By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Eurohoops analyzes the last game day of this four-day round in the EuroLeague, which so far has gone pretty well with 6 out of 10 correct predictions in total.
CSKA are – by a margin of three wins – at the top of the standings and they want to assert their dominance over last year’s finalists, Fenerbahce, who’ve dropped to sixth place with an 8-5 record. The Russian team has managed to keep winning all the time in spite of the fact that De Colo and Teodosic have been absent for quite a while. There’s a possibility that both will return to face the Turkish champions. But as long as this is not clear and the handicap is at 7,5 points, it’s best not to bet on the win. In their last games, Fenerbahce have been keeping their games at a low score and CSKA have improved their defense considerably. So, the option that Fenerbahce will not score more than 79,5 points (@Stoiximan 1,73) is very likely.
Darussafaka – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi are getting ready to welcome their new coach, Bagatskis, who will be coaching on David Blatt’s side for the last time against his next team. The Turkish team, then, have been in form in their last games with two wins over Real and Fenerbahce, and they’ve definitely been presenting a much better picture than Maccabi, who have four defeats in a row and taken a plunge. The hosts are the favorites, but it’s preferable to bet on the defense of the two teams, which has improved considerably and will make it hard to go over the limit of 159,5 points (@Sportingbet 1,73).
Two of the most in-form teams clash at the Olympic Sports Center in Athens. Panathinaikos, with three wins in a row, are hosting Bakonia, who have four wins in a row. Playing at home, the greens have an advantage for the win, but the 7,5-point advantage is very big for a team that is in form and that, whenever they’re losing, fight their games to the end. Aside from being crushed by CSKA, the Basques have lost by 8 points to Milan and by 5 to Olympiacos and Zalgiris. Thus, we are betting on the +8,5 (@Bet365 1,71).
Barcelona – Milan
Barcelona are looking for a reaction, since they only have one win in the last seven rounds, with Milan being in a similar situation, counting six consecutive defeats! The Catalans are the favorites for the win, but with the handicap at 9,5 points, it’s not worth the trouble. The Blaugrana will try to control the game from their defense by slowing down the pace. The point limit is at 159,5 and in Barcelona this number is pretty big. So, we’re betting in favor of the Under (@Bet365 1,71).
The choices
CSKA Moscow – Fenerbahce Fenerbahce Under 79,5 points
Darussafaka – Maccabi Tel Aviv Under 159,5 points
Panathinaikos – Baskonia (+8,5) 2
Barcelona – Milan Under 159,5 points