Βy Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The second Top16 round starts with two big games in Moscow and Tel Aviv. Eurohoops presents you the two games which are stealing the show and of course the rest of the action
Eurohoops game of the week: CSKA Moscow – Fenerbahce/ Ulker
After adding Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA Moscow (6-1) is hosting Fenerbahce/ Ulker (5-2) which travels to Russia after being defeated Turkish cup final. Once more the long time friends Itoudis and Obradovic will be opponents and the Greek coach has to defend a perfect 3-0 record against his mentor.
The hosts have better numbers almost in every aspect of their game and they are the team to beat. The Turksh club has improved its defense, has three straight Euroleague wins, but still has its issues in the half court game. This will be also a game of stars, despite the absence of injured Bogdan Bogdanovic, as the personal performance of Teodosic, De Colo and Jackson, or Goudelock, Preldzic and Bjelica can decide the game.
Honorable mention: Maccabi T.A. – Panathinaikos
This is a traditional clash between two big clubs which are now tied at 5-2. The winner will make a decisive step not only towards the play offs, but also towards the home court advantage. Given the fact that the Greens are less effective on the road, compared to their usual performance in Athens, Maccabi has the advantage. Still if the shots of Panathinaikos start falling in, anything can happen. The Greens will have to defende at least the seven points difference from their win in Athens, which can be important in a possible tie.
The question mark: Nizhny Novgorod – EA7 Milano
Niznhy (2-5) and EA7 Milano (1-6) have already lost ground in the play offs race. That means that the winner will have some hopes and the loser will be stuck on the tight spot. It will interesting to see the new version of Nizhny with Mekel in and Kinsey out. On the other side, after a mediocre game in the Italian cup final, Milan has to find some way to react in a convincing and consistent way, something that has not be done so far in the season.
Under the microscope: Zalgiris Kaunas – Galatasaray
Also in this game, the win gives hope against to opponents with the same record (2-5). It’s a hard to predict game, given Galatasaray‘s issues and the expected absence of Carlos Arroyo. Zalgiris, coming from its Lithuanian cup win, seems to be in better shape.
The favorites
Real Madrid (6-1) hosts Crvena Zvezda (1-6), or if you prefer the Spanish cup winner plays the Serbian cup winner. Real has the – big – advantage.
Barcelona needs to react after the lost final and also has the chance to take revenge for losing at Berlin against Alba. The absence of McLean and Hammonds is more than crucial for the Germans.
Anadolu Efes (4-3) hosts Laboral Kutxa (3-4) in a tricky game. The team of coach Ivkovic has to forget the win of the Turkish cup and focus on the Spaniards. That been said, Thomas Heurtel is exploding again and plays against his former team..
Olympiacos (6-1) wants to continue its home wins steak against Unicaja (1-6). If the Reds play according to their usual standards in defense, things are expected to be easy.
Euroleague 2014-2015 – 22nd Day
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Galatasaray MP |
Panathinaikos |
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Nizhny Novgorod |
CSKA Moscow |
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Maccabi Tel Aviv |
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Fenerbahce |
Unicaja Malaga |
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Alba Berlin |
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Zalgiris |
F.C. Barcelona |
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EA7 Milano |
Laboral Kutxa |