### A strength vs. strength matchup

The matchup between the 7DAYS EuroCup’s most efficient offensive team, Promitheas Patras, and its most efficient defensive unit, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, was the most interesting strength-on-strength matchup the EuroCup has had to offer so far this season.  While the contest looked very one-sided for long stretches, it wound up living up to expectations in the fourth quarter.

As the chart above suggests, Buducnost built a significant lead in the second quarter and led by 20-points for a time late in the third.  It held an explosive Promitheas offense to only 0.87 points per possession through the first 30 minutes—well below its 1.09 point per-possession standard.  Forcing 7 turnovers in the second quarter alone and doing a solid job of taking the game out of the hands of leading scorer Joe Young, Buducnost was up by 19 with a little over 9 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Promitheas’s offense finally broke free from that point scoring 29 points over 20 possessions to actually take the lead in the waning moments of regulation.  With Young getting loose for 8 points and 2 assists and Nikos Gkikas providing some timely three-point shooting, they flipped the game on its head before faltering in overtime.

Buducnost has allowed only 0.83 points per possession on the year, so considering Promitheas’s 1.09 per-possession scoring rate, it got the best of this matchup on paper holding the visitors to 0.93 per possession in the victory.  However, the late-game swing tells the more poignant story as, even for the league’s stingiest defense and most dominant rebounding team, no lead is safe in the EuroCup. 

### Going with what works

As well as Buducnost defended most of the night, Joe Young still managed to score 20 points – including 10 over only six possessions looking for his own shot in pick-and-rolls.  Young, whose father, Michael, was a prolific scorer at the highest levels of European basketball in the early 1990’s, has always been known for his ability to put the ball in the basket.  Even so, he’s been fantastic in the beginning weeks of his first campaign in Europe and leads the EuroCup in overall scoring on gaudy efficiency numbers.

Much of his production and Promitheas’s success can be traced to the league-best 41 points he’s scored over only 27 pick-and-roll possessions.  Shooting an absurd eFG% of 81%, Young’s ability to stop and pop with range has been an issue for opposing defenses that has only made his ability to then make shots from everywhere on the floor more apparent as teams mix up their coverages to stop him.  He is the type of dynamic offensive player that could give his team a puncher’s chance in any game this season.

Among the other early-season play-type scoring leaders, Turk Telekom Ankara swingman Axel Bouteille’s spot-up shooting prowess is of note as he was always a capable shot-maker but did not expand his range until his mid-20’s.  His rise as a terrific spot-up three-point shooter has paid dividends for Turk Telekom so far.  Aleksander Balcerowski has been the league’s most productive roll man as his return to Gran Canaria has helped him settle back into the rhythm that helped him earn Rising Star honors during the 2020-21 season. 

Kyle Allman of Paris Basketball and Ante Tomic of Joventut Badalona have been the EuroCup’s most productive one-on-one scorers on the perimeter and in the post, respectively.  Allman may not be quite as prolific as Young in pick-and-roll situations, but his ability to break down defenders on an island is a big reason he remains one of this season’s leading scorers.  Ante Tomic has had a decorated career that includes no shortage of accolades, but the 35-year-old does not get enough credit for growing as a playmaker after joining Joventut three seasons ago.  As much as he leads the EuroCup in post-up scoring, his ability to move the ball is often just as valuable.

Though Joe Young keyed Promitheas’s comeback, Alpha Kaba was a big reason Buducnost ultimately took the win.  Leading the EuroCup with 12 offensive rebounds through 3 appearances, he has gone right back up with 10 of them scoring 13 points and drawing 3 fouls.  He added 3 extra possessions in the final 6 minutes for Buducnost in their Round 3 win including a tip dunk that tied the game in the final minute of regulation. 

## Looking Ahead to Round 4

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse is the last remaining unbeaten team.  It will head to Italy to take on a Germani Brescia side that has looked good in victory the last two weeks after a Round 1 loss to Joventut.  Bourg’s offensive execution has been terrific in the early going — it leads the EuroCup producing 16 unguarded spot-up jumpers per game. Brescia has been solid in rotation, which provided an interesting road test for the Group A leader.

Forces collided in Round 3 of the 7DAYS EuroCup, Let’s review an interesting game from last week, have a glance at the most efficient scorers in the competition so far this season and take a peek at one key Round 4 clash.  

Stats Review: Who have been the most efficient scorers so far?

Balanced Bourg the only unbeaten team left

Last season, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse missed out on the 7DAYS EuroCup Playoffs by finishing ninth in its group with a 6-12 record. This season, Bourg is the only remaining unbeaten team in the competition, holding a 3-0 record and is already halfway to last year's victory tally.

With a new head coach, Frederic Fauthoux, at the helm and a half-dozen new players, Bourg has been playing with energy on both ends of the floor. The team also has developed a nice balance and its players have showcased the ability to step up.

The last one to do it was Round 3 MVP Jordan Floyd, who came off the bench to score 21 second-half points in an 86-73 win over Lietkabelis. He was one of three Bourg's double-digit scorers in this game, along with Isiaha Mike and Maxime Courby who finished with 15 apiece. 

Floyd and Mike are the only two players who scored in double figures in each of the three games, with Courby and James Palmer each getting to double figures twice while Frantz Massenat and Pierre Pelos each scored at least 10 points once.

But no one really stands out.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse - 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 3 Highlights | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

Bourg has five players averaging between 9.0 and 15.3 points and four who played multiple games and posted between 4.0 and 5.3 rebounds. 

Bourg does not specifically shine offensively, scoring a seventh-best 84.3 points per game. It is ranks in the bottom half in rebounding (35.3 rpg.) and assists (17.3 apg.), but sits sixth in three-point shooting (38.7%) and eighth in two-point shooting (55.8%). The team also does a good job of taking care of the basketball, ranking sixth in turnovers (13.7) and allowing the third-fewest steals (6.3). In its win over Lietkabelis, the team pulled down 17 offensive rebounds, but that has only increased its average to 10.0 per game, which ranks 12th.

Bourg is a bit more solid on the defensive end, where it has held opponents to 73 points in each of the last two games. It holds opponents to 16.0 assists per game (fourth fewest) and allows 9.3 offensive rebounds (seventh).

And although it is hard to find a parameter that stands out, such all-around balance is what has made Bourg so good for the start of the season. And at 3-0, it is not only all alone atop Group B, but the lone team without a loss this season.

Look back at all the action in the Regular Season Round 3 by checking out the best photos of the week!

EuroCup, The Top 10 photos of the week, Round 3

Among the many players who shined in Round 3 of the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season in style, here are a few who stood out on Tuesday and Wednesday.

### Toupane set several personal bests in Paris win

Axel Toupane shined for Paris Basketball in its 86-91 road win over Dolomiti Energia Trento on Tuesday. In this, his 70th game in the competition, Toupane set career highs with 11 rebounds, in free throws made with 7, and in performance index rating with 23. On top of that, he scored 16 points and dished 4 assists. Toupane's previous career highs were 7 rebounds for Unicaja Malaga against EWE Baskets Oldenburg in December 2019, 6 free throws made for Strasbourg against Zenit St Petersburg in January, and a PIR of 22 for Unicaja against Galatasaray Istanbul in October 2019.

Toupane set several personal bests in Paris win

### Slask's Dziewa set season mark for rebounds in loss

Slask Wroclaw fell to an 87-83 defeat against Veolia Towers Hamburg on Tuesday, even though forward Aleksander Dziewa did his all to help his team on the night. As well as contributing 17 points, Dziewa recorded what is so far the highest number of rebounds in a EuroCup game this season with 15. The previous career-high for the 24-year-old Dziewa was 10 rebounds with Slask against the same Towers in December of last season.

### Grant paced Turk Telekom with double-double

Turk Telekom Ankara saw its record improve to 2-1 on Wednesday after beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 89-77 with Jerian Grant finishing with a double-double. Grant had 12 points and 10 assists for Turk Telekom, as well as 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 fouls drawn for a PIR of 26. In his debut season with the team, Grant is doing a bit of everything, averaging 10.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 3.0 steals through three EuroCup games.

10 assists for Jerian Grant in Turk Telekom win

### Floyd came up big for Bourg

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse is the last remaining unbeaten team in the 7DAYS EuroCup as Jordan Floyd's MVP night spurred his side to an 86-73 victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys on Wednesday night. Floyd had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 8 fouls drawn in the win, which saw him finish with a round-high PIR of 31. Bourg has won over the doubters in this season's EuroCup, and now it sits atop the standings in Group A with a record of 3-0.

### Balcerowski's perfect night carried Gran Canaria

Aleksander Balcerowski of Gran Canaria was lights out from two-point range during his team's dominant 87-69 triumph over the London Lions, shooting 7-of-7 from inside the arc. The 21-year-old center finished with 16 points, also going 2-of-3 from the free-throw line, while he grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 1 assist en route to finishing with a PIR of 25. He set career highs in scoring, two-pointers made, rebounds and PIR in the game. If Balcerowski, the 2021 EuroCup Rising Star, can perform at this level consistently, it will make Gran Canaria one of the scariest teams in the entire competition. 

Balcerowski didn t miss against London

### Omic made history and could make more

On Wednesday, Alen Omic of Cedevita became the EuroCup's all-time leader in offensive rebounding with 270, which is 3 more than Bojan Dubljevic of Valencia Basket. Now, Omic is also within reach of two other rebounding records set by Dubljevic, as he needs 12 more defensive rebounds to equal the Montenegrin's total of 497, while he needs 9 more overall to go level with Dubljevic's figure of 764. It's possible that Omic could achieve these records with a strong showing on the road at Reyer in Round 4.

### Brescia's Caupain came through against former team 

A ratiopharm Ulm player two seasons ago, Troy Caupain made his return to Germany on Wednesday and had one of the finest nights of his EuroCup career in leading Germani Brescia to a 90-90 overtime victory. It snapped a nine-game road losing streak for Brescia that dated back to December 2019. Caupain tallied 17 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 1 block for a PIR of 27. He set career-highs with 8 assists and 6 free throws made - all without a miss - in the win. Caupain's previous bests were 6 assists for ratiopharm Ulm against Boulogne Metropolitans 92 in October 2020 and 5 free throws for Ulm against Unicaja Malaga in December 2020.

Brescia's Caupain came through in return to Ulm

Brescia s Caupain came through in return to Ulm

Roll Call, Round 3

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse guard Jordan Floyd came off the bench to shine for his team in 86-73 win over the visiting 7Bet-Lietkabelis Paneveyzs, and in the process earned MVP of the Round honor. Bourg is the only remaining undefeated team this season, and Floyd led it to its third win in as many games scoring all of his 21 points in the second half. He shot 6-for-8 on two-pointers and 1-for-4 from long range, while making 6-of-7 free throws. Floyd also had 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and drew 7 fouls.  Floyd's 31 PIR was the of all players in Round 3. He became the first Bourg player to earn MVP of the Round honor in exactly 2 years. Second best PIR, 28, belongs to Darion Atkins of Dolomiti Energia Trento who had an all-round performance in a loss against Paris Basketball. Atkins scored 24 points on 9-of-15 two-pointers, collected 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Germani Brescia guard Troy Caupain had a PIR 27 in a 90-98 overtime win at ratiopharm Ulm, Caupain's former team. Playing few seconds over 40 minutes, Caupain had 17 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, while drawing 5 fouls. Turk Telekom Ankara's Jerian Grant had this round's lone double-double of 12 points, 10 assists, along with 3 steals and 3 rebounds, accumulating a PIR of 26 in a victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv. Rounding out the list of this round's top performers are big men Aleksander Balcerowski of Gran Canaria and Aleksander Dziewa of Slask Wroclaw, each with a performance index rating of 25. Dziewa amassed 17 points, a season-high 15 rebounds and 2 blocks in a road loss at Veolia Towers Hamburg, and Balcerowski had 16 points and 9 rebounds in a win over London Lions.

Jordan Floyd | Round 3MVP | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

### Individual highs: Aleksander Dziewa, Slask, 15 rebounds

Gian Clavell of Prometey Slobozhanske was Round 3 tops scorer with 26 points. Joe Young of Promitheas Patras is the top scorer this season with 24.7 points per game. Dziewa led all players with a season-high 15 rebounds this week. London's Ovie Soko is the top rebounder with 10.0 on average. Turk Telekom's Grant had 10 assists this round, more than any other player. J'cowan Brown of Hapoel is the assists leader this season with 7.7 per game. Two players had 4 steals in Round 3: Kendale McCullum of Hamburg and Hapoel's Chris Horton. Three players average 3.0 steals through three rounds: McCullum, Grant and DJ Kennedy of Prometey. Three players had 3 blocks this round: Ismael Kamagate of Paris, Yankuba Sima of Umana Reyer Venice and Ahmet Duverioglu of Frutti Extra Bursaspor. Kamagate is EuroCup leader with 3.3 per game.

Round 3 MVP: Jordan Floyd, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2022-10-26T17:30:00.000Z)

Congratulations to Mar Lopez, who is the [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) winner for Round 3! Mar's team "Running" posted a score of 213.55.

The team featured the following lineup: team captain Derek Willis of Umana Reyer Venice, Kyle Allman of Paris Basketball, Jerian Grant of Turk Telekom Ankara, Darion Arkins of Dolomiti Energia Trento and Ante Tomic of Joventut Badalona as starters; Jakub Niziol as the sixth man; Olek Balcerowski of Gran Canaria, Kendale McCullum of Veolia Hamburg Towers, Onuralp Bitim of Frutti Extra Bursaspor and Igor Drobnjak of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica as bench players; and Jaka Lakovic of Gran Canaria as head coach. The prize for finishing first in Round 3 is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2023-24 season!

For the second consecutive week, Arunas Augustinas leads the overall standings. His team "Sawas" is ahead of everyone else with 522.55 fantasy points.

Trades are now open for Round 4. Remember, three trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season, and you can also trade your head coach.

The first game in Round 4, Promitheas Patras vs. Veolis Towers Hamburg, is scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, November 1 at 18:30 CET, and thus marks the next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)'s next winner!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Round 3 winner

Gran Canaria struggled to find its rhythm early in its Round 3 home game against London Lions. It found answers to beat the guests' zone defense through its big men, who were really effective before the break. 

Despite Khalifa Diop's early foul trouble, Gran Canaria found Damien Inglis, Olek Balcerowski and Miquel Salvo at all times around the baskets. Those three Gran Canaria big men combined for 22 first-half points on 10-of-11 two-point shooting (90.9% 2FG). Balcerowski was particularly effective, reaching halftime with 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and 8 rebounds for a PIR of 20. 

Olek Balcerowski, Khalifa Diop, Miquel Salvo and Damien Inglis played a big role in Gran Canaria's home win against London Lions.

Gran Canaria s frontcourt makes the difference against London

Game Videos

At the end of the game, Diop, Balcerowski, Inglis and Salvo combined for 15-of-20 shooting on two-pointers, 19 rebounds, 35 points and a PIR of 45. Gran Canaria took much better care of the ball, getting 22 assists and 17 turnovers. London committed 20 turnovers and was limited to just 13 assists.

Game News

Gran Canaria's frontcourt made the difference

Gran Canaria v London Lions (2022-10-26T19:00:00.000Z)

### Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic:

"First of all, I would like to congratulate the team, our players, for a deserved victory. We were expecting a difficult match and for sure, in the first half, we were trying to find our rhythm, because London was playing a lot of zone, trying to break the dynamics of the game and we were struggling with that a little bit, but I think we played pretty solid defense, and in the second half, we found the way to attack the zone and run. In the end, I think it was a deserved victory for Gran Canaria. We expected them to go on a zone defense, they did it several times in most games. We had something prepared but it was more a question of breaking our game rhythm than the effectiveness of the zone itself. It was a bit hard not just finding shots, we had some open shots but didn't make them. Above that, we felt a little bit sleepy against this zone, and we stopped running and playing dynamic. In that sense, they achieved their goal but in the second half, we played better, faster offense, passing the ball better and found good answers."

### London Lions head coach Ryan Schmidt:

"Credit to Gran Canaria, they are a really well-coached team, tough. Obviously, we knew it was going to be a tough matchup going into the game. I think for the most part we didn't a good job at matching their physicality. That was very evident in the first half, especially when we were pushed off our spots quite a bit. We were struggling to get into a lot of our offensive actions. I like what we did defensively in the first half but then I think we didn't come back and apply that same intensity and pressure, and just overall execution. Credit to them, they are a very, very good team, and hats off to them."

### Gran Canaria center Olek Balcerowski:

"It was a little bit tough in the beginning because they were confusing us with the zone on defense. We needed to adjust that and in the second half, we did it. We were stopping their fastbreaks, stopping the ball, we were getting stops and running fastbreaks, getting buckets. So yes, it was tough but we managed to take it."

Coach Lakovic: 'The key was our defense'

Joventut Badalona used superb offensive efficiency to knock off Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana including great three-point shooting.

Joventut shot 63.9% on two-pointers, 54.5% on three-pointers and 94.7% on free throws in a convincing 78-100 win over Cedevita. The Spanish side was on fire from long range, hitting 12-of-22 three-point attempts to help pull away on multiple occasions. Joventut also converted 18-of-19 from the foul line.

Joventut also was able to take advantage of its transition offense, scoring 10 fast break points compared to just 4 points for Cedevita.

Joventut's offensive efficiency, threes were too much for Cedevita

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Joventut Badalona (2022-10-26T17:30:00.000Z)