By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
This week’s panel includes Matjaz Smodis, three-time former EuroLeague champion; Luca Chiabotti, the former basketball expert-in-residence at La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy; Dimitris Karydas, basketball expert and TV commentator at NOVAsports.gr in Greece; Drazen Kanazir, Editor, Eurohoops Germany; and Andy West, EuroLeague.TV commentator and EuroLeague.net contributor. Check out their opinions on three key questions.
1. Which playoffs-hopeful team registered the most important win in Round 23?
Matjaz Smodis
“I think Milan as Mike James really took this team to a different level. They now have four straight wins. Now they are my favorite to secure the sixth spot in the playoffs.”
Luca Chiabotti
“The Anadolu Efes victory against Olympiacos eliminated the Reds from the fourth-place race, consolidating the position of Coach Ataman’s team that now will have only Barcelona as its direct opponent for the last spot for home court in the playoffs. The Armani Milan victory against Maccabi is equally important to keep alive its chances to get the playoffs despite a terrible schedule in the last games.”
Dimitris Karydas
“Usually, victories that make the difference come in road games. In the 23rd round, there were no significant victories for the teams that played away from home. I will, therefore, choose Armani Milan‘s victory over Maccabi, mainly because the Italian champion managed to cover the difference of their defeat in Tel Aviv. This gave an extra boost to Armani’s attempt to qualify for this year’s playoffs.”
Drazen Kanazir
“There have been some nice wins, but the most important one was for Anadolu Efes Istanbul. The Blues from Turkey not only got the victory over Olympiacos, but bounced back from the loss in Round 12 and took the tiebreaker in this series. To hold the squad of Coach David Blatt to only 65 points was the exclamation point. Anadolu Efes still ranks fourth in the standings and is one game ahead of FC Barcelona Lassa. They will meet in Round 25 at Sinan Erdem Dome.”
Andy West
“With three of its next four games coming on the road, it was vital for Milan to beat Maccabi last week. Even more so as it also meant the Italian champ now two games ahead of Maccabi in the standings and has the head-to-head tie-breaker. Another major bonus was seeing Kaleb Tarczewski make such a strong return from injury; he will be vital in the next few weeks considering the absence of Arturas Gudaitis.”
2. Who will win this week’s derby between Barcelona and Madrid?
Matjaz Smodis
“It’s going to be one hell of a game since we all know what happened… at the end of their last game. I think that Real Madrid is fueled with revenge and they will successfully take down the Catalonian giant.”
Luca Chiabotti
“The clásico is never a game like any other, but especially the next derby, after the controversial final of the Copa del Rey in Madrid, has many emotional components and you cannot make a prediction. For many reasons, Barcelona is strongly favored, so I choose Real Madrid. Madrid cannot fail to react with a great game in Barcelona: if it loses, it would be the third defeat against Barcelona this season (with only one victory), and I think that the desire for revenge will be the decisive push for Madrid.”
Dimitris Karydas
“The prediction for the winner of El Clásico is never an easy task. Barcelona needs the victory more in its quest to finish fourth and this gives to their side reasonably higher motivation. But I will choose Real Madrid as the winner because they want to avenge the defeat in the Copa del Rey final. In any case, it is a game that will be decided by small details.”
Drazen Kanazir
“Real Madrid recently booked its ticket for the post-season and is on track for a possible EuroLeague repeat. The champions will be highly motivated against Barcelona because of the disappointing outcome in the Copa del Rey final. Los Blancos won their last two games in the competition and of them against a possible playoff team, FC Bayern Munich. The last matchup between the rivals took place in Round 12 when Madrid won impressively 92-65. This time it is going to be closer, but the result will be in favor of Coach Pablo Laso and company.”
Andy West
“Barcelona. The home side needs it much more than Madrid, which has already qualified for the playoffs and can afford to lose this game and still finish in the top four. The home crowd has been fantastic for Barça in recent games, and the atmosphere at the Palau will be ramped up to the maximum by the pre-game homage to Juan Carlos Navarro. So I think that adrenalin will carry Barça through.”