Euroleague 2007-2008 - Žalgiris Kaunas - The Preview

Author : Jonas Miklovas from Basketnews

Overall Record Prediction : 7-7 - 5th spot in Group A

Žalgiris turned to veterans and this offseason signed 4 players in their 30s’. While forwards Dainius Šalenga (30) and Goran Jurak (30) are in their prime, center Eurelijus Žukauskas (34) and star guard Marcus Brown (33) seem to be heading towards retirement
Early in the season Žukauskas clearly lacked stamina, and Brown was as slow as ever. On the roster also stand aging Tanoka Beard (36) and DeJuan Collins (30), Kaunas’ team will have to play slow pace with these on the floor.

But when Mantas Kalnietis (21), Marko Popovi? (25), Jonas Ma?iulis (22) and Paulius Jank?nas (23) comes in, things change. Kalnietis showed some improvement with his decisions-making and shot selection, Popovi? is (still) healthy and as willing to contribute as ever, while Jank?nas takes much more responsibilities on the offensive end, because he simply is the best big man in this team. If Ma?iulis manages to stay healthy (he had no rest in summer, playing for 3 different national teams), Žalgiris’ youth can make things work.

Final 4 Predictions : CSKA, Panathinaikos, Efes Pilsen, Olympiakos. CSKA wins it all this time.