By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Four games are left for the completion of the mini-marathon that is the Euroleague Top 16. The battle for the playoff tickets rages on, with Fenerbahce being the only team that has mathematically advanced to the next stage. Well, to call it how it is, it’s the only team that has the home court advantage ahead of the playoffs, in its pocket!
All lights are upon the “El Clasico”, since it is a game about far more than simply the prestige between Barcelona and Real Madrid, while we also have a great match in Athens, where Panathinaikos is hosting Lokomotiv Kuban. Thursday is definitely the more interesting day with five matches, while the program is concluded on Friday with three more games.
Game of the Week: Barcelona – Real Madrid (17 March, 20:45 CET)
Barcelona (5-5) is hosting Real Madrid (6-4) in a big game from any way you might look at it. A victory for the hosts, who have won in Madrid thanks to a buzzer beater by Justin Doellman, will make the situation in the Group even more complex, while if the “Whites” get what they want, they will make a big step towards the playoffs. In that case, coach Pascual’s team will remain in an unsafe position, considering the qualification.
So far, the teams’ progress has shown that lots of scoring and a high-tempo game benefits Real Madrid, that prides on having the second best offensive in the Top 16. Barcelona is more effective in half-court offenses. No team is at a top shape and every possibility is open! The rhythm, the possessions and the percentages in perimeter shots will certainly provide an… indicator on which team will prevail.
Don’t forget that you can enjoy all games of the best competition in Euroleage, Live and Play by Play, through the Game Center of Eurohoops here:
Honorary mention: Panathinaikos – Lokomotiv Kuban (17 March 20:15 CET)
In Athens, Panathinaikos (6-4) plays against Lokomotiv Kuban (7-3) in the most important game of the Group. The hosts have a 6-1 record since they were defeated in Krasnodar and with the victory they almost open the door to the next stage. If they manage to secure it, they will definitely try to win by 10+ points, to get the tie-breaking advantage. On the other side, if the Russian team beats the Greens for the fourth time this season, it will mathematically advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time in the history of the club.
Lokomotiv plays the best defense in the Top 16, receiving only 68.5 points per game and it also not a coincidence that is the team that forces its opponents to most turnovers (15.3). But Panathinaikos has been improved in that area. Home court might play a decisive role, as long as the hosts reduce the 3-point percentages of “Loko” and cut off Delaney his teammates’ games, keeping him in low standards both in scoring and creation.
The program:
March 17, Thursday
CSKA Moscow – Laboral Kutxa, 18:00
Fenerbahce – Darussaka Dogus, 19:00
Brose Baskets – Khimki Moscow, 21:00
March 18, Friday:
Anadolu Efes – Cedevita, 19:30
Unicaja Malaga – Crvena Zvezda, 20:45
Olympiacos – Zalgiris Kaunas, 20:45
Interesting facts..
*Barcelona has a 9 – 1 record at home in the clashes against Real Madrid
* Also, coach Pascual’s team averages less turnovers than anyone in the Top 16 (11.2)
*Juan Carlos Navarro needs only 5 free throws to become the first player in the history of Euroleague with 800. There’s a big… battle going on in that category, since Vassilis Spanoulis follows with 794.
*Dimitris Diamantidis needs 17 points to tie veteran Croatian center Nikola Vujcic in the 6th place of the list with the top scorers in the competition
*CSKA Moscow remains the best offensive team, with 91.9 points per game and the best in three-points made (203) and three-point percentage (43.2%)
*Fenerbahce is counting 17 consecutive victories at home. At the same time, American center Ekpe Udoh leads the competition with 2.4 blocks per game with an impressive average of 3.8 in the last 6 matches.