Obradović’s machine and Scottie Wilbekin turning back the clock stole the spotlight in Round 4 of the EuroLeague.
EUROLEAGUE NOTEBOOK
But there was plenty more to talk about.
Another veteran is still doing damage at 38, we have picked out the most entertaining numbers, and the standings already suggest what we suspected all along – this season is going to be incredibly tight.
Panathinaikos Look Unstoppable
The EuroLeague season is long, and the Final Four format leaves plenty of room for surprises. But so far, Panathinaikos are playing exactly as you would expect from a roster loaded with stars.
If their schedule over the first three rounds was relatively easy, Fenerbahçe represented their first real test. They passed emphatically, suffocating Fener with their defense on the way to a convincing 92-74 victory.
Sylvain Francisco is an early MVP candidate, Obradović regularly gives opportunities to domestic players Lefteris Mantzoukas, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis and Nikos Rogkavopoulos, while Nigel Hayes-Davis does not seem to have been affected too much by his injury.
The best news for PAO, however, is Mathias Lessort.
After returning from a lengthy injury layoff last season and gradually working his way back into form, Lessort delivered solid performances in the first three rounds before looking like his old self against Fenerbahçe: 19 points, eight rebounds and his usual outstanding defense.
Scottie Wilbekin Still Has It
After a string of injuries that raised doubts about whether he could ever return to his old level, 33-year-old Wilbekin is showing that he still has both the fire and the skill.
And yes, some of that old explosiveness is still there, too.
He knocked down six threes against Baskonia and is averaging 18.2 points and 3.2 assists through the first four rounds for Beşiktaş, with excellent shooting percentages.
Let’s see if he can keep it up.
Speaking of veterans, Patty Mills is still making a difference at the EuroLeague level at 38. He is averaging 16.8 points through four rounds for ASVEL.
Numbers That Stand Out
– Jean Montero finally made a couple of threes, but his outside shot has been a struggle since the start of the season. He is now 4-of-20. Dario Šarić was throwing up bricks in Athens and is 2-of-13 from deep this season.
– Crvena Zvezda held Dubai’s high-powered offense to just 58 points. The hosts shot only 38.5 percent from two-point range at Coca-Cola Arena – 15-of-39.
– Baskonia attempted a remarkable 29 free throws in the first half against Beşiktaş. They finished with 42. Not a EuroLeague record, but still a remarkable number. And an unusual one for a matchup between two teams that like to play fast.
– Antonio Blakeney is one of those players who hardly seem bothered by defenders. Sometimes it even looks easier for him to shoot with a hand in his face than when he is wide open. He went 8-of-11 from three, but Hapoel still lost relatively comfortably in Valencia.
– Speaking of that game, Hapoel were a staggering minus-24 in the 19 minutes Vasilije Micić spent on the court. Partizan lost by 10 in Madrid, but were plus-10 with Carlik Jones on the floor.
– The king of offensive rebounds is back. Nikola Milutinov grabbed six of them in Olympiacos’ win over Efes.
– Carsen Edwards scored 11 points in the fourth quarter at Palau Blaugrana. After registering a blood alcohol level of 1.07 per mille, perhaps the hangover took a little longer to wear off. He caught fire in the final period and led Žalgiris to a road win in Barcelona.
Seven Teams at 1-3
The EuroLeague standings are already shaping up for another season like the last one, with perhaps only a handful of wins separating teams near the bottom from those near the top.
Maccabi and Real Madrid, the only winless teams heading into this round, both responded with convincing victories.
Oded Kattash’s team finally looked like a proper team, comfortably beating a disjointed Olimpia Milano side.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, overcame a spirited Partizan and offered a glimpse of better days ahead.