By Nikos Varlas/ Varlas@Εurohoops.net
The second round of Top16 is upon us and from now on the mistakes can’t be corrected. There are big games all over Europe and with seven more weeks until the play offs almost anything can still happen. However, the big prize is the two top spots of each group, which translate to home court advantage and the biggest battles are the ones that will decide which teams will have them in the end. And yes, we have those kind of games this week, specially in Istanbul.
Eurohoops match of the week: Anadolu Efes – CSKA Moscow
Anadolu Efes is playing better in Top16, has changed level and after its win over Real Madrid the Turkish club hosts in Istanbul CSKA Moscow. Yeap, that’s our game of the week. Efes has a 6-1 record, the Russian champions have one win less and this is a key game for the final standings of the group, where those two teams together with Real will fight till the end for the two top spots and the play offs home court advantage.
Anadolu Efes wants to get its 7th straight Top16 win, while CSKA has to prevail on the road in order to cover the lost ground by its home loss to Unicaja Malaga. It will be a big game, mostly slow paced with both teams excelling in set game situations. Also Ettore Messina has to decided before this game who will be cut from the foreigners of its roster. Papaloukas and Christmas are in danger, as only one of them will remain a part of the team.
Honorable mention: Zalgiris – Panathinaikos
It’s a key game for both opponents, specially for the hosts. After their bad start in Top16, the Lithuanians have the chance with a win to get a 4-4 record and catch the Greeks in the standings. The flip-side is that if Panathinaikos wins, then its play offs spot will be almost locked. The first game between the two teams was decided in the last shot – which Darjus Lavrinovic missed – the Athenian team won 77-76 and we expect to see again a similar barnburner.
Paulius Jankunas is out for Zalgiris until the end of the season, but ex-Panathinaikos player Robertas Javtokas returned from his injury. Also the newest signing of Zalgiris, American guard Donnie McGrath can be used in the game after his transfer was completed.
Dignity and hope: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Siena
After losing at home by Barcelona, Maccabi Tel Aviv has a really small chance of catching the play offs’ train. But the Israelis have to play for their name and their history, specially at home in front of their passionate fans. They have a 2-5 record, while Siena has a great 6-1 and shares the top spot of the group with Barca. Also this will be the fourth game between the two teams this season, with the home team getting the win every time, two times by a bucket.
It’s not a secret that Maccabi has to stop Bobby Brown and impose its own tempo. Siena has also other weapons, as it was proven in the opening Top16 game against Maccabi that was decided by Tomas Ress scoring 18 points. So, if Maccabi still wants to have hope, it should win, or else Siena will continue its admirable run.
Momentum: Fenerbahce/ Ulker – Barcelona
The team of Simone Pianigiani started the season out of synch, but at this point it starts to produce its best basketball. Fener got the Turkish cup, leads the Turkish league and has two straight Euroleague wins. Bogdanovic is hot, David Andersen reminds a bit of his old self, but also Barcelona has also found its rhythm.
The Catalans also got the Spanish “Copa Del Rey”, they are rising in “Liga Endesa” and they are on top of their Euroleague group. Fener needs a big win in Top16, while the team of coach Pascual after prevailing on the road in Vitoria and Tel Aviv, wants to send one more time the message that nobody can knock them from the top. Barca is the favorite, but with Fener being the host, anything could happen.
Third try: Brose Baskets – Unicaja Malaga
If you judge by the two opponents record, then this game is not supposed to be really interesting. But this is not the case. The German champions still search for its first Top16 win and maybe they should already have at least one. They lost in Athens on the last minute and they also lost at home due to three free throws of Zalgiris’ Marko Popovic on the last buzzer. So, they want to win and they want it now, having the boost of Jeremiah Massey’s Top16 debut and the signing of Matt Walsh.
This is also the key match for Unicaja which search for a third road win, after Moscow and Berlin. If Unicaja wins in Bamberg, then no matter what happens in the game between Zalgiris and Panathinaikos, the Spaniards will have the advantage. So let’s see for whom the third try will be a charm…
A score to settle: Olympiacos – Caja Laboral
One of the most important games of the week. Both teams have a 4-3 record, but Caja Laboral after a good start has lost its momentum, while Olympiacos has three wins in a row. The winner of the game in Piraeus will get the advantage in the standings, with the Basques having won the first Top16 game against the Reds by 8 points.
The new member of Olympiacos, Doron Perkins, is not expected to play, while Caja will not have injured David Jelinek. It will be a dogfight and the team from Vitoria has to win on the road Olympiacos since the 2007 play offs, when its star was Luis Scola. Can they do it again after six years? We will know on Friday night.
Return to victories: Khimki – Besiktas
Khimki lost for the first time in his home gym last week since November 2010 and needs the win against win-less Besiktas in order to improve its 4-3 record. The favorite is clear in this game, specially after the decision of Besiktas to cut Curtis Jerrells. The team of coach Kurtinaitis is better, plays at home and has a big motive to win. Sorry Besiktas, but everything seems to be in favor of the Russians.
Domination: Real Madrid – Alba Berlin
This is one of the few times that a Top16 game reminds regular season. The Spaniards after losing for the first time in Top16 last week, are hosting Alba Berlin and it should be an easy night for Madrid. Νot only there is a difference in quality between the two opponents, but also Real always play better at home in front of its fans.