(Mike Conley Jr. - Memphis Grizzlies)Running It (Teams at or near the top of league standings)
(Snippet from EurocupBasketball.com)-CEZ Basketball Nymburk: 33-3 (NBL - Czech League)
Standings
1. CEZ Nymburk (33-3)
2. Novy Jicin (32-4)
3. BK Prostejov (30-6)
The defending champions of the Czech League are currently sitting pretty atop the NBL with a nice 33-3 record. Nymburk's advancement to the Eurocup quarterfinals has changed some of the dates of their NBL regular season games. The club has subsequently played games bunched together in the recent week to the tune of 3 games in the last six days. Their last win was a gritty victory over BK Decin on March 16th. Moreover, the ironman schedule will continue as the Czech Cup begins on Thursday March 18th. The Cup is a three day tournament outside of NBL league play that will feature the top 6 clubs in the country. Nymburk figures to win or at the least play for the Cup title..that would mean three straight games from Thursday to Saturday, and then they have a very important Eurocup game on Tuesday, March 23rd! This stretch will definitely be a unique mental & physical exercise for the Czech Republic's top squad. The NBL regular season will conclude in mid-april. Until then, Nymburk is probably a bit more concerned with the super playoff that is the Eurocup quarterfinals.
Next Game - 3.18.2010 - Czech Cup Round One vs. BK Opava
(#8 Je'Kel Foster, & animated head coach Pedrag Krunic)Standings
1.Alba Berlin 21-6
2. EWE Baskets Oldenburg 19-6
3. Telekom Bonn
4. Gottingen
Oldenburg has been right with fellow German power Berlin at the top of the standings for months now. They are currently on a nice winning streak, and it is easy to understand why when you consider their team makeup & great chemistry. Like Nymburk, EWE's starting lineup is extremely balanced with multiple guys who are capable of contribution & support. You have the familiar guard lineup of Jason Gardner, Je'Kel Foster, and last years BBL Finals MVP Rickey Paulding, plus two very sound forwards in Marko & Perkovic. This core group has Eurochallenge, German Championship, & Euroleague experience. They will certainly not fold easily, and should be one of the favorites in the BBL playoffs. EWE's last victory was a road win over Paderborn, Foster led the squad with 14. The long German regular season will wrap up in late April/early May.
Next Game vs Gisseen.
Looks like Je'Kel was chosen to be on the cover of a magazine.
Olympiacos 17-3 Greek A1 League (Scoonie Penn)
Standings
PAO 19-1
Olympiacos 17-3
Marousi 15-5
Panellinios 13-7
The reds are pretty much cruising through the Greek League. Now Greek heads would get upset if you call the A1 a two team league. But it's pretty much two rich clubs in PAO & Olympiacos, and everyone else. Marousi & Panellinios are both decent clubs, but they are not challenging to the top two squads. Right now, it is safe to say that Olympiacos has a bigger fish to fry, the Euroleague title..
-Lugano Tigers 22-4 Swiss League LNB
Standings
Lugano tigers 22-4
SAV Vacallo 21-6
Starwings 20-8
We have not covered Brian Brown's new squad long enough to get a feel about their style. But the Lugano Tiger's league leading 22-4 record reveals a consistent winner. Buckeye Baller Brian Brown arrived in Lugano, Switzerland in early February. It looks like the New York native is getting more comfortable because his two best performances have came in the last two rounds. (last game 10 pts/7 assists, game before that 13 points, 4 assists) The Swiss regular season will conclude on March 24th. The Tigers will be the favorite to win the Swiss Championship, good luck Brian!
In Decent Shape (Teams who would be in if the regular season ended today)
-AZS Koszalin: 13-11 (Polish PLK- George Reese)
Standings
1. Prokom 21-2
2, Anwil 21-3
3. Polpharma 18-6
4. Trefl Sopot 15-9
5. PGE Turow 14-10
6. AZS Koszalin 13-11
7. Polonia 11-13
8. Sokol Znicz 11-13
9. Energa Czarni 10-13
10. PBG Basket 10-14
11. Stal SW 8-16
12. SKK Kotwica 7-17
13. Polonia 2011 5-19
14. ISS Sportino 3-21
The Polish PLK is another underrated league that home to a lot of parity. AZS Koszalin, a team in the middle of the pack in the standings, is coming off a Polish Cup victory where they defeated some of the top squads in Poland. Most of these clubs can compete with each other, and every game from here on out in super heated. As we understand it, the top 12 teams will play in the PLK playoffs. AZS looks straight right now, but the regular season does not end until early April so we can expect many more intense contests.
Video from AZS's last game
As rotations grow shorter for the NBA Playoffs, we doubt that Byron Mullens & Kosta Koufos (you can even throw in Cook) will get any considerable time in the playoffs. But Mullens & Koufos should be major parts in the playoff runs for their D-League teams, Tulsa & Utah. The top 8 records make it to the D-League playoffs. Tulsa is in good shape if the season ended today, and Utah would just barely make the cut. The D-League schedule ends on March 31st.
Standings
1. Iowa 33-11
2. Rio Grande Valley 30 12
3. Sioux Falls 27-16
4. Austin 25 15
5. Maine 25-17
6. Tulsa 23 18
7. Dakota 24-19
8. Utah 22-20
Still Hoping (Teams making a push)
(Can the Erie Bayhawks & Memphis Grizzlies make miracle runs to the playoffs)
Olympiacos 17-3 Greek A1 League (Scoonie Penn)
Standings
PAO 19-1
Olympiacos 17-3
Marousi 15-5
Panellinios 13-7
The reds are pretty much cruising through the Greek League. Now Greek heads would get upset if you call the A1 a two team league. But it's pretty much two rich clubs in PAO & Olympiacos, and everyone else. Marousi & Panellinios are both decent clubs, but they are not challenging to the top two squads. Right now, it is safe to say that Olympiacos has a bigger fish to fry, the Euroleague title..
-Lugano Tigers 22-4 Swiss League LNB
Standings
Lugano tigers 22-4
SAV Vacallo 21-6
Starwings 20-8
We have not covered Brian Brown's new squad long enough to get a feel about their style. But the Lugano Tiger's league leading 22-4 record reveals a consistent winner. Buckeye Baller Brian Brown arrived in Lugano, Switzerland in early February. It looks like the New York native is getting more comfortable because his two best performances have came in the last two rounds. (last game 10 pts/7 assists, game before that 13 points, 4 assists) The Swiss regular season will conclude on March 24th. The Tigers will be the favorite to win the Swiss Championship, good luck Brian!
In Decent Shape (Teams who would be in if the regular season ended today)
-AZS Koszalin: 13-11 (Polish PLK- George Reese)
Standings
1. Prokom 21-2
2, Anwil 21-3
3. Polpharma 18-6
4. Trefl Sopot 15-9
5. PGE Turow 14-10
6. AZS Koszalin 13-11
7. Polonia 11-13
8. Sokol Znicz 11-13
9. Energa Czarni 10-13
10. PBG Basket 10-14
11. Stal SW 8-16
12. SKK Kotwica 7-17
13. Polonia 2011 5-19
14. ISS Sportino 3-21
The Polish PLK is another underrated league that home to a lot of parity. AZS Koszalin, a team in the middle of the pack in the standings, is coming off a Polish Cup victory where they defeated some of the top squads in Poland. Most of these clubs can compete with each other, and every game from here on out in super heated. As we understand it, the top 12 teams will play in the PLK playoffs. AZS looks straight right now, but the regular season does not end until early April so we can expect many more intense contests.
Video from AZS's last game
As rotations grow shorter for the NBA Playoffs, we doubt that Byron Mullens & Kosta Koufos (you can even throw in Cook) will get any considerable time in the playoffs. But Mullens & Koufos should be major parts in the playoff runs for their D-League teams, Tulsa & Utah. The top 8 records make it to the D-League playoffs. Tulsa is in good shape if the season ended today, and Utah would just barely make the cut. The D-League schedule ends on March 31st.
Standings
1. Iowa 33-11
2. Rio Grande Valley 30 12
3. Sioux Falls 27-16
4. Austin 25 15
5. Maine 25-17
6. Tulsa 23 18
7. Dakota 24-19
8. Utah 22-20
Still Hoping (Teams making a push)
(Can the Erie Bayhawks & Memphis Grizzlies make miracle runs to the playoffs)The Erie Bayhawks have kind of been out of post season talk all season long. But a 5 game winning streak by the two year old D-League franchise has some fans talking of a possible miracle birth into the playoffs. At 18-25, the Bayhawks would obviously need some help to catch Utah. But if there recent play is any indication, the final stretch should be pretty interesting for D-League fans.
The Memphis Grizzlies are in the same boat as the Bayhawks. They find themselves on the outside of Western Conference playoff picture, but still remain in striking distance to catch Portland for the final spot.
Western Conference playoff picture
8. & Final spot Portland8 41-28
9. Houston 35-31
10. Memphis 36-33
The Memphis Grizzlies are in the same boat as the Bayhawks. They find themselves on the outside of Western Conference playoff picture, but still remain in striking distance to catch Portland for the final spot.
Western Conference playoff picture
8. & Final spot Portland8 41-28
9. Houston 35-31
10. Memphis 36-33
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