Hello everybody, this is Javier Gancedo from Euroleague Basketball Headquarters as always, and ready for a big Week 3 full of outstanding showdowns. Maccabi vs. CSKA is quite a big game by any standards: It’s also a good time for CSKA to show what to expect from Russia’s finest this season. Real Madrid vs. Panathinaikos sees Zeljko Obradovic facing Ettore Messina. These two coaches have combined for 11 Euroleague titles with six different teams – CSKA, Virtus, Panathinaikos, Joventut, Madrid and Partizan. This aside, there are enough big games all around the continent to focus in these two.
I had a so-so fantasy week. Curtis Borchardt did not play and that simply killed me. Marty Pocius did not have a good game, so I have decided to trade them this week. I am also getting rid of Travis Watson, who is losing credits and is playing against Barcelona. Of course, Watson may have a lot of rebounds and a huge index this week, but since I doubt it and all of my remaining players are still on their way up, that will be my third trade.
So let’s see what I’m doing: This is not live for you good readers out there, but it is for me, since I trade while I write this small, humble article. Without Borchardt around and playing at home, I think that Ali Traore is a steal at 39.1 credits, so my first trade is for him. Luckily, I kept some extra credits in the box, so I have around 131 for two players. I am tempted to take Matt Walsh but since EWE Baskets Oldenburg plays at home, Je’Kel Foster is my man. I love his first name, too; quite the great logical arithmetic reason to have him on my team, I know. That leaves me with 83 credits for my final trade: qa ton of money, but not enough to get Nikola Pekovic. Damn. So I will keep a lot of money in the box this week and grab Dimitris Mavroeidis. I have watched him since the Qualifying Rounds and he is a very, very effective player. If Kaimakoglou and Pelekanos are sidelined, Maroussi will have to play inside and feed him.
So my team, Meet the Boss, ranking 17th in the BallinEurope Invitational Challenge and just 45 points away from the top spot, is:
Bojan Popovic. The October MVP! Popovic has a tough game against Olympiacos, but I needed to trade other players.
Milos Teodosic. Not my favourite player this week but if Olympiacos wins and he plays just fine, he will increase in value.
Qyntel Woods. A must this week, as they play at home against AJ Milano. My early candidate for weekly MVP.
Pete Mickeal. With no Navarro, no Basile … there’s a chance Mickeal does well in Kaunas.
Fernando San Emeterio will be in my team as long as he is underpriced. Two more weeks at least.
Je’Kel Foster. Here I am, in search of more money. Foster should have an average game against Khimki.
Dimitrios Mavroeidis. A surprise acquisition, but this is what Fantasy is all about, right?
Ali Traore. No Curtis, more touches down low for Traore. He has been playing very well, too.
Darjus Lavrinovic. But of course! You have him, too, no need to lie from us, man.
Aleks Maric, coming off a good game, should have an even better one against Orleans.
So once again, choose wisely, challenge your friends and enjoy a very, very good Euroleague week! Of course, all comments are welcome, and feel free to say anything in the comments section below.
Good luck everybody, make your team before the deadline and see you all next week!
