February 08, 2012
Euroleague Basketball February MVP: Matjaz Smodis, CSKA
Matjaz Smodis - CSKA Moscow The old saying that you can never underestimate the heart of a champion merits repeating halfway through the Top 16, and in this case applies to both his team and Euroleague Basketball's choice as MVP of February, power forward Matjaz Smodis of CSKA Moscow. Locked in a Top 16 group that many experts considered to be as tough as any, CSKA simply has risen to a higher level, going undefeated through the first three games by an average victory margin of almost 19 points. The champs have made it look easy at times through a combination of stellar defense and offensive resourcefulness. And when CSKA needed a big shot at any point during its February games, Smodis stood ready to deliver. On a team that seldom has statistical leaders because it always shares offensive opportunities, Smodis is the top active scorer in the Top 16. More remarkable, he's averaging 18 points despite ranking no better than 18th in two-point shot attempts and 27th in three-point attempts. Along with his high shooting percentages all month - 61.1% inside the arc, 46.2% outside of it and 77.7% on free throws - Smodis is tied for second on CSKA in rebounds and is third in assists. He currently ranks third among all Euroleague players for index rating average through the first half of the Top 16. For his efforts in keeping a champ on top of its game through one of the most difficult parts of the season, Euroleague Basketball is proud to call Matjaz Smodis the February MVP.

Euroleague Basketball's MVP of the Month honor is in its third season. Although statistics and performance ratings are taken into consideration for the award, they alone do not determine who is honored. The winner is named by Euroleague Basketball based on his and his team's performance during the previous month. The award for February was based on the three Top 16 games played by all teams from February 14 through March 1, 2007.

Appropriately enough, when CSKA hosted the Top 16's first game on Valentine's Day against dangerous DKV Joventut, Smodis got the champs off to sweet start with a basket-plus-free throw for the very first points of the round. He did not stop scoring against Joventut until CSKA had won 81-69 and he had 24 points, the most in one game by any CSKA player this season. More importantly, he led CSKA out of its tightest spot of the month, a 45-45 halftime tie, by scoring a pair of baskets right after the break. That sent his team on a 28-6 run that he ended with a triple, breaking the game open for good. Matjaz Smodis - CSKA MoscowNext, CSKA hosted Partizan, and again Smodis opened the scoring, but after that three-pointer, he wouldn't make another shot from the field all night in what became a total defensive battle. However, Smodis went 8 for 8 at the free throw line and his 11 points tied him for the most in the game. He also posted the highest index rating on either team as CSKA won 67-44 while holding Partizan to the second-fewest points ever in a Top 16 game. The third game of the month was CSKA’s first on the road in the round, a much-anticipated showdown in Athens against dangerous Olympiacos. Smodis again started the scoring for CSKA and soon gave his team the lead for good with a triple at 9-12 as the champs ran away to a huge victory that confirmed their status as solid favorites in their Top 16 group - at the very least. Smodis twice demoralized Olympiacos with triples, one on the buzzer at halftime and another when CSKA saw the lead cut to its second-half low, 17 points, early in the last quarter. He finished with a floor-high 19 points plus 6 rebounds and 3 assists to match his best index rating, 27, all season.

Less numerically, February proved that Smodis has become a strategic gem for CSKA as a nightmare mismatch for almost any opposing defense. His ability to step outside and stroke triples or stay inside and bang with the big men is a puzzle that no team could solve so far in the Top 16, making Matjaz Smodis the right choice as MVP for February. Smodis will receive the new trophy awarded to the Euroleague's monthly MVP at an upcoming CSKA Moscow home game.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Euroleague.net
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