Stats Review: The shifting sands of ultimate 7DAYS EuroCup success

A championship-caliber history lesson suggests the target is still moving for teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup.

### Learning from Past

The EuroCup has experienced a great deal of change over the last decade. Between the shifting cast and quantity of teams involved, to adjustments to the regular season format, and, recently, the move to a single-elimination postseason, the path to a championship has been more winding some years than others. Even with that being the case, the early part of the 2010’s was steadily dominated by explosive offensive teams who could get enough done defensively to control the action.   

The table above shows where the last 10 EuroCup champions ranked in both offensive and defensive efficiency. With four of the earliest five champions listed eclipsing the 1.00 points per possession line and posting gaudy efficiency differentials, there was a clear formula for championship success through the 2015-16 season. That was turned on its head during the 2016-17 campaign when the field of competing clubs was condensed significantly. 

From there, defense abruptly became the recipe for EuroCup success before an exceptional Valencia team nearly ran the table between EuroLeague seasons to close the decade. Since that season, things have gotten far less predictable. Both 2020-21 champion AS Monaco and 2021-22 winner Virtus Segafredo Bologna exceeded expectations in postseason play as neither was particularly exceptional during the regular season relative to their predecessors. While both were good, neither was great. Monaco finished third in Group C in 2021 while Virtus finished just fourth in Group B in the EuroCup’s current format last season. 

What stood out about both of those teams was the way they navigated postseason play. Their success in that regard following their modest regular season performance raises the question of whether the days of truly dominant EuroCup champions are over. Has the parity and format of the league made it so that it is now more important that a team survive than thrive? If that’s the case, how far open is the door to outliers?

### Looking to the Future

It seems possible that Frutti Extra Bursaspor’s run from a second-to-last place in its regular season group last season to disputing the EuroCup Final answers that question. The door may well be off the hinges at this point as a team that can set itself on the right path and find a rhythm at the right time could take advantage to rewrite the script.

This season already seems to be lining up with the EuroCup’s turn toward season-long parity and the possibility that as many as a dozen teams could conceivably be in contention to lift the trophy at the end of the year. With only four teams escaping the first two rounds without a loss and eight of them scoring road wins, the landscape may already be flattening out. Not enough basketball has been played yet to make grand assumptions, and if we’ve learned anything from the last two years, it is wise to expect the unexpected in the EuroCup. Championship contention figures to be a moving target all season, and that unpredictability is very compelling.

### Looking Ahead to Round 3

The team with the largest point-differential to this point is Hapoel Tel Aviv, who owes much of its success to J’Covan Brown. The veteran scoring guard is averaging 20 points and 9 assists per game and was nothing short of spectacular against Paris Basketball in Round 2. While the 32-year-old has spent the last half dozen years in Israel, he has played some of his best basketball in his first EuroCup games and will look to continue his strong play in Ankara against Turk Telekom – a club he called home during the 2015-16 campaign.

Look back at all the action in the Regular Season Round 2 by checking out the best photos of the week!

EuroCup, The Top 10 photos of the week, Round 2

Round 2 roll call

### Flirting with triple-doubles

One of them won and the other lost, but two players flirted with triple-doubles in Round 2. One of the round's tri-MVPs, J'Covan Brown of Hapoel Tel Aviv, combined for 21 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds in just his second EuroCup game ever. He played 37 minutes and Hapoel won 86-100 at Paris Basketball. Not so fortunate was Josh Adams of Cevebita Olimpija Ljubljana, whose 25-point, 9-assist and 6-rebound performance was cut short with just under 5 minutes left to play due to a hand injury. He had played most of the game until then. Cedevita fell to host U-BT Cluj-Napoca 94-76.

### Bircevic keyed Cluj's historic first win

Veteran forward Stefan Bircevic had played 27 EuroCup games before Cluj's home opener on Wednesday. The 32-year-old chose the occasion to post his career high in points, with 24, and match his best PIR, with 26. It was more than eight years ago, when he debuted in the EuroCup with Radnicki Kragujevac, that his second-best efforts took place. He played the abbreviated 2019-20 season with Partizan Belgrade, too, but never put it all together like this week. His big night will be remembered as a major reason that Cluj won its first EuroCup game ever.

Cameron Reynolds (21 points) Highlights vs. Slask Wroclaw, 10/18/2022

Reynolds leads Buducnost in Wroclaw

### Reynolds stepped up for his new team 

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica left no doubt about its potential in Round 2, downing Slask Wroclaw 58-98 at Centennial Hall. As many as eight players scored 8 points or more, but one stood above the rest. Shooting guard Cameron Reynolds matched his career highs in points (21) and rebounds (6) against Slask. After missing the EuroCup playoffs with Dolomiti Energia Trento last season, Reynolds is determined to make things happen in his new team. 

Igor Drobnjak (13 points) Highlights vs. Slask Wroclaw, 10/18/2022

Drobnjak has career-night effort in Round 2

### Drobnjak's time to shine 

In that very same game, point guard Igor Drobnjak set several career-high marks in his eighth game in the competition. Drobnjak helped Buducnost get that no-doubt-about-it win in Wroclaw, finishing the game with 13 points, 4 rebounds and a PIR of 7, all of them new career-highs. At age 22, Drobnjak has a lot to offer and he proved it in Buducnost's second EuroCup game of the season. 

Tony Taylor (25 points) Highlights vs. Hamburg Towers, 10/18/2022

Taylor helps Turk Telekom bounce back

### Taylor boosts Turk Telekom 

Tony Taylor missed Turk Telekom Ankara's season opener but was ready to play in Game 2, leading his team to an 83-88 road victory against Veolia Towers Hamburg. He set new EuroCup personal bests in three-point shots (4) and free throws made (7). Naturally, Taylor broke his scoring record, too, finishing the game with 25 points. His previous scoring record was 13 points with PGE Turow Zgorzelec in the 2014-15 season. 

### Cournooh's bench contribution boosted Brescia

Germani Brescia's resounding 104-70 home win against Prometey Slobozhanske on Wednesday in Group A featured plenty of strong contributions, one of which came from veteran point guard David Cournooh. Coming off the bench, the 32-year-old veteran posted career highs with 14 points and 17 PIR in his 28th EuroCup game over four seasons. He missed just 2 shots all night as Brescia shattered its EuroCup club record in scoring.

### Brussino's big night wasn't enough

Gran Canaria could not overcome host Promitheas Patras on the road this week, but that wasn't for any lack of effort by forward Nicolas Brussino, who is playing in his third EuroCup season with the club. In his 27th career game, Brussino posted a bevy of career highs, in defensive rebounds (9), assists (5), three-pointers made (5) and, of course, PIR (28). Brussino is now averaging 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists through two games and has yet to miss a two-point shot or free throw.

Not one, not two, but three players in the 7DAYS EuroCup have achieved Round 2 MVP honors: Ovie Soko of the London Lions, Joe Young of Promitheas Patras, and J'Covan Brown of Hapoel Tel Aviv. Soko played an integral role in London's 80-75 triumph over Dolomiti Energia Trento on Tuesday night, finishing with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 9 fouls drawn en route to a PIR of 39. On Wednesday, however, Young and Brown both recorded the same PIR figure. Young did so in Patras's 93-82 victory against Gran Canaria after putting up 34 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal, in addition to drawing 5 fouls. In Brown's case, his statistics from Hapoel's 86-100 win on the road at Paris Basketball read as: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 steal and 3 fouls drawn. Then, in fourth place in the EuroCup Round 2 MVP race is Josh Adams of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, as he had a PIR of 30 with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and 10 fouls drawn in his team's 94-76 defeat at U-BT Cluj-Napoca. Rounding out the top five is Isiaha Mike of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, following his PIR of 29 in his team's 73-79 road win at Umana Reyer Venice after having 17 points, 11 rebounds and 1 assist, while he also drew 4 fouls. 

Not one, not two, but three players in the 7DAYS EuroCup have achieved Round 2 MVP honors: Ovie Soko of the London Lions, Joe Young of Promitheas Patras, and J'Covan Brown of Hapoel Tel Aviv. S

Ovie Soko, Joe Young, J'Covan Brown | Round 2 tri-MVPs | 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup

### Individual highs: Brown, Hapoel, 12 assists

Joe Young of Patras led the way in scoring in Round 2, finishing with 34 points in his team's 93-82 win against Gran Canaria. When it comes to rebounds, Ovie Soko of London made his presence felt en route to 14 in his side's first-ever EuroCup victory, which came against Trento. On the assists front, J'Covan Brown of Hapoel found his teammates for baskets on 12 occasions against Paris, which was comfortably the most in the EuroCup in Round 2. During Bourg's win on the road at Venice, James Palmer Jr was a menace on the defensive end by recording a round-high 6 steals. Last but not least, Paris Basketball's Ismael Kamagate blocked 4 shots in his team's 86-100 defeat to Hapoel.

Round 2 tri-MVPs: Ovie Soko, Joe Young, J'Covan Brown

7DAYS EuroCup fans, we have our first [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) winner of the season! Gal Franco beat everyone else in Round 2 with the team "Francoach team", posting a score of 242.15 - a new season high! 

Dimitris had the following lineup: team captain J'Covan Brown of Hapoel Tel Aviv, Josh Adams of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Jerian Grant of Turk Telekom Ankara, Leo Meindl of U-BT Cluj-Napoja and Tyrique Jones also of Turk Telekom as starters; Ovie Soko of London Lions as sixth man; Jonas Wohlfarth-Botterman of Veolia Towers Hamburg, Adam Ariel of Hapoel, Jan Kosi of Cedevita and Aamir Simms of Paris Basketball as bench players; as well as Danny Franco, also of Hapoel, as head coach. The prize for finishing first in Round 2 is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2023-24 season!

We have a new leader stop the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge overall standings. Aurunas Augustinas leads everyone else with a score of 375.00 fantasy points!

Trades are now open for Round 3. 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 two games in Round 3, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Promitheas Patras and Cluj vs. Umana Reyer Venice, are scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, October 25 at 19:00 CET, and thus marks next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become our next round winner!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Round 2 winner

### [7Bet Lietkabelis Panevezys 80-76 ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys-ratiopharm-ulm/U2022/13/)

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys responded to its opening-round defeat by beating ratiopharm Ulm 80-76 at Cido Arena on Wednesday night. Jamel Morris led the way in scoring for Lietkabelis with 14 points, with four of his teammates also getting into double figures: Gyorgy Goloman (13), Kristian Kullamae (12), Benas Griciunas (11), and Vytenis Lipkevicius (10). Kullamae also had a team-high 6 assists. Ulm had Robin Christen score a game-high 19 points, but it proved to be in vain.

### [Promitheas Patras 93-82 Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/promitheas-patras-gran-canaria/U2022/18/#comparison)

Promitheas nailed 15 three-point shots in overcoming an 11-point third-quarter deficit and beating visiting Gran Canaria 92-82. Promitheas scored the final 16 points of the game to improve to 2-0 in Group B, while Gran Canaria dropped to 1-1. Joe Young led Promitheas with a club-record 34 points plus 6 assists, while Nikolaos Gkikas netted 7 of his career-high 15 points during the final 16-0 run. Nicolas Brussino had 19 for the visitors.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Conditt gets to the post and finishes strong with the one-handed JAM! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/iA8IBmJNgS">pic.twitter.com/iA8IBmJNgS</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1582790094527684608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Frutti Extra Bursaspor 81-72 Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/frutti-extra-bursaspor-joventut-badalona/U2022/15/)

Bursaspor remained undefeated in Group A after beating Joventut Badalona 81-72 at Tofas Spor Salonu. It was Bursaspor's first EuroCup home game since last year's regular season. The team had played four playoffs game on the road and won three to reach the 2022 championship game. Derek Needham led the winners with 24 points and Onuralp Bitim added 18. Ante Tomic paced Joventut with 16 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Onuralp Bitim goes for the 360 DUNK 🌎💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/LZ2XvMmJst">pic.twitter.com/LZ2XvMmJst</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1582783843232206849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [U-BT Cluj-Napoca 94-76 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/u-bt-cluj-napoca-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2022/11/)

Cluj celebrated its first-ever EuroCup victory in style on Wednesday, inspiring 9,300 fans at sold-out bt-arena by taking a huge 94-76 victory over Cedevita. Cluj raced to big leads early that reached 44-24 before halftime. A 14-2 run to start the second half seemed to put the game out of reach at 62-33, but a proud Cedevita lowered the difference to single digits before Cluj closed the door. Stefan Bircevic paced Cluj with 24 points. Leonardo Meindl combined 19 points with 11 rebounds. Josh Adams of Cedevita threatened a triple-double with 25 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds before leaving injured with almost 5 minutes left. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="<https://twitter.com/UBTCluj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UBTCluj</a>> on the run and Stefan Bircevic with the slam🔨<a href="<https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a>> <a href="<https://t.co/3ukALIx8DH">pic.twitter.com/3ukALIx8DH</a></p>&mdash>; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="<https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1582788074521579520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October> 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="<https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js>" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Paris Basketball 86-100 Hapoel Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/paris-basketball-hapoel-tel-aviv/U2022/20/)

Hapoel Tel Aviv improved to 2-0 in its debut season of the EuroCup by winning a shootout at fellow debutant Paris. <br>
After giving up 33 points in the first quarter, Hapoel set up the win by conceding just 10 points in the second quarter in a 86-100 road victory in Group B. J’Covan Brown flirted with a triple-double in tallying 21 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists for the winners, who had four other players in double figures including Jaylen Hoard with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Tyrone Wallace scored 17 points to pace Paris, which dropped to 1-1.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CHRIS HORTON WHAT DID YOU JUST DO??!!😯<a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HapoelTLVBC</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/dVjdEawXvb">pic.twitter.com/dVjdEawXvb</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1582807344852836352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Germani Brescia 104-70 Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2022-23/germani-brescia-prometey-slobozhanske/U2022/14/#info)

Germani Brescia registered its first win of the season with a resounding 104-70 triumph over visiting Prometey. Both teams hold 1-1 records in Group A after a game in which Brescia used a 28-12 third quarter to break the game wide open. Troy Caupain paced the hosts with 18 points and 6 assists and Amadeo Della Valle scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half. DJ Stephens tallied 11 points and 8 rebounds for the visitors.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What is going on tonight ?!?<br><br>Amedeo Della Valle off the backboard to Cobbins🔥🔥🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/LeonessaBrescia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeonessaBrescia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/CMncMbMTOT">pic.twitter.com/CMncMbMTOT</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1582813363213504514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Game Center: Round 2, Wednesday

Promitheas Patras v Gran Canaria (2022-10-19T16:30:00.000Z)

Frutti Extra Bursaspor v Joventut Badalona (2022-10-19T17:00:00.000Z)

Germani Brescia v Prometey Slobozhanske (2022-10-19T18:30:00.000Z)

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v ratiopharm Ulm (2022-10-19T16:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2022-10-19T17:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Hapoel Tel Aviv (2022-10-19T18:30:00.000Z)

It was a special game for Frutti Extra Bursaspor, its first home game since its unforgettable 2022 7DAYS EuroCup playoffs, in which it got three consecutive road wins before losing against Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the championship game.

Things did not look good for Bursaspor. New signing Sindarius Thornwell had not been registered and the team was without two injured players, Zach Auguste and Enes Taksiran. Coach Dusan Alimpijevic only had seven senior players at his disposal, but this time, its fans were on its side. Bursaspor was short-handed during its playoffs run and Coach Alimpijevic adjusted roles to make the team more effective.

Ahmet Duverioglu, Derek Needham and Onuralp Bitim lead Bursaspor to epic home win.

Bursaspor leaders step up big

This time, there was no need to, as its three stars stepped up big. Ahmet Duverioglu dominated the paint, finishing the game with 14 points and 13 rebounds. He had twice as many offensive rebounds (6) as the entire Joventut squad (3). Onuralp Bitim set the tone early and ended up with 18 points and a PIR of 16 in almost 35 minutes. Floor general Derek Needham led all scorers with 24 points and stepped up big in crunch time.

Game Videos

"We played against the biggest favorite in our group and played a game like this, with seven players in our rotation. What can I say? Please put the beep, this is group of big mother----ers," Coach Alimpijevic said after the game before praising the over 5,400 fans present at Tofas Spor Salonu. "For sure, this is not possible, this is not normal to do, with seven players, if you don't have support like this, so big thanks to our fans. What can I say? I am really honored to be in a club that has fans like this."

Game News

Short-handed Bursaspor grabbed epic win 

Jaylen Hoard returned home to France and starred for Hapoel Tel Aviv as he has in his first European experience as a professional.

Hoard collected 16 points and 9 rebounds in Hapoel’s 86-100 win over Paris Basket. That came after the French big man tallied 9 points and 7 rebounds in Round 1 against London Lions, the 23-year-old’s first game of the season with the club after missing its first game domestically due to the number of foreign players allowed to play.

Hoard showed what he is capable of doing at a high level at the end of the 2021-22 NBA season with the Oklahoma City Thunder - his third campaign in the NBA. In a six-game stretch in April, Hoard averaged 17.2 points and 13.7 rebounds with two double-doubles with 20-plus rebounds, including 24 points and 21 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers. Now with Hapoel, he is impressing in his maiden steps in the EuroCup.

Hoard shining in first European experience for Hapoel

Frutti Extra Bursaspor entered its Round 2 game against Joventut Badalona with seven senior players, yet managed to get an 81-72 victory. Avoiding mistakes was the biggest key to the game.

Indeed, Bursaspor committed just 11 turnovers and finished the game with 8 steals. On the other hand, Joventut had 5 fewer steals and more turnovers: 17 from seven different players. Taking better care of the ball paid off down the stretch, as Bursaspor was forced to play one-on-one a lot. It only had 8 assists, half as many as Joventut (16).

Bursaspor also boxed out close to perfection in this game, allowing Joventut to get just 3 offensive rebounds. Two of them were team rebounds, so Jarred Jones was the only Joventut player to actually grab an offensive board in this game. Bursaspor did much better, finishing the game with 12 offensive rebounds. Ahmet Duverioglu had half of them, which allowed him to amass a double-double of 14 points, 13 rebounds and a game-high PIR of 23. David Dudzinski and Yigitcan Saybir each had 3 offensive boards. When the dust settled, minimizing mistakes helped Bursaspor get an epic win!