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By: Slam

Last Week: 6-6. Overall Record: 6-6.

With some very talented 0-2 teams looking to get their first win on the board, there will be some great battles this week.  We have 7 games on Wednesday and another 5 on Thursday, enjoy.

Wednesday’s Games

BC Khimki vs. Caja Laboral

After doing his best Tiago Spitter impersonation to start the season Stanko Barac just got his big payday from Caja, now let’s see how he responds.  Marcelinho Huertas put on a point guard show last week and when he’s on he is one of the toughest lead guards to stop in Europe.  Now Caja needs to find a way to seamlessly transition Marcus Haislip and Nemanja Bjelica into their already formidable rotation.  This is also technically a battle for 1st place of Group A, but unless Kieth Langford puts up 30, Caja will roll.  Caja Laboral

Olympiacos vs. Unicaja

Olympiacos got surprised by a feisty Brose Baskets team last week, while Unicaja managed to only put 56 points up against Madrid.  Terrell McIntyre is really, really good but he needs time to get used to his new team and surrounding.  Once he gets settled and Joel Freeland decides to play like a monster in the paint every game, then look out.  The difference in this game is that both these teams play much, much, much better at home and the game is in Greece.  Olympiacos

Efes Pilsen vs. AJ Milano

If Olexisy Pecherov plays in this game, then it is totally different, but as it stands now he doesn’t.  Bootsy Thornton looked like he went into the rejuvenation machine before last weeks game with a 19 point, 10 rebound performance.  With him going strong and the 2008 version of Igor Rakocevic playing in his 2010 body (21.5 ppg this season), this offense could scare some people.  Efes Pilsen

Zalgiris vs. Asseco Prokom

Zalgiris has a very balanced team, especially when it comes to scoring while on the flip side Prokom relies heavily on a few players.  If JR Giddens isn’t on, then Prokom will have a ton of problems.  Pauluis Jankunas looks much more comfortable back in the dark green this season.  Zalgiris

Brose Baskets vs. Spirou

When Brian Roberts and Kyle Hines getting going for Brose it can be flat out scary for the other team’s defense.  This might be Spirou’s best chance to get a win for quite a few games in a stacked Group B.  Will it happen, no.  Brose Baskets

Valencia vs. CSKA Moscow

The battle of the bottom dwellers in Spain.  CSKA did this same dance last year where they played medicore ball for the start of the season and then hustled everyone by blowing through opponents once they got rolling.  Well with Siska, Khryapa and Kaun out that wait might be getting longer and longer.  The good news for CSKA is that Jamont Gordon might be the best penetrator in Europe and he can still lead this offense.  The bad news for CSKA is that 1st team Euro-Cupper Nando de Colo is coming back this week and he loves a good challenge.  Valencia

Montepaschi Siena vs. Cibona

Bojan Bogdanovic is growing into one my favorite players around and his stroke is just so pretty to watch.  Leon Radosevic is a fantasy star right now (GO PICK HIM UP!) and Tomislav Zubcic might actually be blossoming into the prospect we all thought he could be.  This is all well and good for the Croatians, but if those guys can’t get off the floor or get any support from their bench then it could be a long night.  Beyond this Bo McCalebb is just crazy quick.  Siena

Thursday’s Games

Cholet Basket vs. Lietuvos Rytas

Another battle of 0-2 teams leads us to France, where Rytas was so close last week to squeaking by Siena.  Bajramovic, Valanciunas, and Bjelica form a nice front court that will try and bang with Cholet all night.  Lietuvos Rytas

Virtus Roma vs. Real Madrid

Only 7 guys scored for Madrid in their win over Unicaja and you think that would be a negative.  This year Ettore Messina finally might be holding to a rotation instead of switching up the lineup drastically from game to game, like what was the case last year.  I will sing his praises until he proves me wrong, but Sergio Llull is turning into a man right in front of our eyes.  Real Madrid

Partizan vs. Maccabi Electra

I mentioned last week that Partizan does not lose at home, I’m going to stick by that as long as I can.  Nathan Jawai has to bring his grade A defensive game Thursday if he wants to try and shut down Big Sofo and Richard Hendrix.  Maccabi has more talent but Partizan has the crazy home court edge. Partizan

Regal FC Barcelona vs. Fenerbahce Ulker

When this game goes back to Turkey later in the season it Barcelona might be doomed for an upset.  As it stands now the game is in Barcelona and Erazem Lorbek scored 19 points last week.  Anytime he gets close to that number this season its an added bonus and Barcelona will be tough to stop.  Barcelona

Union Olimpija vs. Panathinaikos

Raise your hand if you thought Union Olimpija would be 2-0 and have the October MVP (Goran Jagodnik).  Wow I didn’t see many hands raised.  Union has been a great surprise story this season, but Pana and Romain Sato have looked to good so far defensively to vote against them.  Panathinaikos