By Lefteris Moutis/ info@eurohoops.net
Crvena Zvezda – Fenerbahce
The home team is indifferent in terms of the standings, while Fenerbahce want the win to remain in second place. In theory, Fenerbahce’s motivation is greater than Crvena Zvezda’s, while Zots’s team is in much better shape than the home team anyway. The away win (1,20) can be included on a bet with a similar yield.
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Panathinaikos
Both teams want the win, Maccabi so they can hope to make the quarterfinals, Panathinaikos to exhaust all the chances they have of making the Top 4 and at the same time to get the best possible placement. The Greens are a much better team than Maccabi, while they are due a good away game that will provide them with a positive frame of mind and some momentum ahead of the difficult games coming their way in the EuroLeague. A plus for us is that Panathinaikos are playing before Real Madrid, so there is no way they can know their result. The away win at 1,80 is our pick from this game.
Khimki – CSKA Moscow
Georgios Bartzokas’s Khimki are playing for the best possible placement while their schedule in the last 3 rounds is very tough. CSKA Moscow are indifferent in terms of the standings and Dimitris Itoudis might use a big rotation so that his team will be fresh ahead of the EuroLeague quarterfinals. The handicap on the home win (+5,5 at 1,75) is our choice, while for those who want to risk a bit more, the win for the home team is also definitely worth it.
Barcelona – Baskonia
Before they play, the Basques will know Maccabi’s result, so with a win in Barcelona they might even qualify mathematically as well. Aside from this, though, Pedro Martinez’s team also want the win in order to get the best possible placement, since mathematically they are allowed to hope for fifth place. The game is tough since Barcelona are in good shape with Svetislav Pesic on their bench but, despite this, the away win at 1,88 is worth it.
Olympiacos – Anadolu Efes
Olympiacos are coming off two consecutive defeats and against the indifferent – both in terms of the way they’re playing but also in the standings – Efes, they have the opportunity to break out and return to winning ways and good performances. The 11,5 handicap (1,75) is marginal but we’re expecting that Ioannis Sfairopoulos’s team will be determined not to give any room to the Turks so that they will secure the third place in the standings mathematically as well.
Choices:
Crvena Zvezda – Fenerbahce 2 / @1,20
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Panathinaikos 2 / @1,80
Khimki – CSKA Moscow 1 (+5,5) / @1,75
Barcelona – Baskonia 2 / @1,88
Olympiacos – Anadolu Efes 1 (-11,5) / @1,75