Top 16 Week 2 MVP: Novica Velickovic, Partizan
|
 One of the top young talents on the international basketball stage was at his very best when his team needed him most in Week 2 of the Top 16. Not only did Partizan forward Novica Velickovic record the competition's best individual performance of the week, he also put Partizan in the Group G win column with an inspiring 84-76 home victory over dangerous Lottomatica Roma. To the delight of a standing-room-only crowd at Pionir Arena in Belgrade, Velickovic packed plenty highlights into his 31 minutes on the floor Wednesday. Whether raining three-pointers from every angle, blasting to the rim or getting airborne to block shots and grab rebounds, Velickovic was everywhere against Roma. By the time Partizan's had its first Top 16 victory in hand, the 22-year-old power forward had collected a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds to go with 3 assists, 2 blocked shots and a steal. His performance index rating of 29 made him one of the youngest-ever weekly MVPs in the Euroleague. Julius Jenkins of Alba Berlin had the week's second-best individual effort with an index rating of 26. Jenkins shot 5-for-9 on two-pointers, 2-for-3 on three-pointers and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line to finish with a game-high 21 points in a losing effort against Real Madrid. Jenkins also pulled down 4 rebounds and dished 4 assists. Sani Becirovic of Lottomatica Roma, Terrell McIntyre of Montepaschi Siena and Mirsad Turkcan of Fenerbahce Ulker each had index ratings of 25 in Top 16 Week 2. Becirovic drew 12 fouls and made 13 of his 14 free throw attempts to produce 17 points despite Roma's loss in Belgrade. McIntyre drilled an outstanding 6 of 10 from downtown among 24 points and a game-high 6 assists as Montepaschi defeated Fenerbahce 87-79. Turkcan came through with 25 points in the same game, based on 7-for-10 two-point and 8-for-9 free-throw shooting. He also grabbed a game-high 7 rebounds.
Individual highs: Vassilis Spanoulis, Panathinaikos, 7 assists
Turkcan's 25 points were the best of Week 2 and, although he sat out the Top 16 opener, gives him the top average among all players in the round so far. Felipe Reyes of Real Madrid and D'or Fischer of Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv pulled down 11 rebounds each to lead Week 2. Fischer and Pat Burke of Asseco Prokom are tied for the top spot on the best rebounders list at 9.5 rebounds per game. Vassilis Spanoulis of Panathinaikos dished a week-high 7 assists and was instrumental in helping the Greens knock off mighty Unicaja in Malaga. Spanoulis is also one of the six guards who share the first place in assists at 5 per game. Gordan Giricek of Fenerbahce and Shaun Stonerook of Montepaschi were each good for 5 steals, more than anyone this week. Stonerook and David Logan of Prokom lead the Top 16 steals category at 3.5 steals per game. Fischer's 3 blocks were only matched by three other players - Ronnie Burrell of Prokom and Barcelona's big duo of David Andersen and Fran Vazquez, whose defensive presence helped Barca limit Maccabi to 65 points en route to an 85-65 victory. So far Fischer is the best shot blocker of the Top 16 with 3.5 blocks per game. Five players - Velickovic, Fischer, Vasquez, Reyes and Ioannis Bourousis of Olympiacos - reached double digits in both points and rebounds this week.
|
Friday, February 06, 2009
Euroleague.net
|
 Print Send to a Friend Share
|