By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The remake of last season’s final, this time in Tel Aviv, the first game of Dusan Ivkovic against Olympiacos since their split and the crucial battles in the qualification race are dominating the 5th week of Euroleague’s Top16 action.
Eurohoops game of the week: Maccabi T.A. – Real Madrid
It’s the remake of last season’s final. Do you need any other explanation? Maccabi (3-1) hosts unbeaten so far Real Madrid (4-0) and with a win the champs will have more than good chances for getting the home court advantage in the play offs. The same applies to the Spaniards, specially with a win. Both teams like to run, they depend on transition, they have talented players in offense and their shot efficiency is usually what makes or breaks their game. So who ever dictates the tempo with solid defense, will have the best chances to prevail. This can be also a historic game for Real’s captain Felipe Reyes who needs 11 rebounds in order to get on top of the all time list over Mirsad Turkcan.
Honorable mention: Anadolu Efes – Olympiacos
This is also a game in which basketball history will be made as coach Dusan Ivkovic will face Olympiacos for the first time since the epic 2011-12 season, when he led the team to the Euroleague title against all odds. This is also the first time that Stratos Perperoglou, a Euroleague champion with the Reds in 2013, will face his old team. Efes (2-2) after losing to Nizhny can’t afford one more misstep. Olympiacos (4-0) with a second win in Turkey, after beating also Fenerbahce/ Ulker, will make a huge step for the home court advantage in the play offs. The good news of the Reds is that center Bryan Dunston despite a stomach virus, traveled with the team.
Both teams are similar. They feed from their defense, they want to control the tempo and they like to be patient in set game situations. There’s no clear favorite and we expect a big – but low score – battle.
The question mark: Unicaja Malaga – Fenerbahce/ Ulker
Unicaja is still on top of Ligsa Endesa, but without a win in Top16 and nine defeats in the last 10 Euroleague games. It’s almost incredible and that’s why the hosts need this win. Fenerbahce (2-2) has improved in Top16, specially in defense and needs better offensive chemistry in order to be a real contender. It’s a key contest for both teams and Unicaja has to do more than control the boards, as it usually does no matter the opponent in order to have a chance.
Under the microscope: Laboral Kutxa – EA7 Milano
Both teams have a 1-3 record and they need more wins. The hosts are coming from a big win in Liga Endesa against Barcelona and they seem to be on the rise. Milan is still a riddle and despite great individual talent, suffers in Euroleague. It’s hard to predict the outcome, both teams aren’t stable, but a road win for the Italians can be a nice push towards the play offs.
VTB battle: CSKA Moscow – Nizhny
The only unbeaten team in Euroleague this season, CSKA, hosts Cinderella Nizhny (2-2). Both teams have already faced each other in VTB League and CSKA won big. The goal of the “army team” seems to be pretty simple. Take out of the game Taylor Rochestie and the rest will follow. You can’t underestimate the fighting spirit of Nizhny, however it will be hard to contain the back court duo of Teodosic and De Colo and also control the boards against the loaded front line of CSKA.
One way road
Crvena Zvezda (4-0) has to get a win and specially at home against Alba Berlin (2-2), there’s no other result for the Serbs. Still the hosts have to remember how they played efficient defense during the regular season against the crafty team of coach Sasha Obradovic, who admitted that he is still a Crvena Zvezda fan! It’s the first ever duel of the two teams in Euroleague and the same applies to the next couple.
Panathinaikos (2-2) hosts Galatasaray (2-2) in their first ever game. The Greens, even without injured Nikos Pappas, are the favorite and the way to beat Galatasaray is obvious. Contain Carlos Arroyo and don’t let the ball get into Patrick Young hands. At home Panathinaikos can get the job done, starting from defense, despite a thin front line. On Thursday it turned out that AJ Slaughter won’t be able to play plus Mavrokedalidis and Gist will likely get to fight without being 100% ready for the upcoming battle. So, Galatasaray has a good chance to take advantage of those problems.
Barcelona (2-2) despite its woes, is the big favorite against Zalgiris (1-3). The Lithuanians in the return of Sarunas Jasikevicius as a coach in his old gym, have a mountain to climb and it will not be easy.
Euroleague 2014-2015 – 15th Day
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Unicaja Malaga |
Fenerbahce |
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Panathinaikos |
Galatasaray MP |
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F.C. Barcelona |
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Laboral Kutxa |
EA7 Milano |
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Olympiacos |
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Crvena Zvezda T. |
Alba Berlin |
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CSKA Moscow |
Nizhny Novgorod |
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Maccabi Tel Aviv |
Real Madrid |