By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Eurohoops’ winning streak continues with 9 out of 9 hits in the EuroLeague this week. The last games of these four days are awaited with great interest.
In the big Turkish derby, Galatasaray of 0-3 will line up opposite Fenerbahce of 3-0. So what? In derbies, track records don’t matter much, especially two days after Bogdan Bogdanovic’s injury. Galatasaray have the worst defense in the EuroLeague, conceding 97,3 points on average, and Fener have the best defense with 68,7! The limit is set at 158,5 points and Galatasaray’s at 77,5! No matter how disorganized Fenerbahce are defensively from Bogdanovic’s absence, it will be difficult for them to concede more than 77,5 points (@Sportingbet 1,91) since their defense always keep the opponent’s productivity low. Even in this year’s defeats they’ve conceded less.
Zalgiris are hosting Maccabi and want to defend their home court like they did with Baskonia. With the win over Galatasaray, Maccabi recovered mentally after the two defeats in a row at the start of the EuroLeague, but they’re looking for consistency. Theoretically, the Israelis have the advantage for the win as they have more quality material and the depth on the bench to withstand “double game days”. The handicap is very small and we are going to bet on the talent of Maccabi’s players (@Bet365 1,83).
Panathinaikos are going to host Crvena Zvezda, elated after the win over Bamberg at the finale. The “greens” have a small advantage for the win, but the Serbs count two consecutive wins and have shown that they’re not going to be a… punching bag. The 7,5-point handicap is rather “sneaky” and so it would be better for you to bet on the Over because the game is not likely to be played at a low tempo. Crvena Zvezda’s Over at 72,5 points looks rather appealing, or even the total at 151,5 points (@Stoiximan 1,75).
Barcelona – Bamberg
Barcelona have two defeats in a row in the EuroLeague and three in their last four games. But the injuries that have befallen the Catalans are many and significant. Ribas, Doellman, and Navarro are expected to be absent, and Georgios Bartzokas has to find a way to cover their weaknesses. Bamberg is an excellent team with a 1-2 record, but they missed the final shot twice (against Fenerbahce and Panathinaikos) and could easily have had a 3-0 record. The game is expected to be closed and so it’s better if you avoid this one.
Eurohoops’ betting tips
Galatasaray – Fenerbahce Galatasaray Under 77,5
Zalgiris – Maccabi Tel Aviv 2
Panathinaikos – Crvena Zvezda Over 151,5