Welcome to Euroleague Academy courses taught by the distinguished Professor Slam. With a Bachelors degree in Hoopology and a Masters in Long Range Shooting, these season long courses will give you incite on what we’ve been learning in the Euroleague during the season. Our first few subjects include mathematics, psychology, and history.
MAT 101- Darjus Lavrinovic + Real Madrid = A lot of Scoring
Darjus Lavrinovic hasn’t been in the Euroleague since 2006, just making him hungrier and hungrier to show his worth once he has got back. He hasn’t disappointed this season as he is averaging 21 points on 71.4% shooting from the field and adding in 5.3 rebounds a game. This has fueled a Real Madrid team that averaged only 74 points a game in the regular season last year, to a whopping 89.8 a game this season. Darjus has basically been filling in for two key players in Real’s playoff run last year (Tomas Van Dan Spiegel and Felipe Reyes) while helping to elevate the games of youngsters Sergio Llull and Novica Velickovic. What we’ve learned here is that a wise, efficient veteran added to a young talented team can bring you a lot of offense and possibly to the next level (Final Four?). Real is 3-1 and sitting atop of Group D after taking down last year’s champs Panathinaikos.
PSY 151- American guards have an inherent brain mechanism that allows them to shoot 3’s and score at will Continue Reading…
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made waves when he changed his name. Brandon Jennings, on the other hand, is busy changing the game. On Saturday night, B-Jen dropped 55 points, breaking Kareem’s (then Lew Alcindor) Bucks rookie record of 51, falling only three shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time rookie mark. So where are all the haters now? Where are the doubters who shook their heads when they heard Jennings wanted to exercise his right to seek gainful employment after high school? I’ve got 55 reasons why they should reconsider:
1. I don’t know if I made this clear, but he scored 55 points last night. 2. The moment he landed in Italy last year, Under Armour gave him $2 million. 3. I don’t remember being offered $2 million when I arrived at college. 4. Because he’s not friends with Joe Budden anymore. 5. Coming out of high school, Jrue Holiday was ranked as the best point guard by Scout.com. Jennings had a “rough” time in Europe, while Holiday got to start at UCLA and had a decent, yet inconsistent, year. 7. The Bucks drafted Jennings 10th. He’s averaging 26 points per game and starting. Holiday went 17th to the Sixers. He’s averaging 2.5 points and is riding the bench. Hmm… 8. His new hairstyle is cool. 9. I know, I know. His old hairstyle was even cooler. 10. While his peers were in college (what a waste of time…sheesh!), Jennings was getting paid a milli to play basketball in a foreign land. Life sucks. 11. Scott Skiles’ profanity-laced rants can sometimes sound like a foreign language. Old hat for B-Jen after playing abroad. 12. Italy is famous for spaghetti and caprese. College is famous Ramen noodles and Capri Suns. 13. Just to make sure we’re on the same page, he scored 55 points last night. 14. Because…just watch this:
14. Because he’s playing for a coach who’s smart enough to make him shut down his Twitter. 15. He avoided getting drafted by the Knicks. That’s a big win in my book. 16. He’s a lefty who’s lethal with his right as well, which should come in handy when hoisting the Rookie of the Year Trophy with both hands. 17. He might not look too bad in an All-Star jersey next year, if not this season. 18. By the time Rubio comes over here, B-Jen will have already Continue Reading…
So after last week’s picks, here’s how we stand on the season (remember, our picks started in Week 2): SLAM: 17-7; FREAKNICK: 17-7. It’s a dead tie between the Euroleague Adventures boys, let’s see if someone can pull ahead in Week 4.
Zalgiris @ Cibona
Slam: The time has finally come and Jamont Gordon says, “GIVE ME A WIN!” Cibona
Freaknick: Martynas Pocius gets back on track and proves he can be wekk in, week out stud. Oh, and Travis Watson’s a beast. Zalgiris.
Montepaschi @ FB Ulker
Slam: The boys from Turkey just can’t put it together right now and did anyone else see Romain Sato last week? Montepaschi
Freaknick: Fenerbahce-Willie Solomon=better, but Montepaschi-Lavrinovic=Mega Romain Sato, so Fenerbahce<Montepaschi. It’s basic math. Montepaschi.
Asvel @ Barcelona
Slam: Yeah the first quarter might be interesting but after that let the fireworks begin. Barcelona
Freaknick: Welcome back, JC. Barcelona.
Unicaja @ Orleans
Slam: Omar Cook and Taquan Dean are playing like basketball identical twins tight now, and you just can’t beat chemistry like that. Unicaja
Freaknick: Unicaja will win and Shammond Williams will make zero impact. Unicaja.
Caja Laboral @ Maroussi
Slam: Does Caja Laboral have their groove back? Hopefully Pau Ribas can keep it going with Huertas out. Caja Laboral
Freaknick: Will this be the week Mirza Teletovic looks in the mirror and realizes Continue Reading…
