By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
There are many available options this week too, both in terms of mainstream bets (wins, under/over) as well as player bets.
Armani AX Emporio Olimpia Milan- Fenerbahce Dogus
Fenerbahce started off on the wrong foot in the EuroLeague as they were defeated away at Malaga in Round 1. Over the weekend, in fact, they were defeated once again, this time in the Turkish league, in the away game against Anadolu Efes. It’s unlikely that the champions will suffer a third defeat in a row and we’re expecting a reaction against Armani Milan. The Italians are better than last season, but they still haven’t found chemistry and roles and Zeljko Obradovic’s Fenerbahce are an experienced enough team to take advantage of that. So, we’re going with the away win, at 1,45.
In the biggest game of Round 2, Real host Dimitris Itoudis’s CSKA Moscow. It’s difficult to predict the winner in derbies since they are often decided in the details, from a single possession, shot or turnover. The Spaniards are offered as favorites because of the home court advantage, but the difference between the two teams is minimal. CSKA’s low handicap (+2,5 at 1,75) will perhaps prove more than enough for us to get paid.
Panathinaikos Superfoods – Bamberg Baskets
Panathinaikos, as well as Trinchieri’s Bamberg, are looking for their first win in the EuroLeague. The Greek team has the quality to get the win, the easy way or the hard way, but a home win is not an attractive option. However, there is an interesting special option in the player bets. Nick Calathes scoring 3 or more points than Nikos Zisis (at 1,75) is an option that can get us a payoff. Panathinaikos’s leader stays on the court for many minutes and takes his share of shots, scoring double-digits in the first games of the season. Bamberg has solutions along the perimeter and the shots are spread out a lot. For Zisis to outdo Calathes, he will have to shoot with excellent percentages since Panathinaikos’s guard will probably get around 13-14 points.
Crvena Zvezda – Barcelona Lassa
The home team will not be a punching bag this season in the EuroLeague, like many believe. Especially at home, they are going to fight for every game from the start, as they will against the renewed and in form Barcelona. With the aid of the home court advantage and their good defense, the +5,5 of the home win has a good chance of coming true and we could include it in our bet. Barcelona is still a new team and, as a result, they have some slow stretches in their game. Even if they get a win, it will probably not come easily and will happen in the end, in the details.
Olympiacos – Unicaja Malaga
Olympiacos’s numerous injury problems lead us toward the under 145,5. In any case, Giannis Sfairopoulos’s team is excellent defensively and Malaga is a team that has several slow stretches in their game, especially away from home. Using the same reasoning, the under 69,5 for the Spaniards at 1,75 can also be a viable option. At the Peace & Friendship stadium and with their tough defense, Olympiacos can keep their rivals close to 15 points for at least two quarters.
Picks
Win for Fenerbahce @ 1,45
H2H Calathes – Zisis (+2,5) 1 @ 1,75
Olympiacos – Unicaja Malaga under 145,5 @ 1,75
Crvena Zvezda (+5,5) – Barcelona 1 @ 1,75
Real Madrid – CSKA Moscow (+2,5) 2 @ 1,75