By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Welcome back to the Experts Round Table, where we ask a variety of the most knowledgeable Turkish Airlines EuroLeague followers across the continent their opinions on the topics of the day. This week’s panel includes Ermal Kuqo, long-time EuroLeague player and recent Final Four Ambassador; Juan Antonio Casanova, the former long-time EuroLeague writer for La Vanguardia in Spain; journalist Donatas Urbonas of leading Lithuanian website 15min.lt; Nikos Varlas, Publishing Manager, Eurohoops.net Global; and Frank Lawlor, Editorial Director for Euroleague Basketball. Check out their opinions on three key questions!
1. Will Panathinaikos extend its winning streak and qualify to the playoffs by beating Real Madrid?
Ermal Kuqo
“I think Panathinaikos wins, although Real Madrid is like a wounded animal right now. They are not a team to dismiss. But going to OAKA with that atmosphere, with the playoffs in sight for Panathinaikos, the fans are going to create an unbelievable atmosphere. And since Coach Pitino came, they have slowly but surely increased their level of play, and definitely, defensively they are playing some of the best basketball in Europe right now. I think Panathinaikos has a great chance of beating Real Madrid to make the playoffs.”
Juan Antonio Casanova
“Yes. It is not a matter of quality, but a mix of opportunity and, above all, motivation. It is an opportunity because Panathinaikos is, without a question, in its best moment this season. It is on a six-game winning streak in the EuroLeague – the last three against high-level opponents and two of those on the road with a great Nick Calathes. And the team is still undefeated in the Greek League. It is full of motivation because a victory will take them to the playoffs. In the meantime, Real Madrid knows that it is very difficult to improve its third place in the standings, which the team has already locked.”
Donatas Urbonas
“Never underestimate such a high caliber team like Real Madrid, even if they play in front of a hostile sold-out crowd at OAKA. But I like Panathinaikos’s chances. Nick Calathes is playing MVP basketball, the whole team seems to be adjusted to Rick’s Pitino philosophy, they strongly trust each other and are supremely confident and on their longest winning streak at the moment. I see the OAKA rooftop shaking on Thursday.”
Nikos Varlas
“Rick Pitino has done a great job. Panathinaikos OPAP Athens are now playing better defense, all of the players have accepted their roles, which are clear, and the win away at CSKA Moscow, like after the one against AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan, has given the Greens momentum at the most appropriate time. Real Madrid is going to the Olympic Sports Center Athens having already qualified for the playoffs mathematically as well and after the defeat in the El Clasico. So, I think it’s very likely that Panathinaikos will continue their streak inside a packed arena at home to reach seven consecutive wins. But does it matter? One win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in the last Round would now be enough for the Greens to advance.”
Frank Lawlor
“There are any number of motivations to suggest that surging Panathinaikos can beat Madrid under these circumstances. Just the same, Panathinaikos doesn’t need this win to qualify. A win in Round 30 at home against Buducnost will accomplish the same goal. Still, Panathinaikos wants to keep a good thing going and call out a potential playoff opponent, the same Madrid team that won at OAKA in Game 2 to turn around their playoff series last season and never lost again on its way to the title. Lots of incentive for the Greens to qualify early, but also for Madrid to avoid limping into the playoffs after a rough last week. There’s no place better for Madrid to recapture its mojo than in OAKA. Don’t be surprised if the visitors summon the will to win this one.”
2. What “under-the-radar” player could influence most his team making the playoffs?
Ermal Kuqo
“If you remember from last season, I’m a big fan of Zalgiris and the work that Sarunas Jasikevicius has been doing with them, although this year it’s not even close to the performance that they showed last year. I think that they still have some opportunities and I believe that Marius Grigonis’s performance is going to be very important for Zalgiris to make the playoffs. If they do get a chance to do so, I think that Marius Grigonis is the guy who is going to help them achieve that.”
Juan Antonio Casanova
“Luca Vildoza. I believe that KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz will lock up a playoff spot this week because it will beat Anadolu Efes at home and almost all teams behind them in the standings will lose. In order to beat the Turkish powerhouse, it is mandatory to make Larkin uncomfortable and this is why point guards will be very important. Vildoza is an up-and-down shooter, but when he is on fire, he is able to hurt any defender and in that sense, he can tire Larkin. Despite his ankle problems, Vildoza’s role on the team has increased since Coach Perasovic‘s arrival and Granger’s injury. He can be a main character on Friday.”
Donatas Urbonas
“To my fear, it might be Giorgos Printezis. He is not playing his best basketball at the moment. Olympiacos has been struggling a lot with seven losses in its last nine games, but they still have a good chance to make the playoffs. With Spanoulis and Strelnieks out, it’s Printezis’s time to shine and lead his team through this difficult period. He has all the skills and experience to be successful and to make his teammates better.”
Nikos Varlas
“Allow me to give credit to DeShaun Thomas. The American forward has been the X-factor in Panathinaikos’s recent big wins and their impending qualification. He is the player who kept his team standing in Moscow before Nick Calathes’s big three-pointer and he was amazing against Milan as well. He’s averaged 16 points in this winning streak along with many crucial baskets, while he’s the player who secured the win against KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz with one of his own shots. He contributes instant scoring, he takes initiatives at critical moments and, without many expecting it, he has become the key in Panathinaikos’s impressive last-ditch qualification effort.”
Frank Lawlor
“Several teams have made extraordinary charges to try to reach the playoffs, with Panathinaikos, Zalgiris and Baskonia the most prominent. One player who was not depended on two months ago and is now crucial for his team to survive is Baskonia guard Luca Vildoza. First, point guard Jayson Granger went down, and then shooting ace Matt Janning did. Someone had to fill the bill and Vildoza has done it so far, culminating with his 35 minutes and 20 points against Madrid last week. He is still needed, especially against Efes on Friday, to play above the level of his limited experience, but just as he came on relatively strong late last season, I am watching for him to do it again now.”
3. Which team will win Round 29’s pivotal last game, Olympiacos vs. Zalgiris?
Ermal Kuqo
“I’m the biggest Spanoulis fan out there and that’s what makes my answer very difficult for me. But I’m a Zalgiris fan and although Olympiacos lost the last game to go to the Final Four last year against Zalgiris and they’re going to come out really, really aggressive to try to win in front of their home fans, there might be a small incentive for Zalgiris to play even better than they have so far. So I really think, and want to believe, that Zalgiris is going to win the game in Piraeus. Jasikevicius lives for these moments. I think he’s going to be the best Jasikevicius we’ve seen as a coach this season. And I’m sure he’s prepared his players to achieve exactly what he’s asking. I think Zalgiris will beat Olympiacos.”
Juan Antonio Casanova
“Olympiacos. With Spanoulis and Strenieks out, the Reds struggle to create plays, but it was a huge surprise for me to see them lose in Gran Canaria – by 23 points! – against an opponent with no playoff chances. Without a doubt, it is the most unexplainable – the only unexplainable one – of the seven losses it’s had in the last nine games. This is tough for a big team, but I have seen enough Olympiacos comebacks in previous seasons, which makes me believe in them. I don’t think they can lose an opportunity like this at home in this decisive game, even though Zalgiris has won its last four games and eliminated the Reds in the playoffs a year ago.”
Donatas Urbonas
“I have no choice but to go with Zalgiris. Otherwise, Zalgiris’s fans won’t let me enter the arena next time. Zalgiris finally got back on track and enjoy their longest winning streak this season. The ball is moving well, they make threes and intense defense help them score more points. Meanwhile, Olympiacos are missing their offensive artists Spanoulis and Strelnieks. The Reds struggle a bit in finding new ways to score and I think they’ll be under the big pressure. I still think Olympiacos is a slight favorite to win this battle, but I see Zalgiris coming out with a victory.”
Nikos Varlas
“Tough question. Zalgiris Kaunas are going to Greece after four consecutive major wins, they are six for seven in the last two seasons against Olympiacos Piraeus and, at the same time, the Reds have seven losses in their last nine games and are playing the worst basketball we’ve seen from this team in several years. They have many weaknesses and the simultaneous absence of Vassilis Spanoulis and Janis Strelnieks makes them even more vulnerable and predictable in offense. Based on the recent image of the two gladiators, basketball logic dictates Zalgiris. Here, however, we’re talking about a do-or-die game for both teams. In these kinds of confrontations, the ball feels heavier and a lot hangs on the kind of night the two opponents will have as well as the players’ personalities.”
Frank Lawlor
“True basketball fans are the first winners in this game, with two proud clubs fighting to the finish and both through more than the usual injury adversities. This game turns on the health and availability of Vassilis Spanoulis, who is a walking inspiration if he plays, but a game-changer if he can play well. Even so, Zalgiris has the healthier backcourt, because Olympiacos has missed Janis Strelnieks, too, since mid-February. Someone has to step up to give the Reds outside balance for their stronger frontcourt with Nikola Milutinov, Georgios Printezis and Zach LeDay. Points in the backcourt may not be completely necessary, but controlling the tempo, on-the-ball defense and a couple of timely three-pointers are. I have a feeling Olympiacos will find that extra something and squeak past Zalgiris.”
Source: EuroLeague