By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
David Blatt’s team – Blatt, who will face Maccabi Tel Aviv in a game that has special importance for the Israeli coach – doesn’t want another consecutive misstep at home against a team with a heavy history but also very significant absences.
On the other hand, Khimki must react on the road at Milan in order to avoid a 0-4 start.
Olympiacos – Maccabi Tel Aviv 1 (-8.5) / 1.75 @Stoiximan
Olympiacos will likely show up more determined after their first home loss this season to Armani Milan. The possible absence of Wilbekin is a big deal for Maccabi as the American essentially makes up half of their offense. The visitors will have several dead intervals in their game without Pargo and Wilbekin, so it will be hard for them to be competitive until the end of the game.
Panathinaikos – Zalgiris Kaunas 2 (+7.5) / 1.79 @OPAP
Zalgiris are a well-prepared team; they just need some time so that the new players – in key positions, in fact – can absorb Sarunas Jasikevicius’s philosophy. Of course, Panathinaikos have the upper hand at home and the result will depend on their performance. However, the visitors will not go down easily and we’re probably looking at a game that will be decided in the details in the last few minutes. The +7.5 on the handicap is pretty high and can be included in our choices. For those who want to take an even bigger risk, a win for Zalgiris will be paid off handsomely by the betting companies.
Bayern Munich – Baskonia 2 / 1.42 @OPAP
The easy way or the hard way, Baskonia will manage to get the win in Munich. Pedro Martinez’s team is coming off two consecutive defeats, one of them at home to Olympiacos, in fact, and they don’t want to continue on this negative run. In general, the Basques are in excellent shape, while Shields will probably be back in action after his absence from the game against Real in Madrid. Bayern are a good team and have a good coach. They will fight it out but I’m not sure whether they are capable of getting the win. For this particular game, we’re going to go with Baskonia’s quality and urgency.
Darussafaka – Barcelona 2 (-3) / 1.71 @bet365
Barcelona are a better team than Darussafaka and, despite their inconsistency once again this season, it’s worth trusting them in Turkey. The Catalans know that they have to be winning these kinds of games if they want to return to the quarterfinals of the competition. Pesic’s team feels the urgency in this confrontation and everyone in Barcelona know that a misstep might be difficult to make up for despite the fact that it’s still very early. The home team may have been pretty competitive in Moscow against CSKA, but generally, both in the EuroLeague as well as in the Turkish league, they haven’t been very convincing with their performances.
Armani Milan – Khimki 2 (+6.5) / 1.80 @Stoiximan
Armani Milan are in better shape than Khimki. Pianigiani’s team, with James and Nedovic having found chemistry between them, are capable of going the extra mile in the EuroLeague this season. Khimki have the same style as last season, with Georgios Bartzokas expecting everything from Alexey Shved. So far, the Russians haven’t been able to get a win in three games and the one in Milan looks pretty important for them. The payoff on the away win is high and the handicap is clearly worth betting on. For those who want to take an even bigger risk, betting on a win for the Russians will pay off pretty well.
Picks
Olympiacos – Maccabi Tel Aviv 1 (-8.5) / 1.75 @Stoiximan
Panathinaikos – Zalgiris (2 +7.5) / 1.79 @OPAP
Bayern Munich – Baskonia 2 / 1.42 @OPAP
Darussafaka – Barcelona 2 (-3) / 1.71 @bet365
Armani Milan – Khimki 2 (+6.5) / 1.80 @Stoiximan