EuroLeague’s regular season finale is 5 days too late. Why it should be moved? / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Seffi Magriso/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Seffi Magriso/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

EuroLeague's regular season ends on April 8th, but this does not mean we will know playoffs matchups that day. With one more game scheduled to play on April 13th, we (and all the contending teams) might have to wait for five long days to get a clear playoff picture.

3-pointers this season

35%7,8Points made:7,8Accuracy:34,7%Place in standings:14Record max:14Record min:2Most made 3FGs:Scottie WilbekinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

This should not be happening for various reasons, but we will get to that.

Maccabi Tel Aviv moved closer to the EuroLeague playoffs with two wins this week. Now having a 13-11 record, Maccabi are placed 6th with four games to play.

Maccabi will be in the playoffs or at least in the race for it, which is why that April 13th game is a problem. That day, Maccabi are scheduled to play Fenerbahce at home, a game that originally had to be played on January 27th but was moved because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

As things stand now, one win or loss could mean moving anywhere between 6th and 8th place.

If this situation is the same on April 8th, it could mean that as many as THREE playoffs matchups could be in the air.

EuroLeague playoffs start on April 19th, which means that instead of having at least 11 days to prepare for the most important games of the season, some teams might have only 6 days.

There are other issues, as well. Instead of being able to adjust travel plans, some teams will have to wait (and possibly - pay) more.

Instead of having 11 days to build media narratives and stories, we will only have 6 days.

What can be done? Well, at first, it could have and should have been done last week. Last week both Maccabi and Fenerbahce did not have a EuroLeague game because they both had to face Russian teams.

Maccabi were scheduled to play UNICS Kazan on March 17th, while Fenerbahce had to play Zenit St. Petersburg on March 18th.

They both rested last week, but the game that is scheduled for April 13th was not moved.

There is another window for the game to be played before April 8th, but it is not as favorable.

Fenerbahce's game on March 31st is canceled because it had to face UNICS Kazan. Next Fener's game is on April 8th against Panathinaikos.

Meanwhile, Maccabi have a game on March 31st (against ASVEL) and then on April 8th (at Barcelona).

If we don't take national leagues into account, it means Fenerbahce have a window between March 29th and April 8th. And Maccabi have a window between March 31st and April 8th.

It would make so much sense to fit the game before the regular season deadline on April 8th.

EuroLeague, please, make it happen.

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