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2008-09 Euroleague, phase by phase
 The shortening of the regular season to 10 games paid dividends in 2008-09 as three-quarters of the Top 16 spots weren’t decided until Week 8 and four tickets were clinched only in the final week. Parity among the teams could be seen as there were tight races in each of the groups whether for first place or for spots in the next stage. And every team in the competition won at least two games. Individual and team records were set and broken. J.R. Holden, Jaka Lakovic and Nikola Vujcic all reached the 2,000-point mark in their Euroleague career. Regal FC Barcelona boasted the best record at 9-1 and Tau Ceramica was the top offensive team, led by Igor Rakocevic, who in addition to leading the competition in scoring, had a successful free-throw shooting streak that reached 58.
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 1 |
The season started with a bang as four games were decided by 5 points or less and four other by more than 20. Three of last season’s Final Four teams – CSKA Moscow, Montepaschi and Tau Ceramica – won comfortably, while Cibona beat Maccabi for its ninth straight opening night win. Alba Berlin marked its return to the Euroleague with a win at the o2 Arena, site of the 2009 Final Four. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 2 |
Seven teams remained undefeated after two games. Partizan Belgrade beat Real Madrid for the first time in the matchup of classic sides. Regal FC Barcelona routed Panathinaikos 90-66 for the Greens worst loss in five years. Daniel Ewing drilled 6 second-half three-pointer to lead Asseco Prokom past SLUC Nancy. Tiago Splitter scored his 1,000th career Euroleague point as Tau Ceramica edged Olimpija. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 3 |
Five of the week’s 12 games were won by visiting teams. Air Avellino registered its first-ever Euroleague win by edging Unicaja. Panionios bested Efes Pilsen on the road for its first Euroleague win in a decade. Sarunas Jasikevicius cracked the top 10 career scoring list in Panathinaikos’s win. Igor Rakocevic scored a career-best 27 to lead Tau Ceramcia over Alba Berlin. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 4 |
Losses for Montepaschi, Cibona and Tau Ceramica left CSKA as the lone undefeated team. CSKA tied the Euroleague record with 18 triples in a win over Efes Pilsen. SLUC Nancy defeated Zalgiris for its first-ever Euroleague win. Mirsad Turkcan’s recorded his 45th career double-double as Fenerbahce Ulker topped Olimpija in double overtime. Real Madrid edged Armani Jeans in the last seconds. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 5 |
Olympiacos and Cibona both won Group A games in overtime. Unicaja spoiled Pini Gershon's return to Maccabi by winning in Tel Aviv. Jaka Lakovic scored his 2,000th career Euroleague point in Barcelona’s win over Zalgiris. Union Olimpija bested Berlin for its first win of the season. Andre Hutson’s career-high 26 points lifted Lottomatica Roma over Fenerbahce Ulker and into first place in Group C. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 6 |
Armani Jeans Milano handed CSKA its first loss of the season. Group B co-leaders Montepaschi Siena and Regal FC Barcelona clinched berths to the Top 16. Lottomatica Roma polished off Alba Berlin for its fifth straight victory. Ricky Rubio returned from wrist surgery in DKV Joventut’s win over Union Olimpija. Panionios edged Madrid in a thriller. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 7 |
Unicaja won its 21st straight home game. Olympiacos and CSKA advanced to the Top 16. Trajan Langdon cracked the career top 10 list in scoring in CSKA’s win. Barcelona ended Panathinaikos’s unbeaten run at home at 18 games. SLUC Nancy shook up Group C by beating Asseco Prokom. Alba Berlin remained unbeaten at home. Efes Pilsen bested Madrid to snap a four-game losing streak. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 8 |
Six teams reached the Top 16: Unicaja, Maccabi, Cibona, Panathinaikos, Lottomatica and Tau. Nikola Vujic scored his 2,000th career Euroleague point in an Olympiacos victory. Lior Eliyahu registered his third straight double-double as Maccabi won at Le Mans. Zalgirus Kaunas dominated Asseco Prokom for its first win of the season as Loren Woods blocked 7 shots – tied for the third most in a Euroleague game. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 9 |
Regal FC Barcelona, Tau Ceramica and CSKA Moscow won their respective groups. Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Ulker advanced to the Top 16. Alba Berlin defeated DKV Joventut for its first Euroleague road win since October 2002. Zalgiris beat SLUC Nancy for its second straight win as Jonas Maciulis scored a career-high 29. Le Mans picked up its first won of the season. MORE | MVP |
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REGULAR SEASON GAME 10 |
Alba Berlin, Armani Jeans, Partizan and Asseco Prokom rounded out the Top 16 lineup. Partizan won in Moscow to advance. Luca Vitali scored a career-high 32 to lead Milano. Unicaja smashed Maccabi Electra to clinch first place in Group A. Regal FC Barcelona won to finish with the best record of the regular season at 9-1. Igor Rakocevic’s record free-throw shooting streak ended at 58. MORE | MVP |
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STANDINGS
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| GROUP A |
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Unicaja |
8-2
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73
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Olympiacos |
6-4
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67
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Maccabi Electra |
6-4
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4
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Cibona |
5-5
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-12
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Air Avellino |
3-7
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-60
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Le Mans |
2-8
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-72
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| GROUP B |
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Regal FCB |
9-1
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163
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Montepaschi
Siena |
8-2
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85
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Panathinaikos |
7-3
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56
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Asseco Prokom |
2-8
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-59
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Zalgiris |
2-8
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-96
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SLUC Nancy |
2-8
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-149
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| GROUP C |
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Tau Ceramica |
8-2
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108
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Lottomatica
Roma |
6-4
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28
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Fenerbahce
Ulker |
6-4
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24
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Alba Berlin |
4-6
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-57
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DKV Joventut |
4-6
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-10
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Union Olimpija |
2-8
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-93
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| GROUP D |
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CSKA Moscow |
7-3
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130
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Real Madrid |
6-4
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33
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AJ Milano |
5-5
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-11
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Partizan |
5-5
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19
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Efes Pilsen |
4-6
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-49
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Panionios OT |
3-7
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-122
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| POINTS |
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I. Rakocevic 20.0 |
| S. Becirovic 17.4 |
| D. Logan 17.3 |
| C. Warren 16.2 |
| T. Splitter 15.4 |
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| REBOUNDS |
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L. Woods 9.0 |
| M. Turkcan 8.3 |
| P. Jankunas 8.0 |
| I. Bourousis 7.8 |
| A. Koffi 7.7 |
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| ASSISTS |
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T. Papaloukas 5.0 |
| O. Cook 4.9 |
| T. McIntyre 4.6 |
| D. Mallet 4.5 |
| C. Arroyo 4.2 |
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| STEALS |
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P. Prigioni 2.2 |
| C. Smith 2.2 |
| T. McIntyre 2.2 |
| D. Logan 2.1 |
| I. Jaaber 2.1 |
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| BLOCKS |
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L. Woods 2.3 |
| T. Splitter 1.7 |
| M. Begic 1.7 |
| S. Lasme 1.6 |
| F. Vazquez 1.5 |
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| FREE THROWS |
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D. Diener 100.0% |
| M. Hall 100.0% |
| F. S. Emeterio 100.0% |
| E. H. Sonseca 96.0% |
| S. Ozbolt 95.8% |
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| 2P SHOTS |
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L. Barton 93.3% |
| J. Vesely 83.3% |
| T. Papaloukas 81.8% |
| M. Raicevic 80.0% |
| S. Llull 77.7% |
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| 3P SHOTS |
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M. Mordente 59.3% |
| S. Becirovic 57.1% |
| J. Lakovic 53.8% |
| D. Diener 51.6% |
| G. Basile 51.6% |
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