By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Τhings are getting serious, every point may count in the end as the play offs are coming and this is the time to be in the gym near you! Specially if you are near OAKA or near Fernando Buesa Arena while the party already started in Berlin as Alba hosts Zalgiris.
Eurohoops game of the week: Panathinaikos – Barcelona (5/3, 20:45 CET)
Specially the last four seasons, the duels between those two opponents, produce instant classics. Panathinaikos hosts Barcelona, both teams are tied (5-3) and win is a must. The Calatans had 7 wins in a row against the Greens and in total 21 in 33 games. However that’s just a foot note.
Panathinaikos has lost just one game this season at OAKA and Barcelona was the team to beat the Greens. So defense, specially in the low post, and shooting efficiency can make a difference for the Greeks. It remains to be seen if the presence of Gani Lawal can be a game changer. In any case Barcelona will use as an anchor in offense Ante Tomic and will to win the game by defending the back court. After all, the Catalans, even if they wanted to, can’t really defend in the post.
Honorable mention: Laboral Kutxa – CSKA Moscow (5/3, 20:45 CET)
Has Laboral Kutxa returned for good? This is the game which will prove it. The hosts (4-4) refuse to surrender, despite their bad start of the season, they beat Efes in Istanbul and now they want to shock also CSKA (6-2). However the Russians can’t afford an other defeat. This is the first time the two teams are meeting after their 2013 play offs series. We expect to see more time on the court Andrei Kirilenko and the hosts full of energy, due to help of the home crowd.
The question mark: Unicaja Malaga – Anadolu Efes (6/3, 21:00 CET)
Malaga (1-7) is left out of the play offs race, has lost due to injury Kostas Vasiliadis, but there’s also no pressure on the hosts. On the contrary Efes (4-4) seems to be in trouble. The Turks are in need of the road win, but Malaga is not going to just let them get it.
Under the microscope: EA7 Milano – Olympiakos (6/3, 21:45 CET)
Milan (2-6) is dominating Italy, but can’t do the same in Euroleague. Olympiacos (7-1) is leading the group standings and tries to secure the home court advantage in the play offs. The key of this game is really obvious. The consistency of Olympiacos defense, specially on one on one situations. However, if Milano gets into an offensive rhythm, then nothing can’t be excluded. Last season, the Greeks lost the game in Italy by 30 points (81-51).
For pride: Crvena Zvezda – Maccabi T.A. (5/3, 20:45 CET)
The Serbs are also out of the play offs race with a 1-7 record. On the contrary Maccabi T.A. (6-2) is hunting the home court advantage. Still the home crowd of Zvezda just can’t accept defeat. We don’t expect to see a game between two opponents with different final goals, but a real fight.
The favorites
Fenerbahce (6-2) is improved in every level and it’s the favorite in the game against Nizhny (2-6) which still misses Tarense Kinsey, but added Gal Mekel. There’s no question about who has the advantage (5/3, 19.00 CET).
In Istanbul (6/3, 19.00 CET) Real is the guest, but Galatasaray (2-6) has much more serious isues to solve than the game. The decision of Arroyo to leave the team seems devastating, Micov and Erceg may also follow and at this point there’s a serious gap of roster quality between the hosts and the top clubs of Euroleague.