Euroleague Basketball Tips
Euro League basketball predictions appear under each mini game preview.
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CSKA Moscow – Anadolu Efes
Both teams arrive at this game in great shape. CSKA is on a five-game winning streak and comes off a big road victory against Khimki. Efes is now on a seven-game winning streak and 15-1 in the last 16 games despite not having a full roster. Mike James (21.1 ppg.) is CSKA’s top scorer, followed by Darrun Hilliard (10.3 ppg.) and Kyle Hines (9.0 ppg.). Shane Larkin (21.8 ppg.), Vasilije Micic (13.8 ppg.) and Chris Singleton (8.1 ppg.) are leading Efes right now.
CSKA leads the EuroLeague in defensive rebounds (26.0 dropg.), which is a must to get its transition game going. The team got even more unpredictable on defense since signing Howard Sant-Roos, a steals specialist with great anticipation in the passing lanes. CSKA limited Shane Larkin to 18 points in Round 15 and if it manages to slow him down again, it will have a better chance to get this important win.
Efes ranks second in scoring (86.9 ppg.), but just eighth in assists (17.7 apg.). It plays a lot of isolation, but its two-point (56.7%, second overall) and three-point shooting percentages (41.3%, first) allow Efes to lead the standings with authority. Efes also ranks 15th in turnovers at just 11.6 per game. Taking care of the ball and shooting it with efficiency, with players creating their own shots or finding the open teammate, makes Efes’s offense unpredictable and great.
Tip: 2 (+3.0) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/02/2020, 00:30 CET, subject to change)
Zalgiris – Olympiacos
The latest chapter in one of the EuroLeague’s most interesting rivalries in recent seasons will be written on Tuesday when Zalgiris hosts Olympiacos. Zalgiris has found its form in recent weeks and comes off back-to-back wins and victories in five of its last seven games. Olympiacos has won three of its last five contests, but has only been victorious in one of its last five road games.
Neither of these teams overloads on three-pointers; Zalgiris’s 172 three-pointers made are third-fewest in the league and its 34.9 accuracy is fourth-lowest. However, they are playing an Olympiacos side which has allowed opponents to shoot 41.2% from downtown this season. Moreover, Zalgiris has made 44.4% of its threes in wins this season. A good shooting night from the perimeter for guys like Thomas Walkup, Lukas Lekavicius and Arturas Milaknis could spell victory for Zalgiris.
Controlling the glass will be vital for the Reds to capture a key road win. Olympiacos is ranked sixth in the league in rebounds (34.9 rpg.) and Zalgiris is 13th (33.3). The difference between them is not that great. However, Zalgiris is fifth in offensive rebounds (11.3 orpg.) and Olympiacos is 12th (10.1). The recent addition of Octavius Ellis should help Olympiacos on the boards. If the Reds can outrebound Zalgiris, limit the hosts on the offensive glass and get some second-chance baskets of their own, it could put Coach Bartzokas’s men on the path to victory.
Tip: Under 156.5 at 1.95 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/02/2020, 00:30 CET, subject to change)
Villeurbanne – Bayern
Both teams will try to bounce back in this game. ASVEL is currently on a six-game losing streak and comes off a home defeat against Zalgiris. Bayern is 1-7 in its last eight games and lost against Milan on the road last week. It has not won outside Germany; its only road win came against ALBA in Berlin. Adreian Payne (9.8 ppg.) is ASVEL’s top scorer, followed by David Lighty (9.6 ppg.) and Livio Jean-Charles (9.4 ppg.). Greg Monroe (12.4 ppg., 6.6 rpg.), Vladimir Lucic (11.8 ppg.) and T.J. Bray (9.8 ppg.) are leading Bayern right now.
ASVEL has allowed 86.2 points on average away from the Astroballe, but just 79.0 at home. It limits opponents to just 18.5 three-point shots taken by being aggressive and slowing down the pace on offense. Stopping Greg Monroe down low is one of the keys, but ASVEL relies on up-and-coming youngsters Theo Maledon and Matthew Strazel to make the difference with their outside shooting and creativity.
Bayern has struggled to score on the road this season (69.9 ppg.), hitting just 47.5% from two-point range and 36.8% from downtown. That affects the team’s ball circulation; Bayern only dishes 1.02 assist per turnover in road games. It must get its most experienced wing players involved: Vladimir Lucic, Nihad Dedovic and Petteri Koponen, who should make the difference in this game, especially if it is a close one.
Tip: Over 155.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/02/2020, 00:30 CET, subject to change)
Milano – ALBA Berlin
Milan snapped a three-game losing streak with a come-from-behind home win in Round 22 and wants to keep its momentum going. ALBA has also lost its last two games after grabbing consecutive road wins against Zvezda and Olympiacos. Sergio Rodriguez (12.8 ppg.) is Milan’s top scorer this season, followed by Vladimir Micov (11.3 ppg.) and Luis Scola (9.9 ppg.). Rokas Giedraitis (13.5 ppg.), Marcus Eriksson (10.4 ppg.) and Luke Sikma (9.9 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 4.2 apg.) are leading ALBA so far this season.
Milan has allowed opponents to take 25.1 defensive rebounds on average, while grabbing only 9.3 offensive rebounds. It can avoid a lot of easy points in transition – one of ALBA’s strong points – by being more active on the offensive glass. Kaleb Tarczewski and Arturas Gudaitis have a size advantage in the paint and must make the most out of it. Milan must try to play five-on-five offense and dominate the game tempo to prevent ALBA from running the floor.
ALBA is 1-9 this season when scoring 80 points or less, so speeding up the game tempo is mandatory for the German powerhouse. ALBA leads the EuroLeague in assists (19.5 apg.) and is third in steals (7.1 spg.), but allows opponents to make 56.9% of its two-point shots. On Coach Aito Garcia Reneses’s teams, aggressive defense usually leads to a fluent offense and that is what ALBA will look for at Mediolanum Forum by running its offense through Luke Sikma and Rokas Giedraitis.
Tip: 2 (+7.0) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/02/2020, 00:30 CET, subject to change)
Real Madrid – Baskonia
Real snapped a three-game losing streak with a brilliant road victory against Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, a direct opponent in the fight for home-court advantage in the playoffs. Baskonia has only registered two wins in its last nine games and comes off a road loss against Olympiacos. Anthony Randolph (13.4 ppg.) has been Real’s top scorer this season, followed by Trey Thompkins (10.8 ppg.) and Facu Campazzo (10.5 ppg.). Toko Shengelia (16.0 ppg.), Nik Stauskas (9.8 ppg.) and Shavon Shields (9.4 ppg.) are leading Baskonia right now.
Real is doing a great job at protecting the paint this season, allowing opponents to make just 48.7% of its two-point shots. That helps Real to rank third in defensive rebounds (25.4 drpg.), which is critical to getting its run-and-gun, transition offense going. With Anthony Randolph back in action, Real adds firepower and deep shooting range, but relies on Facu Campazzo and Sergio Llull to make the difference in this game, putting pressure on Semaj Christon and Sergi Garcia at point guard.
Two weeks ago, Baskonia outrebounded Real 26-34 and made 28 of 45 two-point shots, while limiting Los Blancos to just 14-of-32 shooting. With Pierria Henry sidelined, Semaj Christon has an opportunity to showcase his passing and scoring skills against elite playmakers Facu Campazzo and Sergio Llull. Youssoupha Fall will play a critical role against Edy Tavares, trying to stop him down low and get him into foul trouble. Of course, Toko Shengelia must lead the team once more in this tough road game.
Tip: Over 162.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/02/2020, 00:30 CET, subject to change)
News Source: Euroleague.net
Basketball tips: Livetipster
