By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Prior to EuroLeague Regular Season Round 21, the Experts Round Table gets together once again to answer three questions on last week’s Round 19 and Round 20. Looking into the gainers and losers of the double-game week.
“What team got the biggest boost from last week’s double round, and why?
Matjaz Smodis
“Winning is always important, so winning two games is huge for all teams. The confidence boost and tranquility are something that is essential going forward. Making it to the playoffs is the goal. The season is still far from over, but Valencia and Panathinaikos are the two teams that benefited most for me in the last double-header week.”
Manuel Moreno
“Winning two games the same week is always a good thing and helps for a boost in the standings and morale. So, ALBA, CSKA, Efes, Maccabi, Panathinaikos and Valencia came out strong from last week. It allows ALBA and especially Valencia to keep dreaming of a playoffs berth, while CSKA, Efes, Maccabi and Panathinaikos get settled in the top eight spots. I think that CSKA is probably the team that got the most out of the two wins, especially because one was against Real Madrid, a direct rival. The team from Moscow, with 14 wins, is close to qualifying and looks now for one of the top four spots. This week also helped them solidify the leadership of Mike James on the team. His 19 points against Real and 33 against Baskonia are revealing figures. CSKA, a familiar face in the Final Four, is getting close to being there again.”
Semih Tuna
“This is most definitely one of the most challenging seasons for many teams, and it really is not easy to go on a winning streak. Even though Maccabi won against two great teams in Barcelona and Milan, I have to go with ALBA Berlin, considering their rise in the standings and rebirth of hope for a possible playoff run.”
Igor Petrinovic
“I think that Maccabi got a massive boost with its two wins, for many reasons. Not only did they start another winning streak, but Maccabi beat two of its direct rivals in a race for home-court advantage in the playoffs, Barcelona and Milan. It was a high-scoring affair against Barcelona, and a low-scoring game against Milan, after which Maccabi not only moved four games in front of eighth-place Milan but also earned tiebreak advantage thanks to its six-point win. Maccabi really had a big week.””
Read the rest of the Experts Round Table: Round 21 on EuroLeague.net.