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2006-11-27 SEB BBL: Week Eight

The SEB BBL week eight included some surprising results and intriguing games as always. A lot of teams appeared on the court creditable even playing without its key injured players.<a title="Atletas Kaunas" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NTI=">Atletas Kaunas</a> club on Friday had the second win of the season containing <a title="Panevezys" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NDk=">Panevezys</a>' <a title="80:76" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1nYW1lcy5tYWluJmdfaWQ9NDU2">80:76</a> at home. It's hardly understandable how Atletas was able to reach the win with practically 6 players. The seventh one <a title="Martynas Kriauciunas" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD01MiZwPTYzOA==">Martynas Kriauciunas</a> played only 1 minute and couldn't help his team at all. Fortunately, this time all of them contributed. <a title="Darius Lukminas" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD01MiZwPTY4Nw==">Darius Lukminas</a> led the way with 25 points and 5 assists. The veteran guard is the key of Atletas successful play as it seems like Kaunas' team continues to compete only if he plays well. However, Atletas undoubtedly needs to establish their bench in order to win more games. As for Panevezys, I think they needed the real <a title="Tomas Gaidamavicius" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD00OSZwPTU5Ng==">Tomas Gaidamavicius</a>, who could nock those important shots down and take over, but that day he was unable to do that scoring just 7 points including 0/4 from behind the arc.To reach the revenge by <a title="Lietuvos Rytas" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NDUmaWQ9NDU=">Lietuvos Rytas</a> against <a title="ASK Riga" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NTUmaWQ9NTU=">ASK Riga</a> at home (<a title="75:68" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1nYW1lcy5tYWluJmdfaWQ9NDU1">75:68</a>) required incredible performance by <a title="J.P.Batista" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD00NSZwPTU5Mw==">J.P.Batista</a>, who not only scored 18 points, but dominated the glass having 21 rebounds. That let the defending champions to get 18 more boards than the opposition which obviously was the main reason of victory. Better shooting inside the three point line also helped to snatch a win. I think that was a great victory for Lietuvos Rytas keeping in mind that they played without three important players: <a title="Matthew Nielsen" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD00NSZwPTU4Ng==">Matthew Nielsen</a>, <a title="Andre Emmet" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD00NSZwPTU4Nw==">Andre Emmet</a> and <a title="Marijonas Petravicius" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD00NSZwPTU5Mg==">Marijonas Petravicius</a>.Having an easy win against <a title="Barons" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NTc=">Barons</a> at home (<a title="101:76" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1nYW1lcy5tYWluJmdfaWQ9NDU3">101:76</a>), <a title="Zalgiris" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NDY=">Zalgiris</a> almost fell short over <a title="Neptunas" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NTA=">Neptunas</a> on Sunday (96:92). Two aspects of the game stands out. Kaunas' club was unexpectedly outrebounded 40 to 28 including 16 to 6 on the offensive end. If not that 15 three-pointers in 26 attempts that they made, the match against Neptunas could have easily ended in Klaipeda's club favour. <a title="Michailas Anisimovas" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD01MCZwPTY2NQ==">Michailas Anisimovas</a> of Neptunas was a big headache for Zalgiris. He had 28 points on a great 11/15 shooting. Hanno Mottola is not a defensive-minded center and also doesn't like contacts. Even though <a title="Tanoka Beard" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD00NiZwPTUxMQ==">Tanoka Beard</a> lacks of height, he would have been helpful in this game. Yet, it's all good while you come up with the win.<a title="Ventspils" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NTg=">Ventspils</a> had to show some effort to outclass <a title="Nevezis" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NDg=">Nevezis</a> at home (<a title="95:81" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1nYW1lcy5tYWluJmdfaWQ9NDYw">95:81</a>). Only good second half and great performance by <a title="Justin Love" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD01OCZwPTY3MQ==">Justin Love</a> allowed the Latvian champion to avoid the upset. Ventspils appeared better in every single aspect of the game, not significantly though. But when you combine those things like 8 percent better two-point shooting, 6 more rebounds or 12 percent higher free throw shooting, you definitely get the advantage. <a title="Tomas Rinkevicius" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD00OCZwPTYwOA==">Tomas Rinkevicius</a> of Nevezis had a very solid game scoring 21 point (4/4 three pointers), but that was certainly not enough against such a rival.Before a tough game against Zalgiris, Neptunas reached an important victory over <a title="Siauliai" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NDc=">Siauliai</a> (<a title="82:73" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1nYW1lcy5tYWluJmdfaWQ9NDc0">82:73</a>) on Saturday. Even without <a title="Vitalijus Stanevicius" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD01MCZwPTY2NA==">Vitalijus Stanevicius</a>, Neptunas found other guys who could step it up. 4 players scored 15 or more points, so that means if it's necessary, you can always find others who can provide with leadership. Neptunas' progression is evident. They're showing consistent basketball with the defensive emphasis. That's definitely the fruit of hard work in practices and a good job by coach. As for Siauliai, it would be ridiculous to expect winning the game by commiting 33 turnovers.<a title="Sakalai Vilnius" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NTE=">Sakalai Vilnius</a> couldn't handle <a title="Kalev/Cramo" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NTM=">Kalev/Cramo</a> on road and lost <a title="76:90" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1nYW1lcy5tYWluJmdfaWQ9NDU4">76:90</a>. When you shoot 65 percent from the three point line, you can win against anyone in this league. Tallinn's club not only shot the ball in high percentage, but also made 22 assists. The ball was moving extremely well for the Estonians. <a title="Catalin Burlacu" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD01MyZwPTY4OQ==">Catalin Burlacu</a> was literally too much for Sakalai. The Romanian center collected 24 points (4/5 three-pointers) and 7 rebounds. That was a tough match-up for <a title="Rolandas Matulis" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD01MSZwPTU2Mg==">Rolandas Matulis</a> and <a title="Vytautas Sarakauskas" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD01MSZwPTU2NA==">Vytautas Sarakauskas</a>. The first one is shorter even <metric2 w:st="on" metric_value="10" metric_text="cm"><metricconverter w:st="on" productid="10 cm">10 cm</metricconverter></metric2>.Panevezys was able to knock down <a title="Rock" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj10ZWFtcy5tYWluJnQ9NTQ=">Rock</a> club <a title="80:70" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1nYW1lcy5tYWluJmdfaWQ9NDYy">80:70</a>. That was quite a surprise as Tartu's team was playing gradually better basketball and falling short against one of the league's outsiders is something not acceptable for this club. Tomas Gaidamavicius and <a title="Paulius Pociuipa" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1wbGF5ZXJzLm1haW4mdD00OSZwPTU5OA==">Paulius Pociuipa</a> had 46 points combined and that's more than the half of the whole team's points. Better rebounding and movement of the ball let Panevezys to cruise over Rock.Game of the WeekNeptunas - Zalgiris (<a title="92:96" href="/index.php/ZnVzZWFjdGlvbj1nYW1lcy5tYWluJmdfaWQ9NDYx">92:96</a>)Team of the WeekNeptunas (2 games/1 win, 4 points shy of upsetting Zalgiris)Player of the WeekMichailas Anisimovas (2 games, 25 ppg, 4,5 rpg)Performance of the WeekJoao Paolo Batista (vs. ASK Riga, 18 points, 21 rebounds)Author: Edvardas Chmieliauskas

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