By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
We are closer to the middle of Top16 and by now we know what we should wait on the court! Thrilling games, improbable endings, teams ready for anything, big road wins and upsets. Euroleague owns Thursday and Friday nights, so don’t make any plans other than going to the nearest gym and witness the best basketball available on this side of the Atlantic.
Eurohoops game of the week: Real Madrid – CSKA Moscow
Many are already betting that this could also be the final game of the season in London and it’s not something daring to say. Real Madrid escaped OAKA and has a 5-0 record, while CSKA lost shockingly at home by Unicaja in its first Top16 defeat this season. It’s one of the most traditional match ups in Europe and it can be the key for the top spot of the group, specially if Real Madrid manages to prevail. With a two wins advantage in the standings against CSKA, the team of coach Laso will be the favorite for the first place of the standings.
Real until now has never been beaten this season in Madrid, but after a defeat CSKA is known to react. The team of coach Messina will be tested in the home of the only team where Messina didn’t achieve greatness. So will Real be the Queen, or is time for a the Czar to emerge? We will have our answers on Thursday night in the game in which Zoran Erceg returns to action for CSKA.
HONORABLE MENTION: Unicaja – Anadolu Efes
One more big game! Unicaja changed the balance of the group after its win in Moscow, while Efes has a 4-1 record, but lost its last game in its domestic league against Banvit. The game between them can be a landmark for both teams in the season. If Unicaja wins, then the goal of reaching Euroleague’s play offs will be more than alive. If Efes prevails, then even the home court advantage in the play offs can be achieved, depending to what happens in Madrid. It’s an unpredictable game and the key will be the pressure management by the host team.
Life without Brad: Caja Laboral – Khimki
After just one defeat in the last 19 games (!) Caja doesn’t need a second one at home. Khimki also lost its last Euroleague game in Turkey and the Russians want to return to winning, since they still have their off the court financial problems. Caja has the momentum, but the team of coach Kurtinaitis is solid and ready for anything. Also, Brad Oleson has left the building and his replacement in Caja, David Jelinek, will have to wait until the 8th gameday of Top16 in order to make his Euroleague debut.
Maybe it’s time for a loss: Barcelona – Siena
Barcelona made a big step towards the top spot of its group after beating Caja on the road and in order to do so, the Catalans have to win the game against unbeaten Siena. So it’s time for the Italians to be defeated? The logical answer is yes and not only because the team seems tired and that was evident in the in its last Italian league game. It’s not easy to win on the road at Barcelona no matter who you are, specially if you lack quality and that’s the case of Siena after the injury of Thomas Ress. On the other hand, Navarro will not be available.
The will be blood: Olympiacos – Fenerbahce/ Ulker
Olympiacos beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, but then lost not only its domestic league game against PAOK but also valuable Greek guard Vaggelis Mangaris for the rest of the season. Having a 2-3 record the Reds don’t have the luxury for one more home defeat. Fenerbahce/ Ulker doesn’t have the luxury for any defeat no matter if the the game is played in Istanbul or on the road. With only one win so far, the Turks need a lot more in order to get back on track for the play offs. Also, Mike Batiste will return once more in Greece, but this time in a gym that after 9 seasons as a Panathinaikos‘ player he will not be saluted.
One way road: Zalgiris Kaunas – Alba Berlin
A good start doesn’t mean also a good end. Zalgiris started the Euroleague season on full throttle, but now its back is against the wall. Having a 1-4 record, the win against the Germans is needed and the good news for Kaunas is that Alba has also a 1-4 record and a worst team. Despite the pressure on Plaza’s team and the shocking decision of Ibby Jaaber to leave Lithuania, Zalgiris has the quality and the experience to beat Alba Berlin.
The adjuster: Besiktas – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Besiktas doesn’t really has the chance to qualify to the play offs, the team knows it and that’s why its coach Erman Kunter clarified that his big goal is to defend the domestic championship title. That been said, Besiktas will not finish the Top16 without a win and its victim will probably also stay out of the play offs. Maccabi Tel Aviv with a 1-4 record and two home defeats already should be really careful not to be that victim, or else the Israelis will also have to focus in their domestic competition.
The favorite: Panathinaikos – Brose Baskets
Panathinaikos had the chance last week to get a big win against Real Madrid, but lost it in the five last minutes. Brose Baskets lost to Alba and also the chance to stay on the play offs’ hunt. The team of Chris Fleming traditionally doesn’t give up to the Greek teams, but that usually happens in Bamberg. Panathinaikos is almost a lock for the 4-2 record, unless the defending German champions have a +45% three points shot percentage and on the same time the Greens are missing their open looks.