Euroleague Tips with Previews – Round 13 – 13/12/2019

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Zalgiris – Valencia

In a clash of two teams looking to end losing streaks, Zalgiris hosts Valencia on Friday night. The Lithuanian champs have lost six in a row, but played well in their most-recent defeat on the road in overtime at CSKA Moscow. Valencia has dropped two in a row and is winless in six road games this season.

Zalgiris has been very effective in the paint in certain areas; it is second in the league in offensive rebounds (12.0) and leads the competition in both fouls drawn (264) and free throws made (193). However, Zalgiris is 14th in two-point shooting (49.9%) and Valencia commits the second-fewest fouls in the league (221). The hosts need to shoot better inside and from mid-range and be aggressive against a team that doesn’t foul often to snap their losing streak.

Marius Grigonis is out indefinitely after the foot surgery. Rokas Jokubaitis injured his ankle and will be out for 3-4 weeks.

Valencia is essentially a league-average team on offense; its scoring average of 79.2 points is tied for ninth in the league – right in the middle. However, it is 4-0 when the team scored more than 80 points. Conversely, Zalgiris is 2-5 when it fails to score 80 and has been held below 70 on three occasions. Those are numbers that should give Zalgiris confidence.

basketball prediction Tip: Over 151.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 13/11/2019, 10:25 CET, could have changed)

Bayern – Zenit

Two teams in need of wins will face off in Round 13 when FC Bayern Munich (4-8) hosts Zenit St Petersburg (3-9) on Friday. After a solid start, Bayern lost six of its last seven games, including the last one at Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv by 77-55. The team will need to bounce back after two straight big losses. On the other hand, Zenit managed to grab its first EuroLeague home win ever last week against ASVEL, 75-70, snapping a six-game losing streak. The Russian team will look to continue on the winning path.

Bayern needs to kickstart its momentum again, and a win at home against Zenit looks like a viable option. Both teams score and receive practically the same amount of points, but Zenit has an edge in rebounds, so the hosts will have to pay attention to that key factor if they want a solid chance to win. Zenit has the league’s second-worst success at the foul line, 70.8%, so Bayern might clear a path to victory by not allowing easy baskets and making the visitors earn them with free throws.

Zenit at last managed to smile, and did so at home, too, so now the Russian team will look to stay on that path for as long as possible to try to recover the pulse of the competition. Bayern averages just 15.8 assists per game while Zenit’s 19.0 is the second-best number in the league, so the guests will have to try to capitalize on their smooth defense to try to run and overwhelm Bayern in Munich.

basketball prediction Tip: Over 156.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 13/11/2019, 10:25 CET, could have changed)

Villeurbanne – Milano

Two teams whose respective seasons took a turn for the worse in the last weeks will have the chance to get back on the winning track in Round 13 when LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (5-7) hosts AX Armani Exchange Milan (7-5). ASVEL is currently on a four-game losing streak; last week it fell in St Petersburg as Zenit took its first home win of the season, 75-70. Milan started the season on a roll, but has lost its last three games, including the last at home against Crvena Zvezda, 67-77. One of these two sides will manage to get a breath of fresh air this week. Milan will be missing Nemanja Nedovic and Vladimir Micov with injuries.

ASVEL has the weakest offense in the league and despite having started the season with good wins at home, it has dropped the last two games at Astroballe. To get back to the winning side, ASVEL will have to make better selections on offense, especially from beyond the arc, as the team has the second-weakest numbers in the league from that distance. The defense seems to be working well enough for the hosts, but they have to try to capitalize on it and transform it into points on the other side of the court.

Injuries have been troubling Milan lately, with four losses in the last five games, but a trip to Lyon could be a good chance to start regrouping again. Milan outperforms ASVEL by almost 13 performance index rating points per game, which means that the visitors come into the game with better overall numbers than the hosts. Milan will have to try to impose its style, but it remains to be seen whether it will be capable of doing that despite the injuries at an arena that puts pressure on the visitors like few in the league.

basketball prediction Tip: 1 at 2.20 with bet365
(Price correct at 13/11/2019, 10:25 CET, could have changed)

Barcelona – Panathinaikos

Two of the hottest teams in the EuroLeague right now will meet in Round 13 as FC Barcelona (9-3) welcomes Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (8-4) to the Catalan capital. Barca bounced back last week from a severe home loss with a 94-102 road win at Khimki, while the Greens have won four in a row including last round’s Greek derby against Olympiacos, by 99-93 in overtime. Get ready for an offensive display between two of the top-scoring teams in the league.

Barcelona seems to have recovered from its severe home loss to CSKA a couple of weeks ago, but now faces another on-the-rise team with the best offense in the league. In fact, both teams are rather close in all stats categories, but if the Greens are on top in offense, Barca performs better at defense, so that’s where the hosts will have to focus. The hosts will try especially to limit floor general Nick Calathes, also keeping an eye on former teammate Tyrese Rice. Barcelona’s injury problems at point guard will require plenty of team defensive strategies to accomplish those goals.

Thomas Heurtel is sidelined with a knee injury. Kevin Pangos has been sidelined since the start of the season with a toe injury.

Since the comeback of coach Rick Pitino, Panathinaikos is showing even more confidence with two wins in a row and a focus on defense to complement its super-charged offense. However, Barcelona has one of the most talented rosters in the league and it is playing at home, where with the exception of the loss to CSKA, the home fans have not been disappointed. Right now the Greens are the best team in the league in points and rebounds, so the key for them will be trying to impose their style to break through one of the best defenses in the competition.

basketball prediction Tip: 2 (+8.0) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 13/11/2019, 10:25 CET, could have changed)

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News Source: Euroleague.net
Basketball tips: Livetipster


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