By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The Top16 returns and things are quite simple at this point. The rosters are locked for the rest of the season, very few teams are relatively safe on their playoffs quest and no mistake can be undone.
That’s why, as you can see in the standings, there are very few games or teams which don’t feel the heat. On the contrary some of them may be one step away from disaster and that brings us to the game of the week. Barcelona vs Olympiacos with both in a desperate need of a win? Bring it on!
Game of the week: FC Barcelona Lassa vs Olympiacos Piraeus (26/2, 20.45 CET)
Both have a mediocre 3-4 record, Olympiacos won the first game at Piraeus and the situation in both sides is kind of messy. Barcelona will be using for the first time Joey Dorsey in the place of injured Shane Lawal, but the team is coming after losing the chance to fight for the “Copa Del Rey” after a quarterfinal defeat, the doubts surrounding coach Pascual are more than ever and one more home defeat at Top16 will put the playoffs chances of the team in real jeopardy.
Olympiacos has also a new face in Kostas Papanikolaou, newcomer Hakim Warrick will not be used and there’s also a foul mood in Piraeus. The Reds also were negotiating with Dorsey and they finally got a big man in the 11th hour, trying to keep their roster loaded in their quest for a Final Four return. Barcelona was kind enough to let Papanikolaou join the Reds, without exercising his option to match the offer and get him to Spain, however no other gifts are going to be presented from either side.
Honorable mention: Panathinaikos Athens – Fenerbahce Istanbul (25/2, 20.15 CET)
Every time Zeljko Obradovic returns to Athens in order to face Panathinaikos, it’s a special occasion. This is not an exception. Expect a full house at OAKA as the Greens with the additions of Marquez Haynes, Elliot Williams and Vince Hunter will try to became the first team that beats Fenerbahce in the Top16. The Turks are still the only perfect team in Top16 with a 7-0 record and a win of Panathinaikos will be a great boost for the Greeks in order to get to the playoffs. And keep also an eye open for the Russian duel of CSKA Moscow vs Khimki, a more than intriguing game.
February 25
Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul-Unicaja Malaga (18:30 CET)
Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar-Cedevita Zagreb (19:00 CET)
CSKA Moscow-Khimki Moscow Region (17:00 CET)
Brose Baskets Bamberg–Real Madrid (20:00 CET)
Laboral Kutxa Vitoria Gasteiz-Zalgiris Kaunas (20:30 CET)
February 26
Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade-Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:00 CET)
You need also to know…
- Dimitris Diamantidis needs 28 points to catch the retired Nikola Vujcic for sixth place on the Euroleague career scoring charts. Diamantidis enters this game with 2,416 career points.
- De Colo has made at least 1 three-pointer in six straight and 20 of his last 21 Euroleague games. De Colo has scored in double figures in each of his last 20 Euroleague appearances.
- Victor Khryapa is 1 block away from joining the competition’s all-time top five in blocked shots. He enters this week’s game with 143 career rejections. Injured Zalgiris big man Robertas Javtokas (144 blocks) sits in fifth place.
- Fran Pilepic is a perfect 20 for 20 on free throws in his Euroleague career.
- Sergio Rodriguez needs 4 more three-pointers to reach 200 for his Euroleague career.