
LAST SEASON - 1st (25-9) Play-Off Champions, ULEB Cup Winners
El CRACK PREDICTS 1st Another season at the top for Real

BARCELONA

Another giant of the game, Barca overcome a terrible start to 2006/07 to go on an incredible run which began in December and just faded right at the death. The white hankies were firmly out for Coach Ivanovic around November time after their dreadful start and a home defeat to lowly Bruesa. However once his guard trio of Lakovic, Navarro and Basile learnt to play together they were largely unbeatable. Their weak link was arguably their strange lack of real depth with Italian forward Denis Marconato only mediocre although Jordi Trias produced a sensational performance in the Copa Del Rey weekend to guide them to the Kings Cup in February. Did suffer from the likes of Fran Vazquez being Injured and it will now be a case of being the best of the rest after Madrid. Or will it? Losing Navarro is a bitter blow and Alex Acker has big shoes to fill with fellow incoming guard in Pepe Sanchez from Unicaja, although the return to fitness of the giant tattooed Croatian former NBA Monster Mario Kasun might give them the Inside muscle they need to move out of Real’s shadow.

BIG IN - Acker (Olympiakos)
BIG OUT - Navarro (NBA)
RANDOM FACT - The luminous away vests are reportedly gone (thank goodness)
PLAYER TO WATCH - Jaka Lakovic
LAST SEASON 4th (23-11) Copa Del Rey Winner
EL CRACK PREDICTS 3RD

AKASVAYU GIRONA

Had a great first two thirds of the season but faded away last season. Marc Gasol never really hit the heights and they didn’t have the couple of other big stars to compete for top dogs. Were very meek in the Copa Del Rey but nevertheless did impress in Europe and landed the FIBA Euro Cup beating Estudiantes of Madrid in the semi’s. Have replaced their coach with Pedro Martinez who has an undistinguished CV and it will be interesting to see what happens this season as they have drafted in several new players.

BIG IN - Vroman (Gran Canaria)
BIG OUT - Selenga (Zalgris)
RANDOM FACT - Fontajau is one of the smallest venues in Spain holding only 5,000 fans and Girona get one of the lowest crowds in the league
PLAYER TO WATCH - Jackson Vroman
LAST SEASON 5th (21-13)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 9th


GRAN CANARIA

Gran Canaria had a great season last time out. The Canaries quietly went about their business all season long. While they struggled offensively and in some cases spectacularly, scoring in the fifties and more often sixties regularly in road games, they were dominant at home. Hasd a great team ethic and with Jimmie Hunter leading things and Jackson Vroman dominant, they pushed Real all the way in the Copa Del Rey semi-finals and could have made the final. Their fans are tremendous bringing plenty of colour to every game. GB big man Joel Freeland remains although he didn’t get much of a sniff last year. This could be the season that makes or breaks his career. I think Granca might be okay again although the loss of Hunter and Vroman might hurt them. Will sneak into the play-offs

BIG INS - English (Rockers NBA Summer League)
BIG OUTS - Vroman (Gran Canaria)
RANDOM FACT - Granca fans chant “Pio Pio” in support of their team
PLAYER TO WATCH - Joel Freeland. Can he get off the bench?
LAST SEASON 6th (21-13)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 8th

ESTUDIANTES

What a bitter-sweet season it was for Madrid’s second club last year. They were abysmal in the first few months and had no chance of making the play-offs with things getting so bad that even mere survival was beginning to look like it was a major issue. For quite a while it was until Mariano De Pablos took over the reins and took Estu on a remarkable run. Led by Wil McDonald they tore up the ACB for a three month period shooting up the table and if it wasn’t for a miserable final month they would have snuck into the play-offs. An unbelievable turnaround and they have a good chance to improve this year. While they have lost McDonald they have gained the defensive athleticism of Pietrus and the scoring and power of Larry Lewis who scored 13 points and averaged 6 rpg with Etosa Alicante in the league last year.

BIG INS Pietrus (Unicaja) Lewis (Alicante)
BIG OUTS McDonald (Tau)
RANDOM FACT Coach DePablos is the ACB’s Youngest
PLAYER TO WATCH - Dan Clark as he’s another British Kid in Europe’s top league
LAST SEASON 9th (16-18)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 7h

BILBAO BASKET

After their usual perennial struggle to avoid relegation and confirm mediocrity for another season, the Basque club are possibly this season’s dark horses after a strong finish to last term left them finishing in a respectable 10th. In a league as strong as the ACB it is difficult to give them any chance of a play-off place if the truth be known and I think they can repeat their feat again as they have picked up a couple of canny guard signings in Paco Vasquez and possibly Manuel Huertas although he is still looking to stay in Badalona. With Lucas Recker committing to another couple of years things are looking up and if he can muster another solid season and provide some offence again then they will be difficult to beat. Have a decent home record and that should continue and picked up the other Lewis from Etosa Alicante - this time Quincy.

BIG INS Lewis (Alicante) Huertas (DKV Joventut) Vasquez (Joventut)
BIG OUTS Andy Panko (Bruesa)
RANDOM FACT Their floor is made from the darkest wood known to man
PLAYER TO WATCH Lucas Recker
EuroLeague Women because women's basketball is the most important thing in life after family and good health!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bada Bing
Member Avatar
El Crack
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
PART TWO

CAJASOL SEVILLE

It’s all change in the Andalucian Capital this season with a change of name from Caja San Fernando and a change of direction with almost an entire clearout. One of the key players in the new regime is GB’s Andy Betts who is the sole ACB survivor of the Badalona triop from last year with Bobby off to the Ukraine and Sully with Finch In Mons. Last year was one of disappointment for Seville. They flirted with relegation and after a horrendous showing in the Copa Del Rey which was a meek surrender to say the least, they sacked their coach and then remained just as inconsistent but neverthless happy with mid table mediocrity in the end. They will be a complete unknown quantity with Coach Magnano having bought solid if unspectacular players looking to probably consolidate this season. Andres Miso from Fuenlabrada is a good pick up as is Barcelona Greek bench-man MICHALIS KAKIOUZIS. Their import hops is Pat Carrol who played in ProA France last year and has had some NBA summer league experience with the Celtics. Another mid table finish probably beckons although sadly for Big Andy more relegation flirtation than troubling the top 8.

BIG INS Betts (DKV Joventut) Kaki Uzis (Barca) Miso (Fuenlabrada)
BIG OUTS : Too many to list
RANDOM FACT - Despite being the nearest club to the hosts, they took fewest fans to last seasons Copa Del Rey in Malaga
PLAYER TO WATCH - GB Man Big Andy Betts
LAST SEASON 13th (14-20)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 13th


LEON

Promoted from the LEB, Leon are into the Lions den and have pinned their hopes to Americans and with no fewer than five in the squad, some of course with joint Euro passports. Kevin Thompson is the most well known having played with Polaris World last season at Murcia with Terrell Myers. The big man will provide some stability but like with every promoted side, unless there is some serious investment, then surivial is enough. Trouble is, I just can’t see it as there is just not enough ACB experience and the jump from LEB1 to ACB can be vast.

BIG INS Thompson (Polaris World Murcia)
BIG OUTS : N/A
RANDOM FACT - Leon made last years play-off finals after beating Danny Lewis’ Palma in the first round!
PLAYER TO WATCH - Lamont Barnes, last years LEB Centre of the Year
LAST SEASON - Promoted from LEB
EL CRACK PREDICTS 18th

TAU CERAMICA VITORIA

Having lifted the Supercup this weekend with a tight win against Real in the semis and a convincing win against fellow Basque side Bilbao in the final, they will be dangers again in the ACB if not in Eueropean competition. Not a bad start to Coach Spahija’s reign! They have made some big acquisitions and it will be intriguing to see if those who come in can adequately replace the departed. No more so than Wil McDonald who has to fill the shoes of Luis Scola or maybe that task is in the hands of James Singleton who comes with NBA experience with the Clippers. Fortunately they have hung on to Brazilian Tiago Splitter and more success beckons for Tau. I think they will push Real and Barca all the way as usual but will end up in second place this year. Yes I am relegating Barca to 3rd despite my previous prediction. Well the season hasn’t started yet!

BIG INS Singleton, McDonald (Estudiantes)
BIG OUTS : Scola, House
RANDOM FACT - “Baskonia” have the most passionate fans in the league. Playing for the Basque country as well as their team!
PLAYER TO WATCH - James Singleton (since been injured and will be out for months)
LAST SEASON - 1st (26-8)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 2nd

POLARIS WORLD MURCIA

Have lost a couple of decent players In Terrell Myers and Kevin Thompson but have pumped in more money to get two players with some NBA experience in Gran Canaria’s terrific guard Jimmie Hunter and Bucks benchman and giant centre Jared Reiner. I think Murcia might get closer to the play-offs this time around and wont end up in a relegation dogfight like last time out. Their paymasters are demanding a better showing and I suspect they will get it.

BIG INS Jimmie Hunter (Gran Canaria)
BIG OUTS : Terrell Myers (tbc) Thompson (Leon)
RANDOM FACT - Murcia is in the throws of a property boom and sports boom. The 7,500 seat venue is also complimented by a brand new stadium for the Murcia football team.
PLAYER TO WATCH - Jared Reiner
LAST SEASON - 14th (13-21)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 11th

PAMESA VALENCIA

Tipped by a certain well know ex-referee to do well last year but as he would say… (they were ####e). Struggled badly from the outset and this year they have turned to 7 foot NBA centre ZELJKO REBRACA from Croatia to give them the muscle to take them to the next level. They have retained the two free-scoring Rubens in Garces and Douglas and will be hoping to get off to a decent dtart that there big crowds are demanding. Pressure is on for Greek Coach Katsikaris who I thought was fortunate to hang on to his job last year and only a strong finish helped him through after a seriously sticky mid season! Nevertheless because of him staying and the majority of the team, continuation could give them a solid base to build on, plus they now have hustle and defence with Fred House in the side (The ACB version of Fab Flournoy in looks and style)


BIG INS - Fred House (Tau) Zeljko Renraca
BIG OUTS : Nobody of any significance
RANDOM FACT - Valencia have under-achieved for three successive seasons now and need to get back to whetre they used to be in the 1-5 spots as a giant of the ACB
PLAYER TO WATCH - Rebraca as he tries to deny Curtis Borchardt of Granada the best big man In the league title.
LAST SEASON - 7th (19-15)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 6th

FUENLABRADA


Brilliant at home and woeful on the road last season meant mediocrity beckoned. Bang in the middle between play-offs and relegation almost all season long. This year I think they might struggle a little more because too many other teams have made moves in that middle section. However it was a real coup to get Marko Tomas on loan from Real Madrid and he can certainly shoot! They will have Tom Wideman back who is rock solid at the forward spot sand will be supported this season by the incredible frame of 7ft 4in Peter John Ramos.

BIG INS - Ramos, Tomas (Real Madrid loan)
BIG OUTS : Lamont Barnes (Leon)
RANDOM FACT - Fuenlabrada are Madrid’s third club after the giants of Real and Estudiantes
PLAYER TO WATCH - Marko Tomas
LAST SEASON - 12 (14-20)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 15th
EuroLeague Women because women's basketball is the most important thing in life after family and good health!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bada Bing
Member Avatar
El Crack
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
PART 3


DKV JOVENTUT

Everyone knows by now about the break-up of the Badalona Brits and it had looked like their golden boy Rudy Fernandez would disappear to the NBA. That didn’t happen which is a bonus for Penya and of course we can all look forward to the real golden boy Ricky Rubio as he continues his staggering development. I think they will be strong again after they won local bragging rights by pipping Barca into third place in the standings last year only a lack of continuity might prove a hurdle. Only three losses off top spot shows that they were more consistent than it seemed at times. They have lost Charles Gaines but the replacements seem solid enough. Demond Mallett is quic which means speed will be in abundance with him and Rubio at point. Jerome Moiso who has NBA experience replaces Gaines while the GB big men are replaced with German Jan-Hendrik, Red Star Belgrade’s Petar Popovic and Sonseca from Real Madrid’s bench.

BIG INS - Mallett, Popovic, Sonseca, Moiso
BIG OUTS : Sullivan, Archibald, Betts, Gaines, Bennett, Vazquez
RANDOM FACT - Demond Mallett is a cousin of Shaq
PLAYER TO WATCH - Ricky Rubio who else?
LAST SEASON - 3rd (23-11)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 4th

UNICAJA MALAGA

Having won the play-offs in 05/06, Unicaja certainly didn’t start off last season where they left off the year before. They had a mediocre start and in the end, a season in Euroleague took it’s toll. They reached the Final Four in that competition which was stunning and unexpected but domestically Coach Scariolo really suffered. They just couldn’t score points and offensively they were poor although major injuries to the likes of Brown and Santiago never helped. They just clung on to a play-off spot but as in the Copa Del Rey when they were hosts, they disappointed. This season I expect Unicaja to be right up there. They have signed some exciting players to replace those departed. N’Dong and Santiago are two seven footers with NBA class and Croatian Davor Kus has plenty of potential in the guard spots. Gabriel German is solid with ACB experience and Boban Popovic has impressed in Moscow with Dynamo. Crucially however, I am expecting those who have remained to make the difference. Too many didn’t perform last year but the likes of Jiri Welsch, Carlos Jiminez and Berni Rodriquez should all be better this year.

BIG INS - Haislip, Popovic, Kus, German, N’Dong,
BIG OUTS : Sanchez (Barca) Brown, Faison, Tusek, Pietrus
RANDOM FACT - Unicaja’s game night experience is unforgettable and loud
PLAYER TO WATCH - Carlos Cabezas because he’s homemade and class
LAST SEASON - 8th (17-17)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 5th

GRANDA CB

It could be a long hard winter for Granada without their talisman Curtis Borchardt - possibly the ACB’s best along with Luis Scola in recent times. While he was injured a lot last year too, when he played they generally won and scrambled together enough W’s to survive and pull clear into mid-table respectability. Without him I just can’t see them doing anything this year. Corsley Edwards looks mediocre as his fellow forward Dylan Page. A truly uninspiring roster but maybe they will gel as a team and get the job done.

BIG INS - Edwards, Page
BIG OUTS - Curtis Borchardt (injured)
RANDOM FACT - Badaball visited their terrific venue during September for the Eurobasket 2007 tournament!
PLAYER TO WATCH - Struggling to get excited about anybody
LAST SEASON - 11 (15-19)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 15th


VIVEMENORCA
Menorca pulled off the great escape last year thanks mainly to Coach Ricard Casa and their MVP Chris Moss who was an inspiration. They have hung on to Moss which was always vital and have brought in a trio of main new guys. They are Tusek from Unicaja, the Slovenian, Giant centre with NBA experience Paul Shirley who played for them at the end of last season and guard Marino Bazdaric from Girona. This should be enough to allow them to survive again and maybe improve slightly. However Shirley, whose career has been blighted by injury is injured again already and could miss the start of the season.

BIG INS - Bazdaric (Girona) Shirley, Tusek (Unicaja)
BIG OUTS : Nobody of any stature
RANDOM FACT - Vive Menorca play in the Island’s capital Mahon and despite a tiny population, regularly attract packed houses of 5,000
PLAYER TO WATCH - Paul Shirley and how many games he can play
LAST SEASON - 15 (12-22)
EL CRACK PREDICTS - 13th


VALLADOLID
Along with Menorca, Javier Imbroda’s team pulled off a remarkable escape. Even more in trouble then the Islanders, the former Spanish coach came in and performed mircacles to become a cult hero with the raucous home fans. They even beat mighty Real near the end of the season in one of their more memorable performances. They have lost Bernard Hopkins who had a great season last year. He stays in the north of the country to try and spearhead relegated Bruesa’s return to the top flight. They have however retained the remarkable centre Bud Eley who lit it up last year as well as Frenchman Jospeh Gomis who is a creditable guard for this league. The players brought in aren’t of the quality of others and hence I think another struggle could be forthcoming.

BIG INS - Boddicker, Evtimov, Pavlidis
BIG OUTS : Bernard Hopkins
RANDOM FACT - Andrew Sullivan claimed the most hostile, passionate and partizan atmosphere during his time was in Valladolid with their 6,000 strong home crowd.
PLAYER TO WATCH -
LAST SEASON - 16th (12-22)
EL CRACK PREDICTS 16th




RICOH MANRESA
Won the LEB play offs last season and are back in the ACB at the first time of asking having missed only one season due to their relegation in 05/06. Will struggle, that is certain although they have certainly boosted their offensive prowess by securing the services of Matt Walsh who has a few NBA appearances on his CV. Other than that, not much to write home about. Survivial would be as good as winning the lottery.

BIG INS - Walsh, Alzamora (Menorca)
BIG OUTS : Sergi Llull (Real)
RANDOM FACT - Manresa are the third team of Barcelona area after Barca and Badalona
PLAYER TO WATCH - Matt Walsh
LAST SEASON - LEB Play-off winners
EL CRACK PREDICTS 17th

REVISED PREDICTION TABLE


1 REAL MADRID
2. TAU CERAMICA
3. BARCELONA
4 DKV JOVENTUT
5 UNICAJA
6 PAMESA VALENCIA
7 ESTUDIANTES
8 GRANCA
9 GIRONA
10 BILBAO BASKET
11 POLARIS WORLD MURCIA
12 CAJASOL SEVILLE
13 MENORCA
14 FUENLABRADA
15 GRANADA
16 VALLADOLID
17 RICOH MANRESA
18 LEON
EuroLeague Women because women's basketball is the most important thing in life after family and good health!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Best of the rest · Next Topic »
Add Reply