By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
In the final stretch of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, Eurohoops presents the last edition of the Power Rankings.
All 15 teams have been rated by Eurohoops based on status, dynamics, form and the significance of their results.
#15 ZALGIRIS KAUNAS
Record: 7-19
Home: 5-8
Away: 2-11
Offense-Defense: 73.8-79.9
Ready to wrap up the season on a high note and managing to take down leading FC Barcelona, three losses in a row at home reduced Zalgiris to the bottom of the standings. Two unmeaningful games left on the schedule.
Remaining games: at Bitci Baskonia 1/4 | vs. Crvena Zvezda mts 3/4
#14 LDLC ASVEL VILLEURBANNE
Record: 8-18
Home: 4-9
Away: 4-9
Offense-Defense: 72.4-79.4
It has been a while since ASVEL was forced to rework its season goals. A winless stretch lasted two months until defeating Zalgiris (72-69). The recent loss to Olympiacos was the 11th in 13 contests in 2022.
Remaining games: at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 31/3 | vs. AX Armani Exchange Milan 7/4
#13 PANATHINAIKOS OPAP ATHENS
Record: 7-17
Home: 6-6
Away: 1-11
Offense-Defense: 74.1-79.5
Six-time EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos OPAP will be held to the bottom side of the table for the second consecutive season. Upcoming showings can only affect other teams in the playoff hunt. Team captain Ioannis Papapetrou will be available after being sidelined for the last two months.
Remaining games: vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 29/3 | vs. Real Madrid 31/3 | at ALBA Berlin 6/4 | at Fenerbahce Beko 8/4
#12 FENERBAHCE BEKO ISTANBUL
Record: 9-15
Home: 8-2
Away: 1-13
Offense-Defense: 74.1-75.4
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul managing to salvage a playoff berth would rank among the most incredible comebacks. Snapping the five-game losing streak and from there standing firm on the win column is a necessity looking unlikely at this point.
Remaining games: vs. ALBA Berlin 29/3 | vs. FC Bayern Munich 4/4 | vs. Panathinaikos OPAP 8/4 | at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 13/4
#11 BITCI BASKONIA VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Record: 11-16
Home: 8-5
Away: 3-11
Offense-Defense: 74.8-78
Following four wins in a row, the loss to AS Monaco (76-68) on March 25 was enough to knock out Bitci Baskonia. It was too late to launch a proper bid to make the playoffs with four wins in 18 games in 2022.
Remaining game: vs. Zalgiris Kaunas 1/4
#10 CRVENA ZVEZDA MTS BELGRADE
Record: 11-14
Home: 9-4
Away: 2-10
Offense-Defense: 72.1-73.4
Dropping the game versus ALBA Berlin (74-70) on March 25 put Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade on the brink of elimination. It’s not over yet, but dealing with must-win situations paints the updated picture.
Remaining games: at FC Bayern Munich 1/4 | at Zalgiris Kaunas 3/4 | vs. Anadolu Efes 8/4
#9 ALBA BERLIN
Record: 10-14
Home: 4-6
Away: 3-8
Offense-Defense: 75.7-80.3
Slim chances to advance to the playoffs can be considered an upgrade for ALBA Berlin after getting unstuck from the lower spots of the standings. It all comes down to the confidence built off four wins in the last six games despite Marcus Eriksson and Louis Olinde being on the injury list.
Remaining games: at Fenerbahce Beko 29/3 | at Anadolu Efes 1/4 | vs. Panathinaikos OPAP 6/4 | at AS Monaco 8/4
#8 FC BAYERN MUNICH
Record: 12-11
Home: 8-5
Away: 4-6
Offense-Defense: 74.6-74.5
With plenty of games in hand, FC Bayern Munich sits eighth and controls its own destiny. However, plenty of demanding challenges remaining on the schedule as well.
Remaining games: at AX Armani Exchange Milan 29/3 | vs. Crvena Zvezda mts 1/4 | at Fenerbahce Beko 4/4 | at Anadolu Efes 6/4 | at Real Madrid 8/4
#7 AS MONACO
Record: 13-13
Home: 8-5
Away: 5-8
Offense-Defense: 84-81.7
Quickly making up lost ground, AS Monaco is nearing a playoffs berth in its first EuroLeague season. Securing the win in eight out of the 11 outings in 2022 and a clean bill of health boost its chances of progressing. What can go wrong?
Remaining games: at AX Armani Exchange Milan 31/3 | vs. ALBA Berlin 8/4
#6 MACCABI PLAYTIKA TEL AVIV
Record: 13-11
Home: 10-2
Away: 3-9
Offense-Defense: 78.9-79
Its home court is the driving force behind Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv’s playoff push. AX Armani Exchange Milan and Real Madrid became the latest victims in a matter of a couple of days. Having been swept by Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the regular season, sixth place seems the best possible seeding but a very good one, considering.
Remaining games: at Panathinaikos OPAP 29/3 | vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 31/3 | at FC Barcelona 7/4 | vs. Fenerbahce Beko 13/4