February 08, 2012
Top 16, Group G protagonists
Top 16
Group G can initially be divided into the challengers – Zalgiris and Asseco Prokom – and the contenders – CSKA Moscow and Unicaja – but that all goes out the window when the first ball is thrown up on January 27. With experienced teams that have met numerous times in the past, each game will have a little extra meaning. Zalgiris and CSKA are old rivals from the days of the Soviet Union. Zalgirs and Prokom meet for the first time since the latter outpointed the former on a tiebreaker to reach the Top 16 last season. Unicaja and CSKA meet for the first time since the 2008 Top 16, when a loss in Moscow cost Unicaja a playoff spot. Career scoring leader Marcus Brown will get a chance to visits two of his former homes when Zalgiris plays at CSKA and Unicaja. Prokom’s Ratko Varda will take on former club Zalgiris. Fans can expect to see some tough, defensive-minded with the two lowest-scoring teams to reach the Top 16, CSKA and Zalgiris. Overall, Group G could go in any direction as all four teams arrive hungry and eager to win at any cost.
Top 16, Group G player analysis: DAINIUS SALENGA, ZALGIRIS
Dainius Salenga
Zalgiris bounced back from a slow start by rallying to take its last two regular season games- One of the main reasons Zalgiris is still playing has been veteran forward Dainius Salenga, who is shining bright in his eighth Euroleague season. Salenga was the regular season Week 6 MVP and was instrumental - with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists - in the team's make-or-break home win against Cibona in the next-to-last regular sason game. Salenga knows that the Top 16 marks a new start and that Zalgiris is alive and kicking. "We have to fight for a playoff spot," Salenga said. "We have all the chances to do it and everything depends on us." READ MORE
Zalgiris Kaunas
Top 16, Group G player slideshow: GEORGIOS PRINTEZIS, UNICAJA
Unicaja
Things did not go as well as Georgios Printezis had hoped during the regular season. The athletic Unicaja forward saw a promising start to his time in Unicaja come to a crashing halt with a shoulder injury suffered during a slam dunk in the Spanish League. But then Printezis returned a little sooner than expected and his impact was instant. His production rose steadily over each of the four remaining games after his comeback, during all of which he scored in double figures. In fact, during that stretch, he led Unicaja in both scoring and rebounding. Now Printezis will aim for an extended period of health and success in the Top 16, Enjoy this SLIDESHOW to get a feel for what you can expect of Printezis when he gets on a roll.
Georgios Printezis - Unicaja
Top 16, Group G player wallpaper: DAVID LOGAN, ASSECO PROKOM
David Logan - Asseco Prokom
It was another regular season to remember for Asseco Prokom Gdynia’s David Logan, who helped the club celebrate moving to a new home by returning to the Top 16 for the second year in a row. The fearless guard proved to be head coach Tomas Pacesas’s most reliable player, having led the league in minutes played (36.44 per game). Logan’s quick hands and foot speed have made him an excellent on-the-ball defender and a former steals king, while his explosiveness with the ball and ability to create his own shot make him a go-to scorer. Logan’s best game of the season came when it mattered most with a season-high 24 points in a Week 10 win over BC Khimki that sent Prokom through to the next stage. Help celebrate that big win and his play all season by downloading David Logan wallpaper.
Asseco Prokom
Top 16, Group G player video. J.R. HOLDEN, CSKA MOSCOW
CSKA Moscow
One of the signature players of the entire Euroleague decade is still going strong as a main pilar of regular season group winner CSKA Moscow's ongoing success. A European record holder with seven consecutive Final Four appearances, point guard J.R. Holden is starting less but playing as much as ever, almost 33 minutes per night, appropriately enough, since he is 33 years old. And of course, just as he remains second-to-none defense on the ball, Holden keeps providing highlights with his timely scoring, especially from three-point distance when his team needs it most. Enjoy his VIDEO highlights and prepare for more to come in the Top 16!
J. R. Holden - CSKA Moscow
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Euroleague.net
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