Hello everybody, this is Javier Gancedo, always from the Euroleague Basketball headquarters. It was an interesting Game 1, after all. I was not very surprised to see Laboral and Madrid losing. Both teams have several injuries and a lot of new players, so an adjustment is needed.
Laboral struggled against Lottomatica because Andre Hutson did a terrific defensive job against Tiago Splitter and Ibby Jaaber broke the game with his athleticism and quickness. As for Madrid, Carlos Cabezas had an incredible fourth quarter and Paulius Jankunas was in the right place at the right time. I don’t think many teams will be able to beat Khimki in Russia this season. At the same time, I am looking forward to seeing Timofey Mozgov against Nikola Pekovic. What a matchup! My Fantasy team did more or less as I expected: average. I rank 16th out of 31, so this is how mediocre my week was. As you remember, I saved a lot of credits for this week, as I knew that this week only we had four trades instead of three. Therefore, I can go for those players that will win money no matter what. Yes, friends, I don’t care if my team gets 120, 150 or 200 points this week – well, if I go for 200 better… but I doubt it. As one of my favourite bands, The Wonder Stuff, would say… It’s Yer Money I’m After, Baby! So I am going to trade all those players that won’t make – or even lose – money and trade them for those that I can profit from. The more credits, the better, and this is what I will do in the next couple of weeks. I work hard for the money – so you better treat me right. OK, so let’s trade right now. After that -8 – thank you so much, Antonio -, Graves has to go. I am also trading Milko Bjelica as even when I think he will have a good game, I won’t take risks. I am doubting to trade Aleks Maric or Joel Freeland. Maric will play less quality playing time with Lawrence Roberts around while Freeland faces Olympiacos. Plus I wanna trade Marko Tomas, who is gone, gone… gone. Barcelona on the road – I doubt he will have a good game at Blaugrana, even when he is set for a hell of a season. So, Freeland or Maric? I will find the answer in… tha Adriatic League website! If Maric did well this weekend, he stays. If not, he goes. Let’s see… Hell, he was the MVP! Freeland out. Well, the first player in is obviously Drajus Lavrinovic. Heavily underpriced and in great shape. With 242 credits for 4 players, I can gamble a bit. Second player in is Bojan Popovic – he should be fine against Aldo Curti and Laurent Sciarra. I inked Curtis Borchardt because FB Ulker has many fouls to give against him and I expect him to have a solid game. That leaves me with 79.6 credits for my final trade. Linas Kleiza fits, but I am getting Pete Mickeal because Barcelona plays at home. My team goes like this: Bojan Popovic – underpriced, even when Rytas won’t have it easy in Orleans. Milos Teodosic – I don’t like to keep him in a tough game against Unicaja. But I had other urgencies. Qyntel Woods – in great shape and the reference of his team, Asseco Prokom, right now. Pete Mickeal – will get me 15% extra credits and is set for a big game against Cibona. Fernando San Emeterio – With Brad Oleson and Carl English sidelined or questionable, he is a must. Marty Pocius – you have him, also you, and you, and you, too… Curtis Borchardt – one of my favourite fantasy players in the game. Rock-solid. Travis Watson – great rebounder, but a difficult game for him in Siena. Darjus Lavrinovic – in my humble opinion, a must-have player. A lot of people thought so, anyway. Aleks Maric – good rebounder ready to battle against the entire Efes frontcourt. Hello, Ermal! I will make loads of money and be ready for a brighter future in the BallinEurope league. I hope. So, don’t miss the deadline, choose wisely and enjoy an interesting Euroleague week!
