Euroleague Basketball Tips
Euro League basketball predictions appear under each mini game preview.
CSKA – Olympiacos
A duel between two Final Four regulars in the last years will have an un expected side due to things happening on both sides. CSKA Moscow (4-0) is one of the last two undefeated teams in the league but lost one of its main players, 2019 Final Four MVP Will Clyburn, for the season with ACL injury. On the other side, Olympiacos Piraeus (1-3) added two new names to the team over the weekend: Willie Reed and Taylor Rochestie, and that added to the recent change on the bench means that the Reds will need some time to offer their best version. Reed and Rochestie have not travelled to Moscow for the game.
CSKA will have to adjust to missing one of its key players for the rest of the season. However, the hosts have a deep roster with resources for all situations, and they currently are the best offense in the league (89.0 ppg.). They also stand in front of the Reds in almost all the main stats categories except for free throws, so despite such a big absence, CSKA still has the tools to come out of this duel victorious, especially at home.
Olympiacos is having one of the toughest trips of the season at a very convulsed moment. After two losses, two new players have arrived to help the team, but a visit to CSKA does not seem the best occasion for a test drive aside from the fact that neither player will travel to Moscow to make his debut. The calendar is unforgiving, but the Reds’ legendary fighting spirit remains untouched. Defense must be the key focus for the guests, as CSKA’s percentages indicate that mistakes behind almost always hit the net for the hosts. Reed and Rochestie will be motivated to show that they can contribute, so if they manage to give a little spark to the rest of the team, do not count Olympiacos out of this duel.
Willie Reed and Taylor Rochestie, the new signings, did not travel to Moscow for the game.
Tip: 1 (-10.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 30/10/2019, 10:00 CET, could have changed)
Zalgiris – Zenit
In-form Zalgiris Kaunas will seek its third straight win when it hosts Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday. The Lithuanian champs bested LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 4 thanks to tremendous defense and strong outside shooting. Zenit comes off a home loss against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens in which its 15 turnovers hurt the team, however, Zenit won on the road at Olympiacos Piraeus the week before.
Zalgiris has allowed the second-fewest points in the league this season (71.0 ppg.) and Zenit’s 71.0 points scored are among the fewest in the league. Defense is always important for Zalgiris, but this time the focus must be on the bigs since four of Zenit’s top five scorers are on its frontline.
Zenit’s 25 three-pointers attempted per game are above the league average, but its 31.0% accuracy from downtown is far below average. With proven marksmen like Andrew Albicy, Austin Hollins and Evgeny Voronov, Zenit can turn any game on its head by knocking down a higher percentage of triples than it has been recently.
Tip: No Bet
Maccabi – Fenerbahce
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv will look for its third straight home win when it hosts Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on Wednesday. The Israeli champs have held opponents to 66.0 points at home this season, but face a Fenerbahce team that has won three straight against Maccabi. Turkish national team player Scottie Wilbekin led Maccabi with 14 points in its ROund 4 win over Valencia Basket. Fenerbahce came up short 87-74 at AX Armani Exchange Milan. The good news was the return of Joffrey Lauvergne, who started alongside Jan Vesely and posted 14 points and 8 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Maccabi has been dominant in the paint thanks to the play of Tarik Black, Othello Hunter and co. Maccabi not only leads the league in two-point accuracy at 61.4%, but has held opponents to a league-low 38.2%. Maccabi is among the league leaders in rebounding (37.3 rpg.), too. Fenerbahce is strong inside with reigning EuroLeague MVP Jan Vesely as well as Joffrey Lauvergne, who was sharp in his season debut last week, but if Maccabi can retain its dominance inside it will be tough to beat.
Last season Fenerbahce was among the most efficient offensive teams in basketball, but its struggles to start the new campaign have seen it post only 73.5 points on 49.0% two-point shooting and 35.6% three-point shooting. However, with the additions of Nando De Colo and Derrick Williams to that roster, it is only a matter of time before Fenerbahce begins racking up the points again. Could it be this week?
Tip: 1 at 2.10 with bet365
(Price correct at 30/10/2019, 10:00 CET, could have changed)
Bayern – Real
Two sports giants meet again – on a basketball court. Both teams come off respective losses, which adds more anticipation to this showdown. Bayern lost at home against Khimki Moscow Region and Anadolu Efes Istanbul stopped Real at the Sinan Erdem Dome. Maodo Lo (13 ppg.) has been Bayern’s top scorer until now, followed by Nihad Dedovic (12.8) and Greg Monroe (12.3). Anthony Randolph (11.8 ppg.), Jordan Mickey (10.3 ppg.) and Facu Campazzo (9.5 ppg., 5.3 apg.) have led Real so far in this 2019-20 EuroLeague campaign.
Bayern’s shot selection and ball circulation have it ranked second in three-point shooting accuracy (42.0%) this season. Bayern is last in three-point shot attempts (17.3 per game), however. Bayern has managed to rebound well defensively (25.5 per game) and block shots (3.5 bpg.) to get its transition game going. Bayern needs Monroe and Danilo Barthel to stop Tavares and Mickey down low, as well as relying on Petteri Koponen, Vladimir Lucic and Dedovic to use their experience at both wings. A sellout crowd at Audi Dome will provide non-stop support.
First and foremost, Real needs to improve its two-point shooting percentage. Los Blancos rank 15th overall at 46.9%. Even when Real is shooting well from downtown (39.8%), it needs to score in the paint through Randolph, Tavares, Mickey and Gabriel Deck to balance its offense. As always, dominating the defensive boards will lead to easy transition points. It will be very important to set the right game tempo through Campazzo and Sergio Llull. If Real powers the boards and plays at the right pace, it will be main favorite to win, even on the road.
Tip: Over 158.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 30/10/2019, 10:00 CET, could have changed)
Barcelona – Valencia
It’s an all-Spanish duel to start the first double feature week of the season as undefeated FC Barcelona (4-0) welcomes winless Valencia Basket (0-4). Both teams are in opposite places right now. Barcelona’s star-studded roster has already proven that it knows how to win big and how to suffer to win, as the team just gets better with each game. On the other hand, Valencia will need a win fast in order to leave the last place in the standings, because the calendar is relentless.
Barcelona did not start the season with 4 straight wins since 2014-15, and it seems determined to stay on the winning path. The fact that it plays against a winless team might make it seem easier: Valencia is the only team in the league averaging less than 70 points (68.8 ppg.), Barca leads the league in rebounds (39.8 rpg.) and the hosts basically outdo Valencia in every aspect of the game. However, the guests will react sooner or later, and the fact that they know Barcelona well and that their trip will be short, could make Palau Blaugrana a great place for an ambush, so the hosts better stay focused like they showed in the first four games.
Everything looks dark at the moment for Valencia. They are the only winless team in the league, they have the weakest offense and they face one of the undefeated co-leaders. Coach Jaume Ponsarnau has a daunting task ahead of him, but Valencia is a team with resources. Only two players are averaging points in double digits – Dubljevic and Jordan Loyd – so it will need other players like Maurice Ndour, Quino Colom or Vanja Marinkovic to get more involved and bring those scoring numbers up as soon as possible.
Tip: 2 (+9.0) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 30/10/2019, 10:00 CET, could have changed)
News Source: Euroleague.net
Basketball tips: Livetipster
