By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
With just three gamedays left till the end of Top16, the end of the line is near and only three teams, Barcelona in Group E and the duo of Real Madrid and CSKA in Group F are safe. So brace yourselves for the thrilling finish
Eurohoops game of the week: Unicaja – Olympiacos
We agree with this week’s selection of Euroleague. We couldn’t do anything else, since Unicaja and Olympiacos are tied (5-6) and they will settle their score once and for all, at least for this season. The defending champions have beaten Unicaja three times already. However, we know that it’s not easy to get a season sweep in the top level, specially on a road game.
Can the Reds do it? The answer will be given on the court, without Perperoglou and Printezis. For the hosts, the big question is if Nik Caner Medley will be ready to play. He is a key player for Unicaja and one of the main offensive weapons of coach Plaza. With or without him, defense, tempo and long range shooting efficiency will be the most important aspects of this match up.
The back to back champions made their reputation by responding under pressure the last two season, while Malaga comes from two defeats in Euroleague (Barcelona) and Liga Endesa (Juventut). Still, it’s a battle for survival and it’s hard to predict who will be the last man standings after the final buzzer…
Honorable mention: Barcelona – Panathinaikos
Unbeaten Barca (11-0) is and always was the most successful Top16 team. Panathinaikos after the big win over Fenerbahce has a 6-5 record, but still needs a road win that can give the extra push for the play offs. That’s why the Greens have more than great motive. On the other hand, under coach Pascual Barcelona never loses focus, specially against a team which has a long history against the Catalans.
On the court, Panathinaikos will try to control the tempo and the rebounds, in order to impose a low scoring game and try to steal it in the end. Of course, in order for this to succeed the Greens will have to shoot from the three points line the same way the did last week. Both teams are expected to be at full strength. Gist and Curry returned to practices. For Barca the question mark is Ante Tomic who suffered a strain last week.
Blatt under pressure: Maccabi T.A. – Real Madrid
That could be the game of the week, but Maccabi lost at Belgrade (7-4) and that all but destroyed its quest for the second place of the standings in Group F against Real (9-2) and CSKA (9-2). Add to that the defeat for the Israeli league by Hapoel Jerusalem and you have more than enough pressure for the team and its coach, David Blatt.
Real is the favorite, it’s a team that beat Maccabi in Madrid, did the same in last season’s play offs and has more quality and manpower. Nobody can’t underestimate the hosts and the power of “Nokia Arena”, but specially in the paint, Maccabi will have a hard time keep up with the Spaniards.
Home win: Fenerbahce/ Ulker – EA7 Milano
After losing to Panathinaikos, Fenerbahce (5-6) hosts EA7 Milano (8-3) which practically locked a play offs spot after beating Anadolu Efes. The Italians need one more win in order to secure the second spot of the standings in Group E, but next week they host Barcelona and then they have to travel with Malaga.
For Obradovic‘s players this game is a final against a team that has no pressure, but also not a big motive and also misses its leader, Keith Langford. In the theory, Milano’s defense can still make the difference against a team which on the contrary has many defensive liabilities, but the motive of the Turks is what will count in the end.
Just for pride: Anadolu Efes – Laboral Kutxa
Both teams have the same record (2-9) and no play offs chances. It’s a game of pride, the hosts have the advantage, but no one can predict the outcome and specially the focus of the two opponents. What can be considered a given, is that Efes will try to control the game and impose a low tempo.
Return to wins: CSKA Moscow – Bayern Munich
After losing at Madrid, the Russians (9-2) can’t afford one more misstep and they also have to try and win with a big points difference in order to get the top spot of Group F in a more than possible final tie with Real. Bayern (5-6) at home managed to beat the Spaniards, but the road games are an other story. Yes, the Germans will fight and they can’t be considered easy preys, but this is CSKA’s game to take. Milos Teodosic is expected to stay out of action also this week.
Possible upset: Zalgiris – Galatasaray
Zalgiris (1-10) lost the chance for an upset last week against Lokomotib in the last shot and the Lithuanians are going to try and do the same, this time against Galatasaray (5-6). The Turkish champions after getting the wins in Krasnodar and Istanbul against Bayern are back in the play offs race, they have the quality to game the win, even without injured Pops Mensah Bonsu, but they will have to work for it on the court. Zalgiris is more than dangerous at home.
No other option: Lokomotiv Kuban – Partizan
Three games are left, there’s a three way tie between Lokomotiv, Bayern and Galatasray and the situation is simple. This is a must win game for the hosts and that’s the expected outcome. The fact that Partizan is coming from a win against Maccabi Tel Aviv can work in favor of Lokomotiv, as the young players of coach Vujosevic has already proven themselves.