By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The 3rd week of Euroleague includes three games in Thursday, four on Friday and a game on Wednesday between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. In Group E it’s already proven that no prediction can be made, while in Group F we have already two subgroups with four unbeaten teams and four teams at 0-2. So it will be interesting to see if this trend continues in this group, or if teams like Lokomotiv Kuban and Galatasaray will react.
Game of the week: Olympiacos – Barcelona
It’s a big game for more than one reasons. The Euroleague champions were crushed in Milan by EA7 Milano, they have already announced a sold out for this game and they are hosting unbeaten Barcelona in the return of Kostas Papanikolaou in Piraeus. The same applies to Joey Dorsey at least to some degree, but the Greek forward became a man in the Reds, was a member of the back to back teams and his return will be one of the highlights of this week.
Despite the possible absence of Juan Carlos Navarro, the Catalans have the momentum and more manpower, specially in the front line. Olympiacos will try to react through the back court, based on Vasilis Spanoulis’ personality, but it will be a more difficult game than the previous one in SEF against Fenerbahce. The champions will have to raise their level in defense and to be ready to defend the miss matches that Barcelona will create, in order to keep control the game. That could be even a final four duel.
Honorable mention: Unicaja – Fenerbahce/ Ulker
Fenerbahce/ Ulker started strongly the regular season and the influence of coach Obradovic was evident from the first moment. However, as the season advances and the level of difficulty rises, teams which are already solid and they have build their chemistry are making their mark. Euroleague’s format is build in a way that doesn’t give any advantage to the teams which had a good regular season, so the pressure is on for Fenerbahce at Malaga.
After a 0-2 start, the Turkish club needs this win which could be considered a patch for the home defeat by Barcelona. One more disappointment will out Fener’s back to the wall really early, making Zoc and his players fighting for their lives in every game after that. Malaga seems to be in better condition after beating Anadolu Efes in Istanbul and the key will be the rhythm and shooting efficiency in a game that we expect to be decided in a really high score.
Undefeated: Panathinaikos – Anadolu Efes
After a regular season full of ups and downs, Panathinaikos has started strongly Top16 with a 2-0 record and a road win at Vitoria, leaving in the past the troubles of the first ten games. Now the Greens are hosting Efes which is on the opposite side of the spectrum, has a 0-2 start and needs a big win in order to get things going. However, if coach Pedoulakis’ team produces one more defensive clinic, then we expect Panathinaikos to add one more win to its streak getting to a 3-0 record.
The underdog: EA7 Milano – Laboral Kutxa
This year’s Group E is by far the most strong group we have ever witnessed after last season’s change of Top16 format. On paper, Barcelona, Fenerbahce, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos were the main favorites for a place in the play offs, however EA7 Milano has already changed that after beating the Reds. It was no coincidence, as it was proven also with the win against Siena for Legabasket. After acquiring Hackett, Milano is the clear favorite for any domestic titles and the way the Italians beat Olympiacos proved that the work of coach Banchi is creating a new identity for the team.
The trio of Moss, Hackett and Lawal provides what was missing. Defensive prowess, athletic ability and team work. If that can be combined with the undeniable one on one offensive talent of the team, then Milano can change its level and get near the European elite. Laboral Kutxa had a great game against Panathinaikos, but in the past the Basques have reacted spectacularly after bad results. It will be an interesting game, hard to predict with Milano having the advantage.
Basket D’ Or: Real Madrid – Bayern Munich
As you may have heard Cristiano Ronaldo beat Franck Riberi and also Leo Messi in the “Ballon D’ Or” award. If there was such an award in basketball, let’s say a “Basket D’ Or”, then it would rightfully also go to Real Madrid, an undefeated team both in Euroleague and Liga Endesa, while producing attractive basketball and improving their last season’s Achilles heal, five on five situations. Bayern is one of the most positive notes in this year’s Euroleague, it has a 2-0 start and will fight for the play offs.
Both times like to run, so we expect a lot of highlights, a high score and we will be watching the guests effort to keep up with the “Queen”. However, we expect that quality of coach Laso’s team will finally prevail.
The chance: Zalgiris Kaunas – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Two teams with two very different goals. For Zalgiris, playing to Top16 is the ceiling of their ambitions this year in Euroleague, while Maccabi, after a mediocre start, wants to fight not only for the play offs, but even for a place in Final Four, after losing the chance last season against Real Madrid. However, Zalgiris at home can’t be considered an easy opponent and this game is their chance to prove competitive. Still, the Lithuanians have to be a lot better in defense, match up Maccabi’s energy on both sides of the court and be in a good offensive day in order to have a winning chance. There is a gap in quality and the Israelis are the favorites.
A hard one: Galatasaray – Lokomotiv Kuban
This seems to be the most important game in the play offs. Both teams have as a target getting to the play offs but both have a 0-2 start, including a home defeat. That’s why for both of them this is a must win situation.
We expect to see a real dogfight, maybe the most balanced and hard game of this week, the one which will be most defensive oriented and the one with the most chances to be a low scoring affair. It’s hard to predict anything else and maybe the old sport cliché about desire will play its role.
A repeat: Partizan – CSKA Moscow
It’s not unusual to see teams which had played each other during the regular season to meet again in Top16, however those two opponents are meeting again in less than a month. In the 19 of December CSKA Moscow got the win in Belgrade and the Russians want to repeat that performance on Friday in order to get to 3-0. Of course we expect from Partizan to be feisty, as no one can underestimate their fighting spirit. It will also interesting to see CSKA Moscow without injured Kyle Hines, the biggest fighter in their roster, and the choices of coach Messina in the rotation.