By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
After two exciting rounds for the Regular Season and the Last 32, the moment that all Eurocup fans have been waiting for is here.
We are talking about the Eighth-Finals of course. Sixteen teams will compete in eight two-legged knock-out series that will determine who will advance to the quarterfinals. While as a general “rule” this kind of format favors the strongest teams, some exciting surprises can be in order.
This time, almost all 8 match-ups are open to any result. There is a truly grand favorite in only one of the Eighth-Final battles, as you will read in our feature, while almost anything can happen in the rest of the games.
Eurohoops.net decided to preview these series that start tomorrow, offering an insight on the 16 teams, comparing the opponents and highlighting some certain points of interest.
ALBA BERLIN – BAYERN MUNICH
If this Eigth-Finals clash between Alba Berlin and Bayern Munich wasn’t interesting enough already, its intriguing character becomes even greater after the German Cup Final. Bayern will look for a chance of redemption, after losing the title and Alba Berlin is fully aware of that. During the current season, the score is 2 – 0 in favor of coach Obradovic‘s team, since the Bavarians had been defeated in the championship match as well.
Moreover, Alba and Bayern will almost get… bored of facing each other, since they will also meet in a game for a German Bundesliga. There are no secrets between Alba Berlin and Bayern Munich, thus no excuses, whatsoever, if any teams appears unprepared.
What will Alba Berlin do:
Apart from ploughing again through the “know how” that has been proven successful so far in the season, the team from Berlin will try to put all possible momentum from the Cup Final into good use. With Rob Lowery sidelined because of his injury, Will Cherry and Jordan Taylor will have to be ultra focused on offense but also guard their opposing guards fiercely. After all, Alex Renfroe and Nihad Dedovic are players that are not to be trifled with.
We already explained some of the reasons why general numbers in Eurocup offer little insight on this specific match up. However, it would not hurt the German Cup winners to fix their “assist/turnover” ratio. Out of all teams that have advanced in the Eighth-Finals, Alba is the worst in that department, finishing the Last 32 with 97 assists and 90 turnovers in total.
What will Bayern Munich do:
After shedding all negative psychology, coach Pesic’s players will probably need to be tougher, and more resilient in their game. For example, gaining a lead and then losing it almost in a heartbeat is not exactly the right attitude of a team that wants to make it further in the competition.
Also, the Bavarians… have to finally discover a way to stop Elmedin Kikanovic. The Bosnian big guy has been a small nightmare for Bayern, scoring 16 points in the German Championship game, and 19 for the German Cup. Eliminating this threat will be crucial, but in the meantime, John Bryant and Deon Thompson have to be steadily good on both ends of court. When they play according to the standards, the benefits for their team are multiplied and so are the problems for their opponents.
LIMOGES CSP – GRAN CANARIA
Here we have two teams that are arriving in the Eighth-Finals from two completely different standpoints. On one hand, Limoges’ players had more time to get prepared, clear their minds and channel their focus entirely into this game. On the other hand, Gran Canaria spent four intense days in Corruna for the Copa Del Rey. Their efforts peaked in their well fought, yet exhausting Final against Real Madrid.
But what is common in Gran Canaria and Limoges is that they have both made an impression in the Last 32. The team from Las Palmas almost swept its way to the third Eurocup stage winning five games while losing only one. Meanwhile, the French advanced by practically… eliminating one of the favorites, Valencia, winning them twice and making some noise heard all over Europe.
What will Limoges do:
Defensively, the Limougeauds have a lot of job against the best offense in Eurocup Last 32 (88.5 points per game). They will try to break the connection between the Gran Canaria’s guards and Slovenian center Alen Omic (one of the rising stars in the competition, and not only) and certainly attempt to block the view to the basket from the shooters of the Spaniards. Gran Canaria has been making more than ten three-pointers per game in the Last 32. A LOT. It will be curious to see if the defensive switches that worked miracles against Valencia will be used again.
Bo McCalleb and Leo Westermann will be called to create rifts which will allow Nobel Boungou Colo and Will Daniels to strike from afar. Also, Ali Traore’s low post skills will not only bring scoring, but also expand Limoges’ options in offense, making it even more difficult to be stopped.
What will Gran Canaria do:
The average difference with which Gran Canaria wins its opponents at Las Palmas, is 17 points. Just a hunch, but perhaps this is a good reason why the team will throw most of the Eighth-Finals weight on what will happen in the rematch. Not in Beaublanc.
Also, taking under consideration the fatigue from the Copa Del Rey, it is quite possible to see Aito Reneses preferring to implement a different type of basketball in France. One that departs a bit from the team’s DNA. So, center Alen Omic might have even more duties than before, in an increased amount of 5 vs 5 offensive plays. The Spaniards will need more input from Kevin Pangos who should give a big helping hand to veteran Albert Oliver in the playmaking business. Also, since Limoges’ defense has been strengthened since Dule’s arrival (the team received an average of 73 points in the last four Eurocup games), Pangos’ unpredictable and imaginative game might be a skeleton key that will unlock it.