What about this real Eurolegue match in Italy

RECORDS 0-1, Group H Top 16, 2011-12 0-1, Group H 5-5, Third Group A Regular season, 2011-12 4-6, Fourth Group B PROBABLE STARTERS Andrea Cinciarini Guard Mantas Kalnietis Gianluca Basile Guard Dainius Salenga Vladimir Micov Forward Sonny Weems Maarten Leunen Forward Paulius Jankunas Denis Marconato Center Robertas Javtokas THE STAKES In a battle to rejoin the Quarterfinal Playoff fight in Top 16 Group H, Bennet Cantu hosts Zalgiris at home on Thursday. Cantu registered a five-point road loss against FC Barcelona Regal and Zalgiris could not beat Maccabi at home, turning this game into a crucial one. Both teams meet for the first time since 1981, when Cantu beat Zalgiris twice in the Cup Winners' Cup group stage and went on to win the competition against another Top 16 Group H team, Barcelona. Cantu is undefeated at home after five games but Zalgiris won its last Euroleague game and is ready for more. Expect a tough, unpredictable battle, as both teams have different playing styles and only the winner will survive. INJURIES Except for the long-time injury to big man Marko Scekic, Cantu has a full roster this week. Zalgiris has no injury problems before its game against Cantu. THE TAKE Sonny Weems is coming off his worst-ever Turkish Airlines Euroleague game, but he will still be the man to stop for Cantu to improve their chances to win. Weems is a natural-born mismatch at small forward due to his size, athleticism and power but Cantu has Vladimir Micov ready to slow him down.Micov is in great shape and has also become Cantu's main scoring threat in recent weeks. Cantu will rely on Andrea Cinciarini and Nico Gianella to step up on offense. Cinciarini must use his know-how and determination against Mantas Kalnietis, who is always ready to attack the basket. Gianella and Nicolas Mazzarino will not have it easy against combo guard Marko Popovic, who deep range, experience and high basketball IQ can lead Zalgiris to a win. Popovic, however, will not have it easy against Gianella and Mazzarino. Zalgiris has a lot of big bodies to throw into the game, such as Robertas Javtokas, Reeves Nelson or Milovan Rakovic. Javtokas must use his experience against veteran center Denis Marconato. Meanwhile, Nelson and Rakovic must be ready to slow Giorgi Shermadini, whose size, speed and high free-throw percentage can give teams a lot of trouble. Maarten Leunen must use his size and shooting touch against veteran power forward Paulius Jankunas, in what will be a key matchup in this game. Cantu has to maintain its tough defensive style, exercise patience and get Micov and Leunen involved. Zalgiris needs a good game from Weems and Janlunas to perform at its best. Game notes, Bennet Cantu Game notes, Zalgiris Kaunas Cantu and Zalgiris met for the first and last time over 30 years ago in the 1980-81 season and Cantu won both games. Gianluca Basile has made at least 1 three-pointer in 11 of his last 12 Euroleague games. Basile needs 2 more assists to pass Marcus Brown and enter the Euroleague all-time top 10 in assists. He has currently 456. Basile took over third place on the list of career Euroleague games played, leaving former CSKA guard J.R. Holden one spot behind. Basile played his 210th game last week. Zalgiris has allowed more points than any other team in the Top 16 with 81.5 points allowed per game. Zalgiris has committed more fouls than any other Top 16 team with 23.9 per game. Marko Popovic has made at least 1 three-pointer in 33 straight Euroleague appearances. His last Euroleague game without a triple came in November 2006 with Zalgiris at home against CSKA. Paulius Jankunas needs 2 more steals to reach the 100 mark for his Euroleague career. Milovan Rakovic played the last two seasons in Italy with Montepaschi Siena and beat Cantu in the final of the Italian league last season. REFEREES Crew Chief Referee Umpire J.R. Garcia Ortiz Spain Srdan Dozai Croatia Rustu Nuran Turkey Bennet Cantu Min Pts 2FG M-A 3FG M-A FT M-A Rebounds As St To Blocks Fouls Rkg O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv Totals 2225:00 784 201/423 82/236 136/174 105 247 352 171 50 131 26 33 251 215 769 Average 202:16 71.27 47.5% 34.7% 78.2% 9.54 22.45 32 15.54 4.54 11.9 2.36 3 22.81 19.54 69.9 Totals 2225:00 839 226/454 72/207 171/241 110 264 374 145 65 158 17 32 263 247 801 Average 202:16 76.27 49.8% 34.8% 71% 10 24 34 13.18 5.9 14.36 1.54 2.9 23.9 22.45 72.81 Zalgiris Kaunas Monday, January 23, 2012

STATS COMPARISIONS: TEAMS AND PLAYERS

Team Aver.			Team Leaders	Head-to-Head			Team Leaders			Team Aver.
71.3	Pts.		MICOV, VLADIMIR	10.7	Pts.	16.1	WEEMS, SONNY		Pts.	76.3
47.52 %	2FG%		MARCONATO, DENIS	62.96 %	2FG%	87.50 %	KUZMINSKAS, MINDAUGAS		2FG%	49.78 %
34.75 %	3FG%		MICOV, VLADIMIR	42.31 %	3FG%	50.00 %	LIPKEVICIUS, VYTENIS		3FG%	34.78 %
32.0	Rebounds		LEUNEN, MAARTEN	5.5	Rebounds	5.8	JANKUNAS, PAULIUS		Rebounds	34.0
15.5	Assist.		BASILE, GIANLUCA	2.9	Assist.	3.7	KALNIETIS, MANTAS		Assist.	13.2