Euroleague Basketball 2008-09, Regular Season, Group B analysis
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Montepaschi Siena
 The Italian champions had a brilliant run to the Euroleague Basketball Final Four last season, eventually finishing third. And with the masterminds of the operation – young coaching genius Simone Pianigiani and Euroleague Basketball’s Club Executive of the Year Ferdinando Minucci – both still in charge, there is every reason to expect to see more of this team.
FC Barcelona
 One of the most active teams in the off-season market, Barcelona has made a statement by bringing home superstar guard Juan Carlos Navarro and poaching star big man David Andersen from the defending champs. This team is surely not done and with many key players from last year’s squad – which came within one game of the Euroleague Basketball Final Four – the sky is the limit now in Barcelona.
Panathinaikos
 The 2007 Euroleague champs stumbled at the worst time last season and missed the playoffs, but led by coaching maestro Zeljko Obradovic, the Greens are hungrier than ever to get back to the top. Panathinaikos has already added to last year’s star-studded roster with All-Euroleague big man Nikola Pekovic, former Euroleague scoring champ Drew Nicholas and former Panathinaikos star Antonis Fotsis making it clear what the Greek champs’ goals are.
Zalgiris Kaunas
 Mighty Lithuanian champion Zalgiris Kaunas defeated three of the eventual Final Four teams last season and now will look to build on that. With all-time Euroleague scoring champ Marcus Brown back, promising point guard Willie Deane signing and rising star Manatas Kalnietis coming into his own to help form a promising backcourt, there is reason for optimism at Zalgiris.
Prokom Trefl
 Perennial Polish champion Prokom Trefl is looking ahead with a talented new coach on the sidelines and some new faces on the floor. Head coach Tomas Pacesas took over the reigns in Sopot midway through last season and helped the team win three of four to finish the regular season. Now he gets a chance to show what he can do with a full season in charge.
SLUC Nancy
 Euroleague newcomer SLUC Nancy is a growing power in France, now ready to test itself against the very best. The Cougers, who have been to four straight French League finals, will try to become only the second French team in the past half-decade to reach the Euroleague Top 16. Thus far, a brand-new backcourt of Steed Tchicamboud and John Cox is a good start.
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Euroleague.net
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