By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Many crucial games are scheduled this week in the Euroleague. Panathinaikos and Crvena Zvezda have the advantage to win their games against Zalgiris and Galatasaray. Also, Efes and Laboral can score a lot in Russia vs CSKA and Nizhny
Nizhny has the worst defence in the Top 16 allowing 84,9 points per game to its rivals. Laboral wants desperately the win to qualify in the play offs, plays up tempo game and probably will score more than 81 points which is the limit.
In the big game of Moscow, CSKA has the advantage to beat Efes, but lately also has defensive problems. The Turkish team scores more and more in during the last games and at the same time, the Russians allow more than 73 points in every of their last six games. The tempo will be high, so bet on the over option for Efes.
Galatasaray comes from a win to be remembered against Fenerbahce in the Turkish league and usually these kind of victories turn out to be an illusion for the upcoming games. The roster of the Turkish team will not be deep once again and Crvena Zvezda is expected to win this game. Moreover, both teams play worse in defence during the last month and it’s expected that the total points will be more than 153.
Panathinaikos needs desperately the victory over Zalgiris to stay on the top four of the group. The difference of quality and motivation are enough for the Greeks to beat easily the Lithuanians.
The betting tips
Nizhny-Laboral Laboral Over 81,5 points
@William Hill 1,85
Galatasaray-Crvena Zvezda (-2,5) 2
@Bet365 1,90
Galatasaray-Crvena Zvezda Over 153,5 points
@Pinnacle 1,93
CSKA-Efes Efes Over 73,5 points
@Ladbrokes 1,90
Zalgiris(+3,5)-Panathinaikos 2
@Coral 1,91