Euroleague 2007-2008 - Aris Thessaloniki - The Preview

Author : Billy Kyriakidis from The Buzzer Beater

Overall Record Prediction : 7-7

After many seasons, we don’t know what to expect from Aris. Traditionally the season began with a coach who had been hired in the middle of the previous season and would eventually be fired in the middle of the next!
This season after one and a half year that was admittedly successful for the club with Andrea Mazzon as the Head Coach , Aris is trying to make one more step ahead. For one more year, the roster is completely different compared to the last one and most importantly Gordon Herbert is the new Head Coach. So let’s see what Aris is all about this season.

Rayshawn Terry and Bracey Wright came from the other side of the Atlantic with very good recommendations. From that point and beyond though, there isn’t much quality difference. The most useful player of the team Mike Wilkinson left and in his place Hanno Mottola arrived who is more experienced but also a much worse defender and older. From the preseason games, we can tell that the game style resembles to the Phoenix Suns with one small difference! Instead of Steve Nash, there is George Kalaitzis and in the place of Amaré Stoudemire, they have Lazaros Agadakos!

There is of course Terrel Ray Castle but I think that last year he gave everything he got and at his 36 years of age someone has to understand that he can’t play for 40 minutes any more. However the team also signed three young players but as usually their basketball action will be limited to some media statements about how “we should take this chance and play for Aris”. The Center position is once again a big question mark. Herbert believes that Agadakos with the help of the PFs will have no problem covering the paint. On the other hand, Olympiacos already have Tsakalidis, Bouroussis, Mavrokefalidis, Schortsianitis, Jackson and and they are still trying to find more players for their front line!

Aris’ weapon this year will be as always their arena, Alexandreio Melathron. The venue itself can guarantee 5 wins in Thessaloniki.