MIES (Switzerland) - The Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL is in its Round of 16 group phase.
The 16 teams are spread through four groups, but there is one place where they are all in it together.
The Ameresco Power Rankings mix them all together to figure out which teams are in the best form at the moment.
That is why the domestic results are also taken into account when ranking these 16 teams - you'll feel better about a team that's on a five-game winning run in all competitions, than about a team that's potentially at 6-1 in the BCL, but 6-11 in their national championship.
#16 Karditsa Iaponiki (0)
BCL record: 4-6 Domestic league record: 4-12 Streak in all competitions: L6
Not much to say when your whole season record is 8-18. Six straight defeats in all competitions ahead of their Monday Cup tie with Mykonou.
#15 ERA Nymburk (0)
BCL record: 3-7 Domestic league record: 22-1 Streak in all competitions: W1
If you want to defeat a "bigger" name in this phase of the competition, the idea would be to be a tough host, play rock solid defense and allow less than 70 points.
Nymburk did all of that last week, holding Gran Canaria to 67 points, making everything difficult for the Spaniards. And still lost the game because they scored only 64...
Three game road trip started with a comfy win at Ostrava, then they travel to Trieste on Wednesday, and to Decin on Saturday.
#14 Hapoel Netanel Holon (0)
BCL record: 4-5 Domestic league record: 9-6 Streak in all competitions: L2
The final score does not paint the right picture, as Holon were close to Le Mans Sarthe Basket until the final five minutes or so, then just fell apart. Having them in 14th spot here is generous, because they are 0-2 and -46 in a group with Rytas, Galatasaray and Le Mans, meaning it's a mountain to climb already.
#13 Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets (-1)
BCL record: 6-5 Domestic league record: 11-7 Streak in all competitions: L5
It is highly frustrating that Wurzburg are on a five-game losing streak as we speak. They challenged both Unicaja and Elan Chalon on the road, but got a pair of defeats and that's it.
Marcus Carr is low-key enjoying a fine campaign, keep an eye on him as he faces Ricky Rubio this week.
#12 Tofas Bursa (+1)
BCL record: 6-5 Domestic league record: 8-10 Streak in all competitions: L1
One position up for their first win of the Round of 16, but also just one position up because it's their one win over the last five games in all competitions. Speaking of ones, one new player is in the house, wearing the one-one jersey: former BCL Young Player of the Season, Sadik Emir Kabaca!
#11 Dreamland Gran Canaria (0)
BCL record: 7-1 Domestic league record: 6-11 Streak in all competitions: L1
How can a team at 7-1 for the season be so low!?
Well, because we watch all the games, not just the BCL. They could've easily been in an 0-2 hole in the Round of 16 as they edged out ERA Nymburk on the road, but they are in a 6-11 hole in the Spanish League, all the way down in 14th spot.
In fact, that one-possession win at Nymburk was their sole triumph over the last six games in all competitions. The biggest game of the Round of 16 coming up, facing La Laguna Tenerife. , we'll see which way the dice falls in the DICE*.
*Derby Islas Canarias in Europe.
#10 Rytas Vilnius (-4)
BCL record: 5-3 Domestic league record: 9-7 Streak in all competitions: L3
Ehm... What's going on here?
The general look isn't that dramatic, two wins above .500 in both the Lithuanian League and the BCL, with a trip to the Semi-Finals of the Lithuanian Cup in there, too.
But they lost six (yes, 6) straight games in the Lithuanian League. And here's where looking into domestic results matter: Don't tell us Rytas would've lost the overtime thriller vs. Galatasaray even if they had won six straight in the Lithuanian championship.
This is where all those defeats start counting, because you show just one bit of insecurity or doubt, and poof! Errick McCollum and Galatasaray steal a road win, just like that. Road win vs. Le Mans is now a "must" in their vocabulary.
#9 Elan Chalon (0)
BCL record: 8-2 Domestic league record: 9-9 Streak in all competitions: L1
Only one thing to note about these guys: Jeremiah Hill is no longer the leader of the MVP Race. However, he's not far behind, so go, give it a click here:
#8 Pallacanestro Trieste (0)
BCL record: 5-6 Domestic league record: 9-7 Streak in all competitions: W1
Listen. These guys are trouble. You're probably going like, "bro, trouble at 5-6 in BCL, you crazy" or "dude, trouble at 9-7 in Italy, LOL as much trouble as Cesc Fabregas' passing game in Como" or "pal, that's one troubling win streak at a total of one win in a row huehuehue" but you are wrong.
First of all, because 5-6 in BCL doesn't tell you they were this close to sweeping the Canary Islands road trip. Secondly, because 9-7 in Italy puts them at #6, and this is their top ranking of the season there, and finally, because it's not one-win-in-a-row-huehuehue, it's 5-1 in their last six games, the only defeat being a one-possession drama at Tenerife.
So yes, they are trouble. And shut up, Cesc Fabregas' passing game in Como is awesome.
#7 Galatasaray MCT Technic (+3)
BCL record: 6-2 Domestic league record: 11-7 Streak in all competitions: W3
Speaking of 5-1 in last six games, here comes Gianmarco Pozzecco's Galatasaray! Three in a row, they need to continue that streak at home against Holon because they've got a special game over the weekend, taking on Fenerbahce in the Turkish League.
Will Cummings is back in the lineup again, meaning we're in trouble because if Galatasaray make it back to the Final Four, who's their leading MVP candidate of the season? Errick? Will? Fabian White Jr? James Palmer Jr? All of them at the same time?
Up three spots this week, will be up more if they add a pair of wins by the time we update the Power Rankings next Monday.
#6 ALBA BERLIN (-3)
BCL record: 6-2 Domestic league record: 12-5 Streak in all competitions: L1
Busy schedule, Monday game at Trier, followed by a Wednesday matchup with Karditsa. Why is this tricky? Because Trier are right next to them in the Bundesliga standings at 11-5, so you could say that game should be their priority, but at the same time, if they relax and lose to Karditsa a couple of days later, it could hurt their Quarter-Finals campaign here.
Let's not think about it yet. Let's just focus on what they do like no other team, cut with all their players to the rim, creating easy bucket opportunities left and right. More on that in this play below, and the Tactics Board here.
#5 Le Mans Sarthe Basket (+2)
BCL record: 6-4 Domestic league record: 10-8 Streak in all competitions: L1
Well, if you're above Galatasaray and Rytas Vilnius in your Round of 16 group, you deserve to be a Top 5 team in the Power Rankings, too.
They deserved it, for sure. Because they are like the real life version of that kid swimming meme in the pool, where mom (that's us) is hugging one kid (that's Chalon), while the other is nearly drowning next to them (that's Cholet), and then there's another one at the bottom of the ocean (that's Le Mans).
We do apologize for neglecting you, MSB! Your defeats to Spartak and Benfica had us fooled, we really underestimated you, when we should've known a team from Le Mans would have endurance written all over it.
Don't disappoint us now that we put you up so high!
#4 Unicaja (-3)
BCL record: 7-1 Domestic league record: 12-6 Streak in all competitions: W1
Life is cruel. One defeat and you're gone to P4.
Kendrick Perry has been in fine form, though, earning the Player of the Week award in Spain, and getting some company in the backcourt because Justin Cobbs is now a new Unicaja player.
Two home games this week, first against Elan Chalon, then against Andorra, staying in Malaga should get them to 8-1 and 13-6 in the first two rows of this section next week. If one of the teams ahead of them slips up, they'll be ready to regain a podium position next Monday, you know it.
#3 La Laguna Tenerife (+2)
BCL record: 6-2 Domestic league record: 11-7 Streak in all competitions: W4
We all thought they were in trouble when they lost three straight Liga Endesa games, but get this, they are now just a game behind third seed in the Spanish League, having defeated Barcelona and Baskonia in back-to-back games.
Four straight wins in all competitions, 91.5 points per game during that stretch, 48 percent three-point shooting during that stretch, with Trieste actually being their toughest opponent, only one holding them to less than 10 threes, and less than 85 points.
This is ridiculous. Look at the numbers we're talking about. Look at this team. This is ridiculous.
#2 AEK BC (+2)
BCL record: 7-1 Domestic league record: 11-4 Streak in all competitions: W8
Instead of wasting ink telling you that RaiQuan Gray and Frank Bartley are both in the MVP Race, we'll just point the finger towards the Tactics Board, as our columnist Diccon Lloyd-Smeath broke down what makes AEK such an exciting team to follow, and what makes coach Dragan Sakota such a gamechanger even in his... 52nd? 53rd? His first game as a coach was on April 22, 1973, so you do the counting.
Anyway, here it is:
#1 Joventut Badalona (+1)
BCL record: 8-0 Domestic league record: 10-8 Streak in all competitions: L1
It only made sense, right? Right.
Joventut Badalona wrote history last week, becoming the first team in the last decade to win their first eight games in the Basketball Champions League. Virtus Bologna were the previous record holders, starting their run at 7-0 before winning the title in 2018-19.
Now, it's not the best start to a single season (yet), as AS Monaco's second season saw them win the first 13 games. In other words, they only need to beat Wurzburg twice, Chalon and Unicaja once more, and then sweep the Quarter-Finals to get the best start of the season in BCL history, too.
Easy-peasy, right? Right. Big game coming up for Cameron Hunt this week, he's traveling to Wurzburg, a place he called home for three years when he had first moved to Europe!
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The power rankings are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.
The Basketball Champions League takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.