By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
This week, the EuroLeague Experts Round Table features Euroleague Basketball Legend Theodoros Papaloukas; Luca Chiabotti, the former basketball expert-in-residence at La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy; Patrick Reichelt, sports editor for Munchner Merkur; Alex Madrid of Eurohoops Spain; and Frank Lawlor, Editorial Director of Euroleague Basketball.
They were called to make their picks on the team in a must-win situation for Round 25, the winner between Fenerbahce and Real Madrid, as well as on which, if any, stats leader right now could lose his top spot by the end of the season.
Per euroleague.net:
Which team do you most consider to be in a must-win situation for its Round 25 game?
Theo Papaloukas
“There are many crucial games and there are many teams that are in need of big wins. Since we’re talking about a must-win situation, I’m going to choose AX Armani Exchange Milan against Khimki Moscow Region. It’s a very crucial battle. With a win, they hold on to their position in the top eight and continue to control their destiny. A loss – at home, in fact – to Khimki is going to be a big problem. Because the two teams will then have the same record, Milan will have lost twice to Khimki and find itself out of the top eight at a time when Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is pressing on for a place in the playoffs.”
Luca Chiabotti
“AX Armani Exchange Milan. Milan has lost five of the last six games, including the home game with Berlin. And in the last weekend, Milan failed in the Italian Cup. If Ettore Messina’s team lose this home game against Khimki, its chances of playing in the playoffs will drastically decrease because Milan will be overtaken by Khimki (the Russian team would be 2-0 in the matchup) and will come out of the first eight places. But not only this: in the race for the playoffs, Milan is 0-1 against Crvena Zvezda (and will play in Belgrade the return game) and Olympiacos (Milan lost by 21 points in Piraeus). So, Milan must win absolutely the game with Khimki. Losing would cost Milan more than just one position in the standings.”
Patrick Reichelt
“The answer could be Baskonia, as they play direct neighbor Zalgiris, which you should beat at home. But my choice is Fenerbahce. After a mainly disappointing season, they want not only to jump into the playoff spots. They want to demonstrate that they are still ready for the really big goals. But for that, you have to beat the really big opponents and a win like that is still missing. Now they face Real at home.”
Alex Madrid
“Two teams involved in the playoff race face each other this week in a game that could mark their future in the competition. It is true that during this round several teams could lose almost any chance to make the postseason, but both AX Armani Exchange Milan and Khimki Moscow Region need the victory. After an impressive start, Italians and Russians have slowed down and now are definitely struggling to get wins. Defeating a direct rival at this point in the season would be massive for either of them.”
Frank Lawlor
“Home teams have the most pressure to win now, and Baskonia has to win at Buesa Arena to survive this playoffs race, which makes its tie-breaking game with Zalgiris a huge opportunity. Remember, it would count double since Baskonia won in Kaunas to open the season, which seems like eons ago for this team, considering all its injuries since then. Alas, Zalgiris has risen because of togetherness and Baskonia must play shorthanded and rely on new faces. That’s no easy task, but Baskonia needs this win desperately to avoid possibly falling three victories behind the eighth and final playoff spot with nine games left to play.”