By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The panel includes Joe Arlauckas, former EuroLeague champion and Euroleague TV commentator; Dimitris Karydas, basketball expert and TV commentator at NOVAsports.gr in Greece; Vladimir Stankovic, veteran journalist and longtime EuroLeague.net collaborator; Nikos Varlas, Editor in Chief, Eurohoops.net; and Igor Petrinovic of Euroleague.net.
In a special playoffs edition of the Round Table, each makes his predictions as to which teams will advance to the Final Four!
Which team will win the playoff series CSKA vs. Khimki, in how many games, and why?
Joe Arlauckas
If there is any series here that we can take a risk and call it a possibly easy series, this would be the one. Please make sure that Coach Itoudis doesn’t read this because I am sure he will have a few choice words and “Are you crazy?” looks for me. Come on, Coach, we know that this is just what you wanted. I do not see this series going more than three games based on CSKA‘s dominance of Khimki and the fact that the “other” team in Moscow is just happy to be there. CSKA 3-0 Khimki
Dimitris Karydas
Coach Bartzokas has made an amazing job this year but is matched up against the most undesirable opponent in the playoffs. Since 2013, CSKA has won four straight series of finals or semifinals in the VTB League against Khimki, three of them with sweeps, and has won three straight games against their Moscow neighbors since 2015 in the EuroLeague. Tradition counts a lot in that particular pairing, especially if someone considers that CSKA is 12-0 in qualifications to the Final Four when it has home-court advantage. It is hard to see in a different way this battle between two Russian teams and two Greek coaches. CSKA 3-0 Khimki
Vladimir Stankovic
I see CSKA as the clear favorite. More of a team, more quality, more experience, less dependence on one player. Better offense (89.5 points per game) and good defense (79.2 points against), too. CSKA 3-0 Khimki
Nikos Varlas
CSKA Moscow and the Final Four have become… one and the same. We only have to consider that in the last 15 seasons they’ve only missed one, in 2011. They have more quality, experience, solutions, and a complete roster. On a good day, Khimki Moscow Region can look CSKA square in the eyes and make things hard for them. I believe, though, that in this series the team with the greatest depth is the one that will prevail. CSKA 3-1 Khimki
Igor Petrinovic
I think CSKA continues its dominance over Khimki. CSKA is 16-2 against Khimki under Dimitris Itoudis, and has won last 14 games against its city-rival. A lot of those wins, and all four this season, were by double-digit margins. Also, CSKA has won its last 18 playoff home games, and has never lost a EuroLeague playoff series. Khimki could benefit from returns of Tyler Honeycutt and James Anderson, and CSKA will certainly miss Kyle Hines, but I still expect CSKA to get through the playoffs unscratched. CSKA 3-0 Khimki
Which team will win the playoff series Fenerbahce vs. Baskonia, in how many games, and why?
Joe Arlauckas
This could be an interesting series because both teams have been the best teams in the last 10 games played, especially Baskonia though, because every game was a playoff game to them since mid-February. Both teams lost their last games of the regular season, but the more important loss was in Vitoria. Not only did that break the momentum that they had, but now they find themselves going to Istanbul instead of Athens to face Olympiacos, a team I think they match up better with. Fener is strong but could be beaten, especially if Baskonia is on their game. The deciding factor might not be the home court, but it will be Coach Obradovic. Fenerbahce 3-1 Baskonia
Dimitris Karydas
The home-court advantage is always a strong qualification criterion in the EuroLeague Playoffs, but there are always surprises. My choice for this year’s surprise is Baskonia qualifying against last year’s champions and heavyweight favorite Fenerbahce. Fernando Buesa Arena is a permanent “black hole” in Obradovic‘s brilliant career, a place where he has experienced some very bad defeats. If the Spanish team fails to break Fener‘s home-court advantage in one of the first two Istanbul matches, the series will evolve into an epic battle. Baskonia’s up-tempo style may be the decisive point if Fenerbahce’s defense fails to find answers early in the series. Fenerbahce 1-3 Baskonia
Vladimir Stankovic
I expect a really even battle. Fenerbahce is the champion, an expert team that knows how to play under pressure. Baskonia is in good form and scores more points, but Fener has the best defense in the EuroLeague (73.6 points against in the regular season). The home-court advantage could be decisive. Fenerbahce 3-2 Baskonia
Nikos Varlas
With Zeljko Obradovic on the bench, Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul has a 9-0 record in the playoffs in the last three seasons! That says a lot… I’m expecting a satisfying series, battles with runs for both teams, and a lot of suspense. Fenerbahce has the home-court advantage, the confidence of a champion, a tight defense, and players who are winners. I believe they are the ones who will manage to advance to the Final Four once again. KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz is a team that needs to impose its tempo on the court; if they get to run, they might be able to stake their claim. Fenerbahce 3-1 Baskonia
Igor Petrinovic
Fenerbahce is the defending champ and has won its last nine playoff games. Up until 10 days ago, Baskonia was a team no one wanted to face, playing some of the best basketball in the EuroLeague and winning an unprecedented six games in the month of March. But I would not be surprised if Coach Pedro Martinez men might be spent a little too much, mentally, after such a playoffs push. On the other hand, Coach Zeljko Obradovic will likely have Fenerbahce playing some of its best basketball of the season, because that’s simply what he does with his teams. And his team has been playing well as it is. Fenerbahce swept the regular season series, and I expect the defending champs will have their home-court rocking, then finish the job in Vitoria. Fenerbahce 3-0 Baskonia