Asseco Prokom enters a new Turkish Airlines Euroleague campaign tonight with a fully revamped its roster after bringing in players like Alonzo Gee, Devin Brown, Jerel Blassingame and Eurocup Rising Star Donatas Motiejunas.
Along with most of the core players who led the team to the Turkish League finals, Galatasaray added Zaza Pachulia, Jaka Lakovic, Jamon Gordon, Darius Songaila and Ender Arslan.
Both teams have a lot to prove: Prokom reached the playoffs in 2009-10, but missed the Top 16 last season; Galatasaray faces its first Euroleague season ready to serve notice that it is anything but an average newcomer in Europe's signature basketball competition.
Galatasaray has no injury problems for tonight's game in Gdynia, but Prokom may be without guard Michael Kuebler, who is listed as questionable.
Galatasaray has more experienced players, but Prokom is the more unpredictable team. The all-Lithuanian matchup between Songaila and Motiejunas, who know each other well from the national team, could be critical in this game.
Prokom runs its offense through Oliver Lafayette, Brown and Gee, who presents mismatch problems at small forward. Galatasaray will rely on the smart, physical Josh Shipp to take on Gee. Defensively, Prokom must stop Lakovic and Gordon.
Having survived the Euroleague qualifying rounds and won the Turkish Supercup, Galatasaray enters the game with a lot of momentum.
