By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Round 4 EuroLeague “Experts Round Table” predicts which team between CSKA Moscow or Barcelona will keep its undefeated streak longer, which player is going to have the next “monster” game after Shane Larkin and Nando De Colo and picks the most interesting match of this week’s games.
Per EuroLeague.net:
Welcome back to the Experts Round Table, where we ask a variety of the most knowledgeable Turkish Airlines EuroLeague followers across the continent their opinions on the topics of the day. This week’s panel includes Joe Arlauckas, former EuroLeague champ and current game announcer and podcast host; Juan Antonio Casanova, the former long-time EuroLeague writer for La Vanguardia in Spain; Dimitris Karydas, basketball expert and TV commentator at NOVAsports.gr in Greece; Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops.net; and Frankie Sachs, Editor at EuroLeague.net. Check out their opinions on three key questions this week!
Will CSKA or Barcelona stay unbeaten longer? Why?
Joe Arlauckas
“Looking at the schedule I like CSKA to unbeaten possibly until Round 8 and even then they face Fenerbahce at home, where Fener has been successful the last couple of years, but right after that, they are thrown into a Spanish loop with three straight games in Spain. Baskonia and Real Madrid in the November double week, then a week later they come back and play at Barcelona, that will be a tough stretch for the Russians. Barcelona may trip up a bit sooner as they find themselves away from home for three straight during Rounds 6-8 but it would sure be fun to see both teams stay undefeated until they face off in Round 11″
Dimitris Karydas
“I’m not a strong believer in one particular thing about the EuroLeague. With the new format of the competition, no one can evaluate the difficulties of the schedule. Always, an upset is waiting around the corner! So, trying to evaluate the program of the two teams for the upcoming weeks I’ll predict CSKA. The Russian side has a more ‘friendly’ schedule than Barca. They can stay unbeaten until Round 7 and then they will face in a big showdown Fenerbahce. On the other hand, Barcelona in the same period will play 3 tough road games (at Belgrade, Milan. Kaunas).”
Juan Antonio Casanova
“Both of them are among the main favorites to finish really high in the regular-season standings and play the Final Four. On the other hand, if you take a look at the upcoming calendar, I believe that CSKA will remain undefeated longer. I see them winning their next four games, even though three of them are on the road, which would take it to a 7-0. After that, it will face a real ‘tour de force’ against Fenerbahce in Moscow and from November 20 to 29, three games in Spain, against Baskonia, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Barcelona will face trouble before that. Four of its next five games will be on the road.”
Antonis Stroggylakis
“The chances of CSKA Moscow reaching Round 8 with an unscathed record are better than the Barcelona has to keep a perfect streak until then. And I’m marking Round 8 because it features the battle between Fenerbahce Beko and Barcelona in Istanbul plus the Clasico which will be hosted by Real Madrid. It will be the biggest challenges that CSKA and Barcelona will have to face in the upcoming weeks. Until then, Barcelona will have to play at Crvena Zvezda, Armani Milano and Zalgiris Kaunas. CSKA, on the other hand, will travel to face ALBA Berlin, Zenit St Petersburg and ASVEL, matches not as difficult as the ones Barca will see.”
Frankie Sachs
“Based on jinx theory, now that we ‘experts’ have analyzed these teams’ schedules over the next month, they could both lose this week! I believe that Barcelona is the tougher team to play right now, but its near-term schedule is also tougher than CSKA’s. Four of its next five games are on the road; three of those are against teams with legitimate playoff hopes and another is in the Serbian capital in front of one of the toughest crowds. CSKA doesn’t have it easy either, but it may outlast Barcelona for the longest unbeaten run to the season.”
After Larkin in Round 2 and De Colo in Round 3, who is the next player due for a breakout game?
Joe Arlauckas
“In this league, it could be anybody on any given night, but you have to look at Alexey Shved all the time. His average is right where it needs to be, but we will always expect a big night from him every time he is on the court. Mirotic also has been consistent, but I can see him having a huge night also because of his ability to score from wherever makes him hard to defend.”
Dimitris Karydas
“The obvious choice is Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos. But, the Serbian mammoth-center has already three doubles-doubles during the first three weeks of action! So, the next in line is Mike James. It’s a matter of time before the electric guard of CSKA will have a breakout game of 30-plus points and 10 assists even playing in a team that has multiple threats for the opposing defense.”
Juan Antonio Casanova
“Mike James. He was the EuroLeague’s top scorer last season. Then he went from Milan to Moscow and naturally, needs an adjustment period to a new team whose only goal is defending the EuroLeague title. It is obvious that his coach will trust him more and more as the season goes on. He played 20 minutes in Round 1, only taking 7 shots. In Round 2, he already played 24 minutes and took 12 shots, and in Round 3, 29 minutes and 19 shots. That increasing role has to take him to an offensive explosion at some point, so why not against ALBA in Berlin this week?”
Antonis Stroggylakis
“Thankfully, there are many candidates. I’ll pick Scottie Wilbekin because to my eyes he looks like he’s been heating up and is currently looking for the opportunity to absolutely erupt at the right moment. He had a fine, albeit not ‘breakout’ in terms of ‘call the police to arrest him’ game in Madrid and was the key factor in the overtime win over Crvena Zvezda. Now, here comes Valencia – the team with the second-worst defense (89.3 p.p.g.) after ALBA Berlin (91.33) and an opportunity for Wilbekin to go berserk in a must-win game at home for Maccabi.”
Frankie Sachs
“For me, the hardest part about answering this question is deciding to define ‘breakout’. Is the answer a proven star like Toko Shengelia of Baskonia or Nikola Mirotic of Barcelona, both of whom have played very well thus far, but have not had a monster game? I prefer to go in a different direction. Panathinaikos‘s Jimmer Fredette is still feeling out the league, but he is blessed with a lot of talent around him and when he finds his comfort zone, he has everything needed to light up the scoreboard. I think we’ll see that soon.”