The 2011 Euroleague Final Four tips off at noon ET on Friday in Barcelona, bringing together the four top teams in European basketball for a weekend in which nearly all of the NBA will be represented in the Old World. The Final Four offers a good opportunity for NBA personnel to gauge prospects playing in the games, as well as do some digging on other players whose teams didn’t make it.
Euroleague Final Four 2011: Old World Powers Vie For Top Honor In Europe
Euroleague is a tournament held in addition to the normal league seasons for these clubs, much like soccer’s Champions League. Thirty-two teams are whittled through group play and a knockout tournament until we have a Final Four. This year’s edition features teams from the continent’s top three leagues -- Spain’s Real Madrid, Italy’s Montepaschi Siena and Greece’s Panathinkaikos -- and Maccabi Electra from Israel.
Interestingly, none of the 2010 Final Four teams made it back this year. Ricky Rubio's Barcelona club, which holds the 2010 Euroleague title, was knocked out by Panathinaikos in the quarterfinals. Olympiacos, the 2010 runner-up, was knocked out by Montepaschi in the same round. CSKA Moscow and Partizan Belgrade, the two other 2010 finalists, didn't survive group play.
The games will be shown on NBA TV beginning at noon ET on Friday. Here’s a quick look at the teams.
REAL MADRID
Madrid features a few players known to NBA fans, led by Sergio Rodriguez, the former Blazers, Kings and Knicks point guard affectionately known as "Spanish Chocolate" for his bombastic style. Madrid also have Sergio Llull, a Rockets point guard prospect who could transition to the NBA within a couple of years, and Ante Tomic, a Croat 7-footer whose rights belong to the Jazz.
The important Madrid player in terms of prospects, though, is Nikola Mirotic. The 20-year-old Montenegrin power forward has declared for and will likely remain in the 2011 NBA Draft, but is considered a threat to remain in Europe for a few years, dropping him from lottery consideration.
MACCABI ELECTRA
Maccabi is coached by American David Blatt, who led the Russian national team to some rousing success and is considered one of Europe's finest young coaches. The roster includes Jeremy Pargo, Richard Hendrix and David Blu, formerly known as David Bluthenthal, a memorable USC forward about a decade ago. (And yes, he changed his name to "David Blu.")
NBA scouts will be watching 21-year-old Serbian center Milan Macvan and also legend Greek center Sofo Schortsanitis, but only because he’s impossible to look away from.
MONTEPASCHI SIENA
NBA fans can rekindle their deep love affairs with Marko Jaric and Malik Hairston. Others can enjoy the stylings of Greek guard Nikos Zisis, whose nickname is "Lord of the Rings." Montepaschi also boasts aging Lithuanian legends Rimas Kaukenas and Ksistof Lavrinovic. But the player NBA scouts will be watching -- and should be signing -- is Bo McCalebb, who led Partizan to the Final Four last year. The University of New Orleans product is among the best guards in Europe.
PANATHINAIKOS
One of Greece's superlative powers -- Olympiacos is the other -- has no shortage of Greek stars, led by Dimitris Diamantidis. This team is built more to win than to showcase young talent, but Nick Calathes, who played at Florida and whose right belong the Mavericks, is someone to watch. Other than Calathes, Mike Batiste, an Arizona State product, is the top American.
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Montepaschi and Panathinaikos tip off at noon ET on NBA TV; Maccabi and Madrid will follow. The winner will play Sunday for the Euroleague championship.
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