By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
As time goes by, Top16 games are getting bigger and bigger. That’s why, despite the fact that we are not yet not even in the middle of the second phase, there are games that will be remembered. We couldn’t decide which is the most important, so for the first time there are two games of the week, as rules are made to be broken.
Games of the week
It doesn’t get any better. CSKA is coming from a road defeat in Belgrade, its target is still the home court advantage in the play offs and its biggest challenge at this point is to become the first team which will beat Real Madrid this season. This could be the biggest win of CSKA this season in every aspect.
That’s why Real has “marked” this game from the moment they knew the schedule. This is the first real international crush test of Madrid which at this point seems invincible, against a top quality team. Jaycee Carroll will be absent for the guests and coach Messina suggested that Kyle Hines will also miss the game, despite the fact that he is practicing with the rest of the team the last days. His presence will be more than important since the hosts know that only with a defensive clinic they will have the chance to win.
Fenerbahce/ Ulker – Panathinaikos
This is a historical game. After a fairy tale career in Panathinaikos, 13 years in Athens and 5 Euroleague titles, Zeljko Obradovic will face for the first time since last century the Greens as an opponent.
Think about it and try to understand how he will feel, specially with his current team, Fenerbahce/ Ulker, chasing its first Top16 win after a 0-3 start, while Panathinaikos will try to stay unbeaten. This is the most important game so far for Zoc in Istanbul and he will have to win against his “family”.
Isn’t life strange? Fener needs the win most than ever, for many the hosts are the favorites, but they will have to produce against the fearsome defensive machine of coach Pedoulakis. It will not be an easy game for anyone and the pressure for Fener will be more than high.
The key: Laboral Kutxa – Olympiacos
Two teams with the same 1-2 will be facing each other, but they are on completely different mood. Laboral after beating Zaragoza in Liga Endesa seems to be finally clicking, while the Euroleague champions are in a state of shock. The injuries of Acie Law who is expected to miss the season, and Brent Petway who may return to action in this game, are among the reason for a slump which is lasting for a month and resulted into five defeats in 30 days. The last of them was a disheartening game against Panathinaikos on Monday.
Olympiacos seems really vulnerable these days and nobody knows what to expect in Vitoria. Maybe it’s time for the Reds to react, to play defense and be the team which was present during the regular season. If they don’t, then Laboral Kutxa will have the advantage and the chance to make an important step towards the play offs.
On the rise: Barcelona – Unicaja Malaga
After a bad start and many injuries, Barcelona is playing again as one of the top teams in Europe. Time worked fine for the Catalans and the return of players like Lorbek and Oleson didn’t hurt either. Having already won against Olympiacos and Fenerbahce on the road, Barca hosts Unicaja, which is also coming from a win in Istanbul against Anadolu Efes and a home triumph against Fener.
When team from the same country meet in Euroleague, there are many intricacies, but Barcelona has the advantage, the home court and the momentum.
One chance: Anadolu Efes – EA7 Milano
Here things are simple. The home team has a 0-3 record and the chance to finally get a win in order to stay alive on the play offs race. The team is trying to react, lost many games in the details, but the time to do something is now. EA7 Milano on the other hand is on the middle of a basketball renaissance, a leader in Legabasket with a 2-1 record in Top16. Coach Banchi is succeeding into changing the recent basketball DNA of the team and that can be proved one more time in Istanbul.
Being happy: Maccabi T.A. – Partizan
Maccabi is unbeaten (3-0), has its sights in the home court advantage at the play offs and dreams of a final four return for the first time since 2011. The Israelis are the favorites against young and feisty Partizan which once more is an upset machine in Euroleague. Who will bet against the Serbs? It’s a trick question, since every one last week bet against them in the game against CSKA. However, Partizan got the win…
The opposites: Bayern – Galatasaray
The tradition of a club – even if doesn’t include basketball greatness – can be more than important in Europe. Bayern in its maiden appearance in Euroleague is proving to be more than ready and for sure more steady than any other German team in recent history. They have the quality and they can do more. The same could be said for Galatasaray after the regular season, but the defending champions of Turkey have a 0-3 record and they just need to win. Those two opponents played each other during regular season and Bayern won at home.
Easy one: Lokomotiv Kuban – Zalgiris Kaunas
After the three pointer of Kalnietis which gave the win last week in Istanbul, Lokomotiv seems ready for more. The hosts need this win in order to get more chances in the play offs race, as, despite being newcomers in Euroleague, they can get there. Zalgiris on the other hand seems to have already touched the ceiling of its abilities, so they only thing they can hope in Top16 is being the “adjuster” of the final standings with their possible home wins.