Βy Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Maccabi will seek to complete the miracle of the big upset by defeating Darussafaka in Istanbul with a difference higher than 11 points. Their task is going to be tough, but – at least in betting terms – the win is extremely possible.
Maccabi needs a win with a difference higher than 11 points against Darussafaka in order to qualify. The Israelis are not in very good shape and the difference is certainly rather big. However, it’s a big opportunity to bet in favor of a win, even by a point, because even if the game is close in the final minutes, the Turks will try to lose with a small difference rather than taking the game to overtime. So, we are simply going to bet on Maccabi’s win.
Olympiacos is indifferent in terms of points in the game against Efes, but Giannis Sfairopoulos is definitely not the coach who is going to allow his players to relax. The red-and-whites are expected to play some tough defense once again and not allow the Turks to score a lot. The 73,5-point limit for the visitors is rather high and the home team will probably concede less. Besides, their worst performance in ten home games is the 71 points from AEK.
Laboral want to win second or third place and so will fight for the win against Cedevita. The Basques are very strong at home, but the 9,5-point handicap is rather big for a game against the combative Croatians. On the contrary, it’s safer to bet on Laboral scoring more than 84 points, as they’ve done in four out of their last five home games (in the fifth they scored 84+ points, but in overtime).
Real are expected to destroy Strasbourg in the “final” for the qualification to the Top 16, but their defense definitely hasn’t improve very dramatically in recent weeks. The point limit for the French is only 68,5 points and they will probably exceed it. Besides, the European champions have conceded less points only four times overall (68 from Manresa and Gran Canaria, 67 from Bayern and 61 from Gipuzkoa) throughout the whole season.
Khimki want to secure second place behind Fenerbahce and will seek to defeat their –indifferent in terms of points – opponent in order to achieve their goal. The 4,5-point handicap is small and the Russians will probably impose themselves on the Turks.
The betting tips
Khimki-Fenerbahce (+4,5) 1
@Nesine 1,70
Darussafaka-Maccabi 2
@William Hill 1,91
Laboral-Cedevita Laboral Over 84,5 points
@Stoiximan 1,91
Real Madrid-Strasbourg Strasbourg Over 68,5 points
@Stoiximan 1,83
Olympiacos–Efes Efes Under 74,5 points
@Sportingbet 1,85