Tibor Pleiss: F
Pleiss took a while to acclimatise to the ACB, having a rough first year in 2012-13 after moving to Baskonia from Bamberg. But he finally looked like the player he had always promised to be last season, where he peaked in the Top 16 averaging 13.6 points and 5.8 rebounds on 55.7% shooting; including an outing against Milano where he put up 30 points, 13 rebounds and drew 10 fouls.
But after his great season he walked along a well-trodden road from Vitoria to Barcelona, joining former teammates Marcelinho Huertas, Brad Oleson and Maciej Lampe. This season Pleiss seems to have regressed back below the standard even in his first ACB season as he becomes the latest resident in Xavi Pascual’s doghouse. Averaging 2 fouls in 12 minutes of court action Pleiss has been an outright disaster defending the pick and roll, with a devilish combination of a lack of strength and foot-speed with a demanding coach and defensive scheme. As bad as Pleiss’ defence has been his most obvious flaw has been terrible passing. Playing behind the greatest passing big in European basketball Pleiss’ has only 3 assists in 14 games, as it seems obvious the drop in ball movement as Barca go from Tomic to Pleiss.
While Pleiss has been godawful the failure must also be on the Barcelona front office. Last season they had Joey Dorsey providing the change of pace behind Tomić. Where Tomić had length, finesse and court vision, Dorsey had athleticism, strength and probably the most solid screen in Europe. Pleiss now comes in bringing a lesser skillset than Tomić in every attribute. Essentially giving any opposition a comparative break while Tomić is off court.