### Andrea Turchetto, Cedevita Olimpija assistant coach

"We're going up against a very good team, one of the best three-point shooters in the competition. They score a lot of points from long range, so we'll have to be careful. At the same time, the Wolves are the second-best rebounding team on offense, so this is also one of the things that we will have to control. We must continue to work and improve day by day. We are working on our chemistry, Klemen Prepelič is also getting along better and better with his teammates from training to training. We are working a lot, and luckily the players are always ready to work, and with a positive approach we do the right things."

### Shawn Jones, Cedevita Olimpija player

"We have a tough match ahead of us against a demanding opponent on both sides of the court. We know that Wolves are an extremely talented team that shoots very well from distance. We are preparing for our opponents, and our task is to stick to the agreements from the locker room and try to stop their offense."

Game News

Winless Cedevita (0-4) will aim to kickstart its season with a visit from a Wolves (1-2) team that did just that last week, picking up its first victory by outlasting Besiktas in a thriller. Tre'Shawn Thurman was key to that success, taking the weekly MVP award after netting 31 points, and slowing down the dynamic guard will be a key task for Cedevita. The hosts will be missing one of their backcourt leaders, Justin Cobbs, through injury, so an even heavier burden will fall on Klemen Prepelic, who stepped up with 16 points and 12 assists on his debut last week.

Pre-game quotes: Cedevita vs. Wolves

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Wolves Vilnius (2023-10-31T17:30:00.000Z)

With four rounds in the books, now is a great time to restock your EuroCup Fantasy Challenge team with some hidden gems who have emerged across the continent.

Fantasy tips, Round 5: Under-the-radar gems!

Round 5 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season is upon us. Three teams remain undefeated in the competition: defending champions Dreamland Gran Canaria, Paris Basketball and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. There have been loads of high scores, which led to some truly brilliant performances in the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home). There are some players who have been under the radar until now, and they are our recommendations for the upcoming games.

[Klemen Prepelic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/klemen-prepelic/002661/) (12.3 credits) – Prepelic has been sensational since he returned to Ljubljana. Last week, he had his first-ever EuroCup double-double, getting 16 points and 12 assists against Prometey. He did even better in the Adriatic League this weekend: 23 points, 13 assists and a PIR of 34. Outstanding!

[Collin Malcolm, Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/collin-malcolm/012609/) (10.7 credits) – Malcolm has been leading Paris's second unit since the start of the season, averaging 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and a PIR of 20.2. He has been shooting the ball really well, hitting 78.6% of his two-pointers and 62.5% from beyond the arc, ranking seventh overall in both categories.

Aljami Durham, McKinley Wright, Collin Malcolm, Klemen Prepelic and Tarik Phillip are featured in this week's article.

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Round 5

[Tarik Phillip, London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tarik-phillip/009649/) (10.4 credits) – Phillip has been posting really solid numbers until now, averaging 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and a PIR of 18.5 in four games. He had a PIR of 12 or better in all games until now. Last week, Phillip barely missed a double-double, getting 11 points and 9 assists against Paris.

[McKinley Wright, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/) (13.3 credits) – Wright has also amassed a PIR of 12 of better in all games so far, but he has done even better lately. In the last couple of games, Wright boosted his numbers up to 17.0 points on 12-for-17 two-point shooting (70.6%), 4.0 assists and a PIR of 16.2. He has been Buducnost's main backcourt pillar.

[Aljami Durham, Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aljami-durham/012582/) (10.9 credits) – Hamburg is still looking for its first win but Durham has been playing really well. He has averaged 15.3 points on 71.4% three-point shooting (tied for third overall), 3.3 rebounds and a PIR of 24 in German League action this weekend.

The BKT EuroCup Regular Season Round 5 game between Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and the London Lions will be played in London instead of Tel Aviv, with the contest now taking place at 19:30 local time (GMT) on Thursday, November 2 instead of Wednesday, November 1.

Order of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, London Lions games switched

The BKT EuroCup Regular Season Round 5 game between Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and the London Lions will be played in London instead of Tel Aviv, with the contest now taking place at 19:30 local time (GMT) on Thursday, November 2 instead of on Wednesday, November 1.

 This decision has been taken considering the impossible nature of hosting games in Tel Aviv due to security concerns derived from the ongoing armed conflict in the area.

 Euroleague Basketball (EB) has requested that Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv present an alternative arena located out of Israel to host its upcoming BKT EuroCup home games.

Things did not look good for Wolves Vilnius in Round 3 when it trailed 80-87 against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul with 23.3 seconds remaining in front of 8,000 fans in its first-ever BKT EuroCup home game. Less than 16 seconds later, with 7.7 remaining, Wolves had taken an 89-88 lead and were on their way to winning the game. 

Kristupas Zemaitis, Wolves: 'I cannot explain it: sometimes it happens!'

It was one of the most incredible comebacks in EuroCup history and sharpshooter [Kristupas Zemaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kristupas-zemaitis/005516/) was at the center of it. Zemaitis is in his second season with Wolves and second in the EuroCup - he previously appeared with 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. He has averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists through three games and leads the competition in three-point shooting (77.8%, 7 of 9). 

In this week's EuroCup interview, Javier Gancedo spoke to Zemaitis about his team's growth, potential and, of course, the wild comeback against Besiktas. "I saw we were 7 points down with 23.3 seconds left. Besiktas had the ball a few seconds before, too, missing a layup. It's crazy!" Zemaitis said. "But it was our fight, our energy, those crazy three-pointers, and we somehow managed to get the win."

**Hello, Kristupas. Before we talk about how it happened, let's talk about the win itself, the first for your club in the EuroCup. How important was it for the club and its fans?**

"It is important because I think our group is very difficult and each victory will be very precious until the end of the group stage. It was especially important after two losses, especially after a very tough defeat in \[Badalona\], when we lost against against Joventut in overtime. So we wanted to bounce back this week and yes, we knew that the opponent would be hard because Besiktas is one of the best teams in the EuroCup. I think they were allowing only 66 points on average before our game, so we knew it would be tough. 

"We also knew there would be a lot of people in the arena: our president, our manager, everyone told us there would be a lot of people in the arena, so we wanted to celebrate a victory with them. I think we controlled the game, more or less, but in the end of the game were minus-7 with like 25 seconds left. Somehow, we managed to come back and I cannot think of anything better for me as a player: getting our first victory in the EuroCup, in club history, in front of so many fans and those watching on TV."

**Let's talk about how it happened. It was a 9-1 run in less than 16 seconds!**

"I cannot explain it: sometimes it happens! I watched the game again, especially the ending. I thought it wasn't that bad, thinking we were 8 points down with like 2 minutes left or something like that. But when I played back the game, I saw we were 7 points down with 23.3 seconds left. Besiktas had the ball a few seconds before, too, missing a layup. It's crazy! I cannot imagine how their coach felt about it because of the way they lost the game. But it was our fight, our energy, those crazy three-pointers, and we somehow managed to get the win. It was one of the greatest comebacks."

Wolves rallies past Besiktas in the final 23.3 seconds.

**You have been with Wolves since the club started two years ago. How does it feel to be in such an ambitious project as this is?**

"This is an ambitious club and in each game, you know that you need to win. It is not enough just to fight. We are trying to win each and every game, and we feel the pressure and everything, but that is how it is in bigger clubs, you know? So I'm really happy and really enjoying being here. The first year was really tough. We didn't reach our goals and this season, all the Lithuanians still in this club that were here last year want to prove ourselves and fix it. What we did last year was wrong, and I think we have a really great team this season with good rotations, experience, with good facilities, a good arena and in a big city. We want to show that there was some misunderstanding last season, and we want to reach our goals."

**How great is it to play for a club run by so many basketball players?**

"I think this is very good because they understand basketball. Our president, Rimantas Kaukenas, had an amazing career, playing for the Lithuanian national team and for big clubs like Real Madrid and Montepaschi Siena. We also have the Lavrinovic twins, who had huge careers, and \[sports director\] Donatas Zavackas, who is also an example for us. They can share their experiences and give us some advice, and we try to listen to each of their words to improve in each practice and each game."

"It is not enough just to fight. We are trying to win each and every game."

**Vilnius is an important city in EuroCup history. Rytas Vilnius won EuroCup titles in 2005 and 2009. How does it feel to bring the city of Vilnius back to the EuroCup and give basketball fans in the city the opportunity to see EuroCup games again?**

"It's great, of course. Vilnius is the Lithuanian capital and a huge city. As you mentioned, they won the EuroCup in 2005 and then again in 2009 with Kurtinaitis as head coach. They \[Rytas\] have a great history and the EuroCup has always been a big tournament, so I am very happy that there are two very good basketball teams in Vilnius. It is not easy, of course, because right now, Rytas and Wolves are big rivals. But from the fans' standpoint, it is also more interesting, and I am very happy for this, that Lithuania has two teams in the EuroCup. That is a big improvement for Lithuanian basketball."

**Of course, the other team is Lietkabelis. Do you follow them and stay in touch with people there?**

"For sure. I am following the team since I left, last year and also this year. There are a lot of good friends of mine playing there, so I try to follow every game and support them. I often chat with some players from that team. I am really following them, and I wish them good luck."

Kristupas Zemaitis Top Plays of the 2023-24 Regular Season

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Kristupas Zemaitis, Wolves

**Three of your guards (Juskevicius, Kariniauskas and you) come from Zalgiris's basketball schools and youth teams. What allows Zalgiris to bring out so many good players in every generation?**

"As you know, Zalgitis is still the number one team in Lithuanian basketball and I think every club tries to follow others and tries to do something like they do. And of course, Kaunas is also a good city and Zalgiris is a good organization, so a lot of good, young, talented players want to be there and be a part of that. So from a young age, Zalgiris is getting those talents and they have great facilities, great coaches and everything you need for young players. They make players work hard individually to improve a lot. I don't know if you noticed, but Zalgiris's second team won the Lithuanian second division last season, so that tells you they are working the right way."

**Wolves have been very solid even without star forward Jeff Taylor. How dangerous can this team be when Taylor is back?**

"It is not just Taylor, we are also without Djordje Gagic, who will also make us stronger soon. But since you mentioned Jeff Taylor, he is a guy who played in the NBA and won the EuroLeague with Real Madrid. He is the most experienced player in our team, but I also had the chance to see what kind of person he is and that was a good surprise for me because he is very humble. Like I said, he played in the NBA and for Real but came here to a really new place, with new players who might not be as talented as he is, not such high-level players, but he has been really patient. He has shared this experience and I really like playing with him. I am really looking forward to his return because he will be ready to give a lot to this team, especially on defense."

"Lithuania has two teams in the EuroCup. That is a big improvement for Lithuanian basketball."

**Your next game is against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, who just signed Klemen Prepelic. How much are you looking forward not just to playing against Cedevita, but against Prepelic in particular?**

"They are without victories in the group but they are a tough team and, like you said, they just signed Prepelic, who is great, an experienced guy who plays on the Slovenian national team and is a good shooter. So it will not be easy. I don't think that in our group, there is a team where we can say 'oh, maybe it will be easier this time'. No. They are without victories and play at home, so for sure they will want to grab their first one, but we will try to do our best to get our second win."

**After that, you play six of the next seven games in Vilnius. How important is it to turn Avia Solutions Group arena into a fortress?**

"Playing at home so often is more fun. We know our fans, the rims and our gym. It is our home, so it is very important to win there. It is not easy to bring fans, so we need to play solid and get as many wins as we can. We need to do some extra things if we want to bring fans but as I mentioned before, our club is doing an incredible job to bring fans into the arena. I can also say they did it last season when we played in Alytus. I was kind of pessimistic about how many fans would go to the arena when they knew that we would leave the city and move to Vilnius. But like I said, our club did a great job and we are bringing a lot of people to our games. Against Besiktas, we had like 8,000 fans in the arena, it was incredible. I liked the fact that there were a lot of kids because they are watching basketball from a very young age, and are following us and asking us for autographs. As a player, for me, it is a very good sign and I am very happy about that."

### Giannis Kastritis, Aris head coach

"It’s an important home game for us in front of our fans. Our opponent Cluj is doing great so far in the competition. They are very solid as a team, having a core of players for many seasons, a fact that gives them the advantage of the unity and good chemistry early on the year. We need to be very focused in our tactic in both ends and give our 100 percent in any possession."

### Mihai Silvasan, Cluj head coach

"It is the first time we will play against Aris. We saw many of their games and everyone can tell that it will be a tough gym. They have an athletic team that plays with energy. Aris has 2 wins and 2 losses, so the game will be important for the standings. Obviously, we want a victory!"

### Ismael Sanogo, Aris player

"After two wins in a row in the BKT EuroCup, and five consecutive including the Greek League, we have a very demanding and difficult game against U-BT Cluj-Napoca. We are eager to play in front of our fans again and we are sure that they will give us the boost we need to get our third win in this season’s competition. We have to have energy in the defensive part and be patient in the offense, as our opponent is very strong defensively."

### Jarell Eddie, Cluj player

"I think they are a good team and there are a lot of good things that they do. We have to prepare for them, play our game and get a win. I wish we keep it going, I feel that our team is growing. We are playing better every game and I am really excited."

A key game in the race for the playoffs will see Aris (2-2) host Cluj (3-1) for what could be a low-scoring encounter. Cluj gained its three victories by allowing its opponents to score no more than 74 points, while Aris’s two-game winning run is based on a defense which allowed just 63 and 66 points. A key matchup comes in the backcourt, where Roberto Gallinat averages 17.2 points for Aris and scored 23 last week, while DJ Seeley averages 16.5 points for Cluj but was restricted to just 8 points last week after getting into foul trouble.

Pre-game quotes: Aris vs. Cluj

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2023-11-01T18:00:00.000Z)

Upsets in sports are not rare, but Dolomiti Energia Trento winning the road game against 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys last week was totally unexpected, both the result and the game-winner.

Trento is a BKT EuroCup regular, but this was their first road win after 24 straight losses away from home. The previous time they celebrated away from Italy dated back 1,078 days to 2020 when they beat Promitheas Patras in Greece.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1574113/british-basketball-royalty-broke-trentos-road-curse/)

Can Trento be trendy again after finally getting a road win in the BKT EuroCup? British guard Quinn Ellis may have the answer.

British basketball royalty broke Trento’s road curse

Round 5 of the BKT EuroCup sees the competition’s three remaining unbeaten records come under threat, as well as a series of direct matchups between playoff hopefuls. 

Big-time matchups in Round 5 could shape EuroCup playoff picture

### Tuesday, October 31

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs Wolves Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-wolves-vilnius/U2023/45/)

Winless Cedevita (0-4) will aim to kickstart its season with a visit from a Wolves (1-2) team that did just that last week, picking up its first victory by outlasting Besiktas in a thriller. Tre'Shawn Thurman was key to that success, taking the weekly MVP award after netting 31 points, and slowing down the dynamic guard will be a key task for Cedevita. The hosts will be missing one of their backcourt leaders, Justin Cobbs, through injury, so an even heavier burden will fall on Klemen Prepelic, who stepped up with 16 points and 12 assists on his debut last week. [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-lju-wol)

[Dolomiti Energia Trento vs Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/dolomiti-energia-trento-turk-telekom-ankara/U2023/49/)

Two teams outside the playoff places need a boost as Trento (1-3) hosts Turk Telekom (1-3). Selcuk Ernak will make his coaching debut for the visitors, who have won all six of the previous meetings between the teams. Trento, which grabbed its first win of the season last week, will look for league-leading shot blocker Paul Biligha (2.5 bpg.) to protect the paint against the athletic Steven Enoch. Turk Telekom's free-scoring Tyrone Wallace (15.8 ppg.) will aim to win his backcourt duel with all-action Quinn Ellis, who netted last week's game-winner against Lietkabelis. [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-trn-ttk)

[Joventut Badalona vs Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/joventut-badalona-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2023/43/)

Winless Hamburg (0-4) faces a tough task in ending that sequence with a trip to ambitious Joventut (2-2), which is looking for a return to winning ways after last week’s disappointing loss at Reyer. Led by the ageless Ante Tomic (7.8 rpg.), Joventut is one of the best rebounding teams in the competition with 39.8 boards per night, whereas Hamburg is third worst in that category with only 32.5 per contest. So, the German team needs a strong night from big man Aleksander Dziewa, who averages 10.2 points per game but only managed 3 points in last week’s heavy loss to Hapoel. [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-jov-ham)

Joventut produced a dominant display to brush aside Dolomiti Energia Trento in Round 1. They entertain a Hamburg outfit trying to build on the positives from an unfortunate loss to Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar.

Joventut Badalona v Hamburg Towers - Round 2 - Full Game Replay

### Wednesday, November 1

[Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul vs Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul-umana-reyer-venice/U2023/44/)

After suffering its first loss of the season last week, Wednesday’s opening tipoff will see Besiktas (3-1) look to bounce back against a Reyer team (1-3) which had contrasting emotions in Round 4, having overcome Joventut for its first win. Marco Spissu was the hero of that victory with 24 points and 6 assists, but he’ll struggle to match those numbers against a Besiktas defense which leads the league with just 72.0 points allowed per game. The Turkish team will hope Jonah Mathews continues his great form after scoring 22, 18 and 20 points in the last three games. [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-bes-vnc)

[Prometey Slobozhanske vs Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/prometey-slobozhanske-paris-basketball/U2023/41/)

Unbeaten Group A leader Paris (4-0) faces a tough test with a trip to Prometey (2-2), which is aiming to stay firmly inside the playoff places. Prometey will look to make it a physical battle, coming into the game as league leader in rebounding with 43.3 rebounds per game – 10.5 of those coming from Ondrey Balvin. Paris ranks second in the league in scoring with 99.2 points per night. Although TJ Shorts (19 points and 7.5 assists per game) is always a threat, Prometey also needs to be wary of Collin Malcolm, who averages 16.2 points per contest and has made 16 of his last 21 two-pointers. [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-pmt-prs)

[Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/aris-midea-thessaloniki-u-bt-cluj-napoca/U2023/47/)

A key game in the race for the playoffs will see Aris (2-2) host Cluj (3-1) for what could be a low-scoring encounter. Cluj gained its three victories by allowing its opponents to score no more than 74 points, while Aris’s two-game winning run is based on a defense which allowed just 63 and 66 points. A key matchup comes in the backcourt, where Roberto Gallinat averages 17.2 points for Aris and scored 23 last week, while DJ Seeley averages 16.5 points for Cluj but was restricted to just 8 points last week after getting into foul trouble. [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-ari-clu)

[ratiopharm Ulm vs Slask Wroclaw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/ratiopharm-ulm-slask-wroclaw/U2023/48/)

High-flying Ulm (3-1) will aim to pile more misery on Slask (0-4), the only winless team in Group B. The German champion was powered to victory last week at Turk Telekom by guard Georginho De Paula, who is becoming the team’s backcourt leader with averages of 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, while Trevion Williams is the competition’s top rebounder with 11.7 per night. Slask is the league’s second-lowest scorer with just 73.3 points per game and it will hope that guard Lukasz Kolenda can find his scoring stroke after making 1 of his 10 field goal attempts against Aris last week. [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-ulm-wro)

Watch the Game Highlights from Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. JL Bourg en Bresse, 03/30/2022

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs Mincidelice JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Highlights | Round 17

[Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse vs Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2023/46/)

Bourg (3-1) hosts Buducnost (2-2) with the hosts looking to respond from suffering its first defeat of the season at Gran Canaria last week, while Buducnost is searching for its first road victory. The visiting team has McKinley Wright in excellent form, scoring at least 13 points in every game so far this season and 21 in last week’s defeat at Cluj. To counter him, Bourg can call upon the accuracy of Jeremy Morgan, who has converted 71.4% of his two-point attempts and 55% from beyond the arc in the opening four games. [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-bou-bud)

[Dreamland Gran Canaria vs 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/dreamland-gran-canaria-7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2023/50/)

Can anyone stop Gran Canaria (4-0)? The latest challenger to the unbeaten reigning champ is Lietkabelis (1-3), which is aiming to bounce back from last week’s heartbreaking loss to Trento. Gran Canaria has outstanding efficiency on offense, leading the league in two-point conversions (61.6% 2FG) and ranking second in three-pointers (42.6% 3FG), with John Shurna making 58.3% of his long-range shots. Lietkabelis, facing Gran Canaria for the first time since 2016, will crash the boards, ranking third in offensive rebounding with 13.3 per game, partly thanks to Gabrielus Maldunas (3.5 orpg.). [Game notes and facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs5-game-notes-facts-can-lkb)

Round 5 of the BKT EuroCup sees the competition’s three remaining unbeaten records come under threat, as well as a series of direct matchups between playoff hopefuls. Here’s your guide to all the action. 

Big-time matchups in Round 5 could shape the playoff picture

Dreamland Gran Canaria v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2023-11-01T20:00:00.000Z)

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Turk Telekom Ankara (2023-10-31T19:00:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm v Slask Wroclaw (2023-11-01T18:30:00.000Z)

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2023-11-01T18:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul v Umana Reyer Venice (2023-11-01T17:00:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2023-10-31T19:30:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v London Lions (2023-11-01T18:00:00.000Z)

Prometey Slobozhanske v Paris Basketball (2023-11-01T17:00:00.000Z)

Round 4 of the BKT EuroCup was highlighted by a reckoning at the top of both Groups A and B as the herd of teams undefeated was thinned to only three. 


The impacts of starters - and reserves - so far this season

In Group A, Paris Basketball defeated the previously unbeaten London Lions in an overtime shootout that saw one of the largest contrasts in starter and bench production in recent history. While London’s starters outscored Paris's 81 to 55, Paris’s bench closed the gap outscoring London’s reserves 51-21 to earn a narrow victory. 

Those gaps in production have been the norm for these teams so far this season. As the graph above suggests, Paris’s starters have only played 50 more minutes than their bench to this point while London has played its starters over 70% of the time - comfortably the highest rate in the EuroCup even without having key contributor Sam Dekker active for two of their four games. Few teams in recent history have played their starters over 68% of the time, but London has set that course while looking like one of the better teams in Group A. 

In contrast, Paris’s reserves have outscored their opponents' second-stringers by 118 - a truly remarkable number that tells the story of their 4-0 start.

In Group B, Dreamland Gran Canaria took control of the top spot in the standings with a win over Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. Splitting their minutes almost right down the middle between their starters and their reserves, Gran Canaria has been this season’s outlier, leveraging its depth more than any other team to get its repeat bid off to a fast start. The starters have played a EuroCup-low 49% of the team's minutes so far this season - not far below the 54% pace they set during their run to the EuroCup championship last season.

Among other superlatives, this season’s only other undefeated team, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, has watched its starters outscore those of its opponents by a league-best 73 points in only three games. While it is still very early, the contrast between when and how successfully this year’s top teams are rotating their subs has been an interesting footnote. What kind of impact those tendencies ultimately have on the standings and what kind of adjustments these teams make as the year wears on are worth monitoring.

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys announced a coaching change on Friday, parting way with Roberts Stelmahers while appointing once again Nenad Canak, who served as team's head coach the past five seasons.

Canak returns to Lietkabelis bench

7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys announced a coaching change on Friday, parting way with Roberts Stelmahers while appointing once again Nenad Canak, who served as team's head coach the past five seasons.

In an interesting turn of events, Canak was let go by a fellow Group A side Turk Telekom Ankara earlier this week ahead of Round 4, but now finds himself back on the bench of Lietkabelis, where he took over as head coach in 2018 and held that position until this past summer when he went to Turk Telekom.

Lietkabelis opened this campaign with a 1-3 record under Stelmahers, and lost on its home floor against Dolomiti Energia Trento on Wednesday. Lietkabelis also holds a fifth-best 4-2 record in the Lithuanian League.

Now, the team will continue the season with Canak in charge, and in less than three weeks time, Lietkabelis will hosts Turk Telekom.

Canak, the 47-year-old tactician, guided Lietkabelis to 19 wins and 15 wins in the past two EuroCup regular seasons, including a 10-8 record last season, but Lietkabelis fell in the eighthfinals both times.

Before his time with Lietkabelis, Canak previously also coached MKK Spartak Subotica and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in the 2017-18 campaign, both of his native Serbia.