By Lefteris Moutis / info@eurohoops.net
Betting opportunities are mainly found in the Real Madrid series with Panathinaikos and Efes with Barcelona, which are the most balanced, as opposed to Fenerbahce and CSKA that are clear favorites for qualifying to the Final Four in Vitoria.
Real – Panathinaikos 1-3 / 5.70
Real is the big favorite in this particular pair despite the injury of Sergio Llull. Panathinaikos seems to have the momentum and has made an impressive finale in the regular season, gaining tremendous confidence. Of course, it is a question of whether the Greens will be able to steal a game in Madrid to bring the series home.
Efes – Barcelona 1-3 / 4.50
This is perhaps the most balanced pair of playoffs, as evidenced by the odds of betting companies. Efes played better basketball all season long, but Barcelona is much more reliable defensively. In these games, defense plays a great role. The question of the series is what will happen if Efes finds themselves on a bad day offensively at home. Will they be able to cover up through defense or by playing the game near the 70-point mark? On top of that, Efes does not have a “hot” gym and Barcelona has very experienced players in its roster along with a great coach who can find the break.
Options:
1. Real Madrid – Panathinaikos 1-3 / 5.70
2. Anadolu Efes – Barcelona 1-3 / 4.50