Euroleague Tips with Previews – Round 12 – Friday

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Efes – Baskonia

These teams arrive at this game in good momentum. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (6-4) has won five of its last six games led by Shane Larkin (16.5 ppg., 5 apg.), Krunoslav Simon (14.2 ppg.) and Vasilije Micic (13.7 ppg., 5.6 apg.). TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (5-5) is on a three-game winning streak in which it scored at least 86 points in each game. Alec Peters (12.3 ppg.) is its top scorer, followed by Luca Vildoza (12.1 ppg.) and Pierria Henry (11.3 ppg.). Expect a great tactical battle between veteran head coaches Ergin Ataman and Dusko Ivanovic.

Efes trusts Larkin to make the difference against his former team. Larkin is slowly but steadily finding his rhythm and must be ready for a very interesting matchup against a great on-the-ball defender in Pierria Henry. If Bryant Dunston and Tibor Pleiss remain sidelined, Sanli, Chris Singleton and even Moerman will see playing time at center. Efes ranks second in two-point shooting percentage (57.9%) and fourth from downtown (39.3%), and it needs that ball circulation against a strong, physical Baskonia side.

Bryant Dunson has missed Efes’s last five games. Rodrigue Beaubois has missed the last three games. Vasilije Micic and Tibor Pleiss both missed Efes’s Round 11 game.

Baskonia ranks third in offensive rebounds (11.1 orpg.) while Efes is last overall (7.6 orpg.). Locking down its defensive glass is important to allow Vildoza, Henry and Rokas Giedraitis to play in transition. Baskonia must stop Simon and will trust Zoran Dragic to do so. Inside, especially if Pleiss remains sidelined, Baskonia has a size advantage with Youssoupha Fall and Tonye Jekiri, and must make the most out of it. Playing aggressively and running its offense through an inspired Peters are keys, too.

basketball prediction Tip: 1 (-5.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/12/2020, 00:15 CET, subject to change)

Zalgiris – Barcelona

This will be a very special game at Zalgirio Arena as Sarunas Jasikevicius returns to Kaunas for the first time since leaving the team. Jasikevicius coached Zalgiris for almost five seasons and led the team to the EuroLeague Final Four in 2018. Zalgiris (5-6) is on a five-game losing streak. Marius Grigonis (15.3 ppg.), Joffrey Lauvergne (10.3 ppg.) and Lukas Lekavicius (8.8 ppg.) are its top scorers. Barcelona lost against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne last week after a seven-game winning streak. Nikola Mirotic (17.1 ppg., 80.9% 2FG), Cory Higgins (12.2 ppg.) and former Zalgiris center Brandon Davies (10.3 ppg.) are its pillars.

Zalgiris must improve its defense. It is allowing 81.2 points per game on 57.3% two-point shooting and 40.7% from downtown. It must improve its overall aggressiveness, force opponents to poor ball circulation that would result in bad shot selection. Paulius Jankunas and Augustine Rubit must join forces to stop Mirotic at power forward. Controlling the game tempo is important and Zalgiris relies on Thomas Walkup to do so, while using Lekavicius and Grigonis to open the floor with their three-point shooting.

Zalgiris swingman Patricio Garino will be out of action until December after a knee operation.

Despite allowing 80 points last week, Barcelona still has the best defensive numbers in the competition (70.5 ppg. allowed). Barcelona is succeeding at keeping opponents to low shooting percentages: 48.3% inside the arc, 33.3% from downtown. Being able to do that is critical with a team with such great shooters as Grigonis, Lekavicius and Arturas Milaknis. Barcelona must get Alex Abrines and Kyle Kuric involved on offense, as their deep range generates mismatches on defense, which players like Mirotic, Davies and Rolands Smits read well.

basketball prediction Tip: Under 154.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/12/2020, 00:15 CET, subject to change)

Bayern – Khimki

FC Bayern Munich (7-4) comes off back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Vladimir Lucic (14.8 ppg., 5.0 rpg.), Jalen Reynolds (12.6 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) and Wade Baldwin IV (13.7 ppg., 4.0 apg.) have been Bayern’s pillars until now. Khimki Moscow Region (2-8) also lost its last two games and is looking to bounce back with a road win. Alexey Shved (16.8 ppg., 8.8 apg.), Jonas Jerebko (12.4 ppg., 6.8 rpg.) and Greg Monroe (10.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) are leading the team right now.

Bayern has some of the best defensive numbers in the competition, allowing just 77.7 points on just 31.7% three-point shooting. That three-point defense may be especially important against players such as Shved, Dairis Bertans and Janis Timma, who are all great shooters. Bayern, however, has struggled to protect its paint, as opponents score 56.0% of their two-point shots. Stopping Monroe, Jerebko and, if available, Devin Booker is mandatory for Bayern, as well as running its offense through Lucic and Baldwin.

Khimki is averaging just 77.7 points, which is a low number for such an offensive-minded team. Shot selection is an issue, as Khimki is hitting just 50.0% of its two-point shots (17th overall) and shooting 36.1% from downtown (13th). Shved leads the EuroLeague in assists, but is struggling to score (35.9% 2FG, 31.3% 3FG) so far this season. As soon as Khimki’s undeniable leader steps up on offense, he will generate space for its many scorers all around the court. Stopping Lucic is a critical issue for the Russian powerhouse.

Devin Booker has not played since Round 5.

basketball prediction Tip: 2 (+4.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/12/2020, 00:15 CET, subject to change)

Real – Villeurbanne

Real Madrid will try to bounce back after having its five-game winning streak ended last week when it hosts LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, which is trying to extend a modest two-game run of its own. Real (6-5) is 4-1 at home this season. ASVEL (3-6) stunned league-leader FC Barcelona last week and drained a club record 17 three-pointers on Tuesday in beating Panathinaikos OPAP Athens and will try to keep its momentum going in the Spanish capital.

Real is 4-0 this season when it has scored at least 90 points, though ASVEL has not yet allowed a team to reach that number against it. ASVEL has held opponents to just 32.9% three-point shooting. Point guards Nicolas Laprovittola and Sergo Llull must find a way to crack the ASVEL defense and get their teammates open shots in the paint and from behind the arc to increase Los Blancos’ chances.

Rudy Fernandez has missed Round 11 game.

ASVEL is coming off a near-perfect shooting night against Panathinaikos and a repeat would make it hard to beat. However, the team also committed 19 turnovers in that game and leads the league with 16.1 per game. Cutting that number is critical to improving its chances, as is getting good games from veterans Norris Cole, David Lighty and Antione Diot, who know a thing or two about these sorts of games.

basketball prediction Tip: 2 (+12.5) at 2.00 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/12/2020, 00:15 CET, subject to change)

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News Source: Euroleague.net
Basketball tips: Livetipster


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