Tiago took on the ACB Big Dog Barcelona this week. He didn't disappoint.
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Tiago SplitterCaja LaboralACB (Spanish League): 5-2EuroLeague: 3-1 |
Age: 24Height: 7' 0"Weight: 2401st round, 28th pick, 2007 |
In EuroLeague play, Caja scored buckets against Maroussi BC 103-86. However, Tiago didn't do much in this one as he was in foul trouble which limited him to 11:30. He managed just 7 points and 2 rebounds.
HOWEVER.
In the ACB, in which Barca crushed Caja 100-72, Tiago manned up and put in 24 points with 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 26 minutes. His boys got crushed though and found themselves down 31 going into the final 10 minutes. Still. This is an impressive performance against one of the two best teams in the ACB. It's always better to have big games against the good teams. Unless, you know, you are A-Rod.
Not much Tiago in here. Just one boring dunk. There is a great alley oop pass by a Barca guard.
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Nando De ColoValenciaACB (Spanish League): 6-1EuroCup : 0-0 |
Age: 22Height: 6' 5"Weight: 1852nd round, 53rd pick, 2009 |
Valencia doesn't start EuroCup until next Tuesday against Hemofarm Stada.
Valencia got a tough 75-71 win at home over Lagun Aro GBC in the ACB to improve to 6-1. Typical Nando. 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 turnovers. 0-5 from 3-pt and fouled out in 26 minutes. But hey, his team won.
Some nice passing by Nando.
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James Gist???? |
Age: 23Height: 6' 9"Weight: 2202nd round, 57th pick, 2008 |
I'm going to put out an APB on James. Anybody? Bueller?
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Robertas JavtokasBC KhimkiRussian League: 2-1EuroLeague: 3-1 |
Age: 29Height: 6' 10"Weight: 2402nd round, 56th pick, 2001 |
BC Khimki improved to 3-1 in EuroLeague Group D with big win in Milano over AJ (for Armani Jeans) Milano 72-68. Robertas had 8 points and 4 rebounds. Keith Langford had a team-high 17 points to go with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
In Russian League play, BC Khimki played a late Sunday game that isn't showing up in the scores yet. I guess we'll have to wait in suspense until next week.
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Jack McClintonAliaga PetkimTurkish League: 2-3 |
Age: 23Height: 6' 2"Weight: 1852nd round, 51st pick, 2009 |
Aliaga Petkim got pasted by Turk Telekom 109-73. Ewwww, that's a butt whipping. Jack had 6 points on 3 for 11 shooting that included 0-5 from long range. He did have 3 rebounds and 5 assists.
Lamayn Wilson had 27 and 6 board for Turk Telekom. Bekir Yarangume posted 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists for the winners.
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Asvel BasketTony's TeamFrench League: 2-5EuorLeague: 0-4 |
Asvel kept itself winless in EuroLeague with a 76-62 loss to Barca. Ali Traore had 20 and 8 in the loss.
In French League play, Asvel dropped another one. This to Paris-Levallois 77-75. Traore had 13 and 4 in this game. Benjamin Dewar put up 20 for Asvel.
Angel Vasallo had 24 and 3 in the win.
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Eric DawsonMitsubishi Diamond DolphinsJBL (Japanese League): 1-13 |
Age: 24?Height: 6' 9"Weight: 235Austin Toros 2007-2009 |
Mitsubishi keeps getting crushed. This time dropping a pair of games to Panasonic 90-71 and 86-70. Eric had 23 and 13 in the first game, but only 6 and 5 in the second game as he only played 19 minutes.
In the JBL, they play the same team on back-to-back days every weekend.
A Little Something About the ACB/Spanish League
The ACB is the best domestic league in Europe and I don't think there is a close second. They have 4 teams in the EuroLeague. Last year, in fact, they had 5 of the 24 EuroLeague teams. Caja, Barca, Real Madrid, and Unicaja are the 4 EuroLeague teams. Unicaja is 4-0 in EuroLeague and 1-6 in the ACB. Go figure.
Caja Laboral, as Tau Ceramica, has been a consistent final four team the last few years. Barca was a final four team last year, and it looks like Real Madrid is going to be a serious contender this year. I believe that all four teams made it out of group play and into the round of 16.
The ACB is top-heavy with powerful teams, but also has great depth as another 4 teams play in the EuroCup. Nando's Valencia squad, Gran Canaria, Ricky Rubio's former team DKV Joventut, and Bilbao Baskets.
Just to give you an idea of how good the rest of the ACB is, here is the list of the 8 teams and their current ranking in the standings after 7 weeks:
- Real Madrid - 1
- Barcelona - 2
- Valencia - 3
- Caja Laboral - 4
- DKV Joventut - 5
- Gran Canaria - 9
- Bilbao Basket - 16
- Unicaja - 17 (amazingly at 1-6 they have only been outscored by 5 points)