Russian PBL 2011-12

[Terrorizer]

What are your thoughts on Patrick Beverley? He seems to be progressing nicely. Albeit not a classic PG in terms or taking care of the ball and organizing halfcourt sets, i think his ability to defend and get to the hoop will give me many suitors on Euroleague market next year.

I think that Patrick is already a classy player. And, yes, his progress is obvious - he is a completely different player from his sloppy Olympiacos version. You're right - he is a very good defender mainly due to his athleticism and fast legs but not only to them. He not only guards one on one nicely but seems to highly improve his defense while guarding the player without ball or playing zone defense. He intercepts passing lines very well which gives him some extra steals - and he is one of the leaders in steals per game in Russian league. His offensive prowess is also very well known - he is able to create a shot for himself, fearlessly slash to the basket, shoot from distance, play confidently in fast breaks, etc. His offensive game is very well-rounded. But his major problem is that he is yet to prove himself as a steady and reliable organizer of the offensive team play. His play is much more suited for the SG position but he is too small (185 cm or so) for modern shooting guard so he mostly plays PG. In Spartak St Petersburg when he is mostly playing together with Yotam Halperin who loves to handle the ball and is a brilliant assister he feels very comfortable but how would Patrick play when he is the sole (or main) organizer of the team offense is still under a question mark. Also Beverley sometimes plays too much by himself especially in critical situation where he tries to save the day all by himself instead of organizing the good ball movement. In these situations his shot making decisions can be really arguable.
All in all, he is a EL-level player (not suited for the role of leader of the top team though but a classy player in his own right) but Spartak is already a mid-El-level team and he gets good money there so I think that he can continue with St. Petersburg squad next year even if the team wouldn't catch a place in Euroleague. Don't know his real intentions though.

[Walken]

so I think that he can continue with St. Petersburg squad next year even if the team wouldn't catch a place in Euroleague. Don't know his real intentions though.

Do you realy admit that he can't? He recently extended his contract by 2 years until 13/14

[qiangdade]

khimki released an official statement complaining about the behavior of Lokomotiv Kuban's mascot. rofl

[qiangdade]

stevan karadzic fired by enisey

[elaj]

Zdovc and Šutulović has some history...

[rikhardur]

PBL announced the season's 1st team and regular season MPV (no, it's not Kirilenko :P):

Zoran Planinić
Patrick Beverley
Andrei Kirilenko
Jeremy Massey
Davon Jefferson (MVP)


2nd team:
Torey Thomas
Vitaly Fridzon
Sergey Karasev
Viktor Khryapa
Vladimir Veremeenko

http://www.championat.com/basketball/news-1163412-kirilenko-planinich-beverli-mjessi-i-dzhefferson---v-simolicheskoj-pjatjorke-chr-pbl.html?rucom=1

[rikhardur]

Not surprisingly CSKA reaching the playoff finals after sweeping Lokomotiv Kuban 2-0.

[Terrorizer]

PBL announced the season's 1st team and regular season MPV (no, it's not Kirilenko :P):

Zoran Planinić
Patrick Beverley
Andrei Kirilenko
Jeremy Massey
Davon Jefferson (MVP)


2nd team:
Torey Thomas
Vitaly Fridzon
Sergey Karasev
Viktor Khryapa
Vladimir Veremeenko

http://www.championat.com/basketball...l.html?rucom=1

Wow, these are some very good choices unlike EL All-Tournament teams bullshit. Davon Jefferson is a rightful MVP, no doubt about that, as he wasn't only huge stats- and play-wise but was leading mediocre team to the semis while such grands like UNICS and Spartak SPb missed it.
My choice would be something like:
Patrick Beverley - Vitali Fridzon - Jeremiah Massey - Viktor Khryapa - Davon Jefferson (last three are all 3/4 numbers but this season we haven't centers impressive enough to make it to the First team)
Torey Thomas - Yotam Halperin - Sergei Karasev - Dragan Labovic - Vladimir Veremeenko
I also like to add the third team which would look something like
Aaron Miles - Alexei Shved - Semen Antonov - Andrei Kirilenko - Kresimir Loncar.

Zoran Planinic, Milos Teodosic, Tywain McKey, Sergei Bykov, Cuthbert Victor, Brion Rush, Ali Traore, Valeri Likhodey, Kyle Landry and Nenad Krstic could be reasonable honourable mentions.

[rikhardur]

CSKA champions for the 10th time in a row, sweeping Khimki 3-0.