By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
Five games before the end of the regular season, things in the rankings could not be more dramatic in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.
Except for Real Madrid who was, is, and will be unmoved from the top, nothing is given in the remaining privileged positions that give direct qualification to the playoffs with home advantage (1-4), or without it (5-6), or at least qualification to the Play-In Showdown (7-10).
Still, the picture is pretty much clear at this point, and in some cases, the opponents on the games left define the current status of each team.
Note: No team can move up or down more than six places from any previous edition of the Power Rankings.
#18 ALBA BERLIN
Previous ranking: 17 (-1)
Record: 5-24
Home: 4-11
Away: 1-13
Offense-Defense: 75.9-85.9
ALBA Berlin, which is currently on a six-game losing streak, has never been higher than 15th spot in the standings. They have been consistently in the bottom since Round 27 and are not expected to move away from there, not with two wins separating them from ASVEL.
#17 LDLC ASVEL
Previous ranking: 18 (+1)
Record: 7-22
Home: 4-11
Away: 3-11
Offense-Defense: 78.2-85.6
They defeated E7 Emporio Armani Milan (81-77), pressured Panathinaikos for three quarters before losing almost by 20 (85-67), and also defeated Anadolu Efes (84-80). Having finally a healthy roster, they avoided 18th place, but at this point can’t climb higher than 17th. Perhaps they can cause an upset or two in the games left, making things interesting.
#16 CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET BELGRADE
Previous ranking: 11 (-5)
Record: 10-19
Home: 7-7
Away: 3-12
Offense-Defense: 81.3-81.3
Five consecutive defeats and several injuries have turned Crvena Zvezda into a ranking regulator. All five remaining games are against teams fighting for the postseason and their placement in the final standings, starting with Panathinaikos (20/3) and Virtus Bologna (22/3) at home.
#15 ZALGIRIS KAUNAS
Previous ranking: 15 (-)
Record: 11-18
Home: 6-7
Away: 5-11
Offense-Defense: 79.2-80.7
Three consecutive defeats mean that Zalgiris Kaunas has only mathematical chances of entering the top ten. Regardless, they are expected to give their best, as they always do, especially with four of the remaining five games being played at home.
#14 ANADOLU EFES ISTANBUL
Previous ranking: 13 (-1)
Record: 12-17
Home: 10-4
Away: 2-13
Offense-Defense: 85.5-87.8
The defeat by ASVEL (84-80) is hard to compensate at this point for Anadolu Efes. At this point, every game for them is a matter of life and death. A possible defeat to Olympiacos (19/3) at home will likely mean the end to any hope of qualifying for the Play-In Showdown.
#13 EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN
Previous ranking: 14 (+1)
Record: 12-17
Home: 10-5
Away: 2-12
Offense-Defense: 77.1-77.4
Milan’s performances throughout the season don’t match the theoretical potential of the roster and the five games left are too few to make up for every misstep already made and a place in the top 10. The schedule is an additional opponent with games such as the upcoming contests with Monaco (20/3) on the road and Fenerbahce (22/3) at home.
#12 VALENCIA BASKET
Previous ranking: 12 (-)
Record: 13-16
Home: 8-7
Away: 5-9
Offense-Defense: 76.5-78.2
Things are simple for Valencia after four consecutive defeats. A win over Bayern Munich (20/3) at home on Wednesday will keep them in the Play-In Showdown slots, especially if it’s by more than a point since they lost 85-84 in the first round to the Germans, who currently have the same record. A loss to Bayern will likely push Valencia aside.
#11 PARTIZAN MOZZART BET BELGRADE
Previous ranking: 7 (-4)
Record: 13-16
Home: 10-3
Away: 3-13
Offense-Defense: 83.3-84.2
They suffered five defeats in the last six games. And that’s how in the most crucial juncture of the season, missing the Play-Ins will not be a surprise. Three consecutive home games against Baskonia (19/3), Real Madrid (21/3), and Olympiacos (28/3) will decide if they can still make it.
#10 BAYERN MUNICH
Previous ranking: 16 (+6)
Record: 13-16
Home: 9-5
Away: 4-11
Offense-Defense: 79.1-81.8
Things are simple for Bayern Munich. A road win over Valencia (20/3) will keep them in the Play-In Showdown giving them a 2-0 advantage in a possible tie. A loss in Spain will push them far behind unless they lose by just one point since they have beaten Valencia at home 85-84. The two teams are now part of a three-way tie that includes also Partizan.
#9 VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA
Previous ranking: 3 (-6)
Record: 17-12
Home: 12-3
Away: 5-9
Offense-Defense: 80.1-81
Virtus Bologna is on the decline, as evidenced by just three wins or, more correctly, seven defeats in the last 10 games. At this point, it’s not entirely up to them to make up lost ground for a top-four finish and they will need to work hard to get back into the top six, as well.
#8 BASKONIA VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Previous ranking: 9 (+1)
Record: 16-13
Home: 10-6
Away: 6-7
Offense-Defense: 84.1-83.6
Five games ago, Baskonia was on the edge of the positions that led to the Play-Ins, four wins later they are candidates for seventh place. Games such as the next ones against Partizan (19/3) and Zalgiris Kaunas (21/3) away from home will decide if they can deliver.
#7 MACCABI PLAYTIKA TEL AVIV
Previous ranking: 5 (-2)
Record: 16-13
Home: 10-4
Away: 6-9
Offense-Defense: 86.9-87.1
Maccabi Tel Aviv has never been out of the top ten and that couldn’t be the case after three consecutive wins over ALBA Berlin (71-106), Zalgiris Kaunas (83-76), and Crvena Zvezda (80-84). And if a top-six finish seems to be difficult to get, seventh place is just a breath away.
#6 PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS
Previous ranking: 6 (-)
Record: 18-11
Home: 12-3
Away: 6-8
Offense-Defense: 81-77.1
Along with the derby from Olympiaxos (71-65), Panathinaikos also lost the advantage over the Reds for a top-four finish. Still, they have many chances to make it, even if they have to play on the road in a difficult arena against Crvena Zvezda (20/3). The most difficult and crucial game left for them seems to be the one against Barcelona (22/3) at home.