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2-1, Group C
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2-1, Group C
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A fight between two Turkish Airlines Euroleague powerhouses is set in Istanbul, Turkey, where Anadolu Efes faces Maccabi Electra on Thursday. Both teams join a three-way tie atop the standings at 2-1, so the winner will take a decisive step not only to reach the Top 16, but to win Group C. The two last played in the 2009-10 Top 16. Maccabi leads the 2011-12 Euroleague in fewest turnovers (24 in 3 games), but Efes is one of the leading teams in steals (9 per game). Maccabi head coach David Blatt worked for Efes in the 2007-08 season, while Efes center Esteban Batista once played for Maccabi, helping the team reach the 2008 Euroleague final.
Kerem Tunceri, who missed a Turkish League game last week, returned to action against EA7 Emporio Armani. Tarence Kinsey, however, got injured in a Turkish League game this weekend and is doubtful. Maccabi enters the matchup at Sinan Erdem injury-free.
Efes must be ready to stop Jordan Farmar, who comes off an outstanding game against Real Madrid that earned him Week 3 bwin MVP honors. His matchup against Sasha Vujacic will be one of the keys to this game. Both teams have plenty of firepower – Maccabi relies on sharpshooters Keith Langford, Guy Pnini, Devin Smith and David Blu, while Efes has Dusko Savanovic, Ersan Ilyasova and Tunceri. Tarence Kinsey, however, has been Efes' most consistent player thus far, adding athleticism and power at small forward. His matchup against Devon Smith will be critical to this game. As with any team facing Maccabi, Efes needs to stop Sofoklis Schortsanitis and will assign the job to three big men – Stanko Barac, Batista and Ermal Kuqo. Efes cannot allow Theo Papaloukas and Farmar to control the game tempo and use its size advantage at power forward. Maccabi must get Schortsanitis and Lior Eliyahu involved to improve its chances to win.
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Game notes, Maccabi Electra
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Kerem Tunceri has made 12 consecutive free throws in Euroleague action.
By dishing 11 more assists Tunceri will reach the 400 mark, an achievement only 12 players have accomplished thus far.
Tarence Kinsey has recorded at least 1 steal in each of his last nine Turkish Airlines Euroleague contests.
Stanko Barac recorded the best game of his career against Maccabi Electra last season with 18 points and Euroleague career highs of 13 rebounds and 4 blocked shots for a performance index rating of 34. Despite his memorable game, his team at the time, Caja Laboral, lost 81-70 at Nokia Arena.
Esteban Batista started his Euroleague career and played a season-and-a-half with Maccabi between the summer of 2007 and December 2008. He helped the team reach the 2008 Euroleague Basketball Final Four in Madrid. During his time with Maccabi he played alongside three current Maccabi players, Tal Burstein, Lior Eliyahu and David Blu, as well as assistant coach Derrick Sharp.
Batista played alongside Tal Burstein during the 2009-10 season in the Spanish League for Fuenlabrada.
Anadolu Efes and Maccabi are the teams that have drawn the most fouls in this Euroleague season. Both teams share the top spot with 75 drawn fouls so far.
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Theo Papaloukas needs 5 more three-pointers to reach 100 for his Euroleague career.
Jordan Farmar was teammate of Anadolu Efes guard Sasha Vujacic for four seasons – from 2006 through 2010 – with Los Angeles in the NBA. The two helped the Lakers win NBA titles in 2009 and 2010.
Farmar was the bwin Week 3 MVP after his great performance last week against Madrid.
Tal Burstein needs 7 more assists to reach 300 for his Euroleague career.
Keith Langford missed all four attempts from the foul line in his short debut with Maccabi last week. It was the first time in his 25 games Euroleague career in which he finished a game without a single point from the foul line.
Maccabi has made the fewest three pointers in the competition after three games with a total of just 13.
Maccabi turned the ball over fewer times than any other Euroleague team with only 24 turnovers so far this season.
Jon Scheyer could make his Euroleague debut this week.
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Sasa Pukl
Slovenia
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Robert Lottermoser
Germany
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Elias Koromilas
Greece
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Monday, November 07, 2011
Euroleague.net
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