Euroleague 2007-2008 - Chorale Roanne - The Preview
October 25, 2007
Author : Julien Deschuyteneer from Basketsession
Overall Record Prediction : an optimistic 5-9
French basketball doesn’t mean much on the European stage anymore. Out of their much heralded Big Three, the French running champs lost their jewel -Dewarick Spencer- to a European powerhouse (Bologna) and happened to lose do-it-all forward Aaron Harper…to a Ukrainian team. That says a lot about the state of French hoops. And to say the truth, we don’t really count on Roanne to restore any hope. Cause the smallest town of any Euroleague teams certainly has one of the smallest budgets too. Well, talent is there and Roanne might do a couple of hold-ups during the course of the season. But the roster clearly looks too slim to simultaneously play 2 different competitions.
Roanne can nevertheless rely on a brand new and competitive Big Three. Dee Spencer was replaced by a similar type of guard : athletic, able to score both from the outside and on a drive, Brion Rush already proved in the French League that he ain’t afraid to take the big shots. Instead of Harper, Coach Choulet chose a different kind of player in Adam Hess. Not quite as good on the drive, less athletic, but a true sharpshooter. Last but not least, Marc Salyers should be a Fantasy League players favourite : a wild power forward, able to catch fire from behind the arc, Salyers is Roanne’s Superman.
The starting five is completed by 2 players we can’t wait to watch at this level. The micro-flee Marc-Antoine Pellin (1.67m) who distributed the ball so well last year and center Pape Badiane, who showed some flashes offensively, are 2 very tough defenders who managed to shut down all their direct opponents. Can they repeat it at a higher lever ?
And if Norman Nolan will be able to bring his experience waiting for skywalker Kendall Dartez’ comeback, the bench might end up being too weak. Yet with its very offensive-minded and up-tempo basketball, close to what the Suns are doing, where anyone can shoot and score even early in the possession, La Chorale might surprise some teams. Especially if the team starts being confident getting the best of an easy early schedule.
If that does not happen, the French will run away with at least one single award : the award of the funkiest jersey ever.
Final Four : Panathinaikos – CSKA Moscou – Vitoria - Olympiakos
Vainqueur : CSKA Moscou
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Euroleague 2008/09
