Well how do you guys feel about that?
I am aware of Saras' problems and the fact that Pao's backcourt is deep but:
1)Can really Shermadini contribute in the "life & death" matches that they will
play in the top-16?
2)Won't Saras' clutch game be much needed in the aforementioned matches?
I would have to say that this choice worries me...
There was no other choice imo. If Saras can get all those injury problems past him, if he can get back into shape, then he'll be back in the roster even as early as before the cup final, taking Shermadinis place, I'm sure about that.
Atm though Saras was the most logical choice among the foreigners. Logical, since with Batiste and Tsartsaris already two big man with a good inside game are out (ok, Batiste will return soon, but you never know), while Pekovic is playing injured for weeks now (heel problems). Obradovic needs Shermadini to give him (and Batiste) a rest on the 5 in the A1 games to come.
Milenko Tepic is pretty much out of shape (on the offensive end, he plays decent D) as well, but he can't be left out, since Perperoglou has a thumb injury on his shooting hand and the depth on the PG position is much bigger.
Drew Nicholas was injured last week as well, but he's the team only off-the-ball shooter (with that being said he doesn't play off the ball all the time of course), and Haislip just got signed to cover PAOs problems on the 4.
So whom should Obradovic leave out instead of this Saras? There's no chance that a healthy Saras in shape will be excluded from the roster though, Obradovic is not that crazy. So unless Jasikevicius cannot recover at all I'd expect him back in the roster before the end of the season...
As for your two points: Shermadini is not ready for a task like the mentioned one and Saras clutch game might be missed... if he won't play. Don't forget that he's still allowed to play in the Euroleague. This roster move is just about the A1, where PAO needs Shermadini for the moment. My only concern would be that it will be even more difficult now for Saras to find his rhythm (when he's healthy again), with less playtime in official matches. But that remains to be seen, he's a really experienced guy...
), which wasn't possible recently with all those players being out of practise. 2 1/2 weeks (from the Maroussi game until the Cup final) is not a lot of time realistically, but better than nothing. And the game in Belgrade is 4 weeks away, counting from thursday...