Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Power forward Mihkel Kirves (200-PF-1996) put on an extraordinary performance in the last round for top-ranked BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn, receiving a Hoops Agents Player of the Week award for round 28.
The 27-year old player was the main contributor (20 points, eight rebounds and three assists) to his team’s victory, helping them to crush Ventspils (#6, 12-6) with 22-point margin 110-88. It allowed Kalev/Cramo to consolidate first place in the LAT-EST BL. Kalev/Cramo has a very good season and are considered to have a run for the championship title. They improved their record to 19-1. In the team’s last game Kirves had a remarkable 80.0% from 2-point range. He turned to be Kalev/Cramo‘s top player in his first season with the team. Mihkel Kirves has solid league stats. He is in league’s top in rebounds (8th best: 7.7rpg) and averages impressive 57.6% FGP.

The second best player in last round’s games was young Lithuanian Matas Jucikas (205-C-1994, agency: BIG) of BK Ogre. Jucikas had a very good evening with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Of course he led BK Ogre to another comfortable win 78-65 over the lower-ranked LU (#15, 3-18) being unquestionably team leader. This victory allowed BK Ogre to move up to 7th position in the standings. His team lost some distance to top teams. But a 10-9 record is not bad and everything may still change. Jucikas is a newcomer at BK Ogre, but is already one of team’s top players.

Third on the list of top players last round was forward Taavi Jurkatamm (204-PF-1997) of TalTech/OPTIBET Tallinn (#8). Jurkatamm showcased his all-around game by recording 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the last round. Despite Jurkatamm’s great performance the TalTech lost 72-89 to the higher-ranked Rigas Z. (#4, 14-7). But his team cannot count on just a single player as he also needs help of the other teammates. The last thing TalTech needs is to lose another game like this one. They lose more and more distance to the top teams. Their record is 10 victories and 9 lost games. Jurkatamm has a very solid season. In 19 games in LAT-EST BL he scored 11.8ppg. He also has 6.9rpg and 2.3bpg.

Other top performing players last week:
4. Davids Viksne (195-SF-2000) of Rigas Z. – 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists
5. Obrad Tomic (208-C-1993) of Rapla – 14 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists
6. Francis Lacis (200-F-1999) of Rigas Z. – 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists
7. Tanel Kurbas (198-SF-1988) of Kalev/Cramo – 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists
8. Linards Jaunzems (200-PF-1995) of Ventspils – 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists
9. Ishmael El-Amin (189-G-1998) of Ventspils – 22 points
10. Severi Kaukiainen (185-PG-1998) of Kalev/Cramo – 18 points and 6 assists

The Player of the week is selected based on efficiency calculation, but also including game result, importance of the game, if played recorded double-double/triple-double, etc.
The efficiency formula is a combination of various formulas used by different basketball organizations/leagues. We got involved many basketball scouts and journalists to assure it’s accuracy.
The formula: 1.5*PTS + 3*(REB+AST+ST+BL-TO) – 2*BSAG – 4*PF + 3*PFRV + 4*(2FGPM+3FGPM) + 1.5*FTM – 3*(2FGPA-2FGPM) – 3*(3FGPA-3FGPM) – (FTA-FTM)