Day 6 TopSixteen Eurocup: Alba Berlin - Valencia

* I already wrote a lot about the lack of talent in Alba´s back line. With Siva not playing tonight, Caki started the game with Akpinar as PG and Milosavljevic as a SG. Since Akpinar (and Atsur) are not talented enough, Milosavljevic had to play as Alba´s only playmaker. When he was resting on the bench, Alba´s offence had to rely on pure luck. And when he did play – well, Alba´s offence was far from being enojyable to watch. Milosavljevic is a smart, talented player, but he is not a natural playmaker.

* Valencia´s offence was playing simply, and that was enough against poor Alba. The german defence – it one can call it that way - was responding slowly to the spanish pick´n´rolls. Alba´s big guy were afraid to go out to the opposing guard, since they did not want to leave Valencia´s mighty centers in the paint. But it was more than tactic – Alba has too many players with poor defensive qualities. Each of Valencia´s pick´n´roll just tore Alba apart and left Valencia ti have easy 64% from two and 54% from three.

* Many fans talk about Valencia as a Eurocup contender. They do have the best center-duo in the competition, who play both in a Euroleague level. Hoewever, Valencia´s back line is too “milky”. Just like Alba, they are also lacking a top-level playmaker, or an explosive guard who can take the ball to the rim and make points out of thin air. Van Rossom did it tonight often, but Alba´s defence is not a real indicator.

* There is no one in Alba who is capabale to stop Kravstsov. He had a great game, with 18 points, 100% from the field and 5 rebounds. For some reason, Caki played against him with a small ball formation. It resulted with 13-4 lead in rebounds for Valencia in the end of the first quarter, and 8 spanish offensive rebounds in ten minutes. At the end of the game it was a clear 37-18 to Valencia in rebounding. Dubljevic, Kravtsov and Sato took more rebounds than the entire Alba team.

* Alba was still in the game in the first quarter due to amazing 100% from the three (4/4), against 0% of Valencia (0/3). As the precentages balanced out, Valnecia´s superiority resulted in the score box. If you want to understand the quality differences of the two teams, just look at that statistic: Valencia won 127-73 in the ranking.

* Alba is playing with Radosavljevic just the same way they do with Kikanovic. It just does not work. They are very different players, with very different abilities – the latter can make two on his own, the first would not even if his life were dependent on it.

* The second half was pathetic, just like Alba´s top-16. For some minutes in the second quarter it was hurting to see Alba trying desperately to make a basket.

#Eurocup #AlbaBerlin #Valencia