By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The regular season is near its end and it’s about time for the Top16 groups to start forming. That’s why the 8th week of action will be more than crucial, starting from Milan on Wednesday.
Eurohoops game of the week: Fenerbahce/ Ulker – Panathinaikos
It’s the game which is expected to decide the 2nd place in the final “Group of death” standings. Fenerbahce (5-2) hosts Panathinaikos (5-2), having lost badly the game in Athens (91-73). Coach Obradovic wants his team to prove its worth against his old love for more than one reasons.
It’s obvious that the winner will get the advantage in the possible final standings two weeks before the end of regular season. The Greens without injured Loukas Mavrokefalidis are expected to depend heavily in three points shooting. However we don’t expect them to be as efficient as they are at OAKA. That already makes the hosts favorites for the win, but Panathinaikos is also expected to fight until the end.
Honorable mention: Galatasaray – Laboral Kutxa
Really, how many times we have said that “Laboral Kutxa is out of Top16” but in the end the club from Vitoria has squeezed its way in the second phase? You know the answer. Galatasaray (3-4) among a tone of issues hosts Laboral Kutxa (3-4) in what will be a key-contest for both teams’ qualification. The winner will make a big step forward, specially considering the fact that the Spaniards have won the first game just by one point (91-90).
The Turks have lost Aldemir, Micov is still injured and we expect more changes in their roster. The Basques are traveling to Istanbul after a “good” win over Olympiacos and they need a big success on the road. They have already added Mike James in their roster, but as we have reported, Thomas Heurtel is on the exit door.
The showdown: EA7 Milano – Bayern Munich
The Italians’ 2-5 record is probably less that they deserve, considering their roster and their potential. However, the disastrous so far season of Bayern (1-5) gives them some breathing room. On the contrary, they would be facing elimination, but now with a home win EA7 Milano almost locks the fourth place of the standings and a Top16 birth.
Even without Gentile and Moss, Milan had a great game in Barcelona. On the contrary Bayern needs a total transformation in order to stay alive. The good news for coach Pesic is that despite missing injured Micic, Bo McCalebb has already found his rhythm.
The question mark: Zalgiris – Anadolu Efes
Zalgiris (4-3) has been great so far and already exceeded expectations. Anadolu Efes has also an impressive 5-2 records and with a road win in Kaunas, the Turkish team “locks” the second spot of the standings and can even hope for the top, if Real makes one more misstep.
That been said, the Lithuanians got a road win in Istanbul (65-62), so we have a double question for this game. Will the team of coach Ivkovic gets revenge? Or will the hosts get one more big win with the help of their fans and make their biggest step yet towards the Top16? We expect a really competitive game and we will not be surprised if the final result will be decided in a low scoring affair.
Under the microscope: Valencia – Crvena Zvezda
Valencia is also a team which has a worst record (2-5) than it deserves on paper. After the win in the do or die game against Galatasaray, one more “final” awaits the Spaniards this time against Crvena Zvezda (4-3). The Serbs are in a better place and they need one more success in order to lock a spot in Top16.
What Valencia needs to do is contain the unstoppable until now Boban Marjanovic. That is the key for the win. If not, then Crvena Zvezda has the chance to get a big road win and on the same time end prematurely the Euroleague season of the Eurocup winners.
Survival battles
Nizhny Novgorod (3-4) hosts suddenly unstained Real Madrid (5-2) and needs a big win in order to stay in Top16 course. With an upset, Nizhny will hope until the last minute, because they host Unics the last week of regular season. In Sardinia, Sassari (1-6) is already out, but Unics Kazan (3-4) has to get the win in order to continue its quest for a Top16 ticket.
Euroleague 2014-2015 – 8th Day
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PGE Turow |
F.C. Barcelona |
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Galatasaray MP |
Laboral Kutxa |
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Nizhny Novgorod |
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Limoges |
Unicaja Malaga |
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Fenerbahce |
Panathinaikos |
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Alba Berlin |
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Zalgiris |
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Valencia |
Crvena Zvezda T. |
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Neptunas |
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Cedevita Zagreb |
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EA7 Milano |
FC Bayern |
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Dinamo Sassari |
UNICS Kazan |