3x3 EuroLeague: Greek derby predictions and intense playoffs race / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Panagiotis Moschandreou, Srdjan Stevanovic, Pedro Salado - Getty Images | BasketNews illustration Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou, Srdjan Stevanovic, Pedro Salado - Getty Images | BasketNews illustration

BasketNews continues the 3x3 EuroLeague edition, and as usual, three of our colleagues will discuss the three most relevant topics before the upcoming Turkish Airlines EuroLeague round.

Free throws this season

80%12,6Points made:12,6Accuracy:80,0%Place in standings:8Record max:25Record min:4Most made FTs:Daryl MaconTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

This week, BasketNews' journalists Uygar Karaca, Giorgos Kyriakidis, and Miguel Lois Vidal discussed the upcoming Greek derby between Olympiacos Piraeus and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens, fight for the Top 8, and a possible ALBA Berlin's miracle.

Predictions for Olympiacos - Panathinaikos game?

Giorgos:Panathinaikos will have one strong incentive in Piraeus. Avenge their Greek Cup defeat and send a message to their main rival ahead of the league playoffs.

In the pre-game statements, PAO forward Okaro White and Olympiacos's guard Kostas Sloukas said two different things. White argued that the home team always has an additional amount of pressure to deal with, while Sloukas claimed the exact opposite, asking fans to stand behind the team in the derby.

The increased occupancy allowed in Greek gyms now reaches 75% of the installation's capacity. A measure that will be effective at least until March 21 and translates to 9.000 tickets.

According to the official count, 9.459 fans watched Olympiacos overcome Fenerbahce on October 28, 2021. This number will stand as the club's season record unless the Greek government decides to restore capacity to 90% or more.

Ahead of the derby in Piraeus, Panathinaikos are counting out captain Ioannis Papapetrou, who underwent an operation to cure sinusitis in late January and has not come back yet, while guard Stefan Jovic, who has suffered a strain in the adductor, is expected to be back in April.

On the other hand, Olympiacos have no injury issues to deal with right now. Giorgos Bartzokas saw his team react in the fourth quarter against Zalgiris in Kaunas, following a passive hammering at the hands of ALBA Berlin.

Panathinaikos Athens / Schedule

Zenit Saint Petersburg Panathinaikos AthensFri17:00 Olympiakos Piraeus Panathinaikos AthensThu19:00 Panathinaikos Athens FC Bayern MunichTue19:00

The fact that the Reds stood tall thanks to Kostas Papanikolaou and Hassan Martin, who had been underperforming this season, just illustrates the depth of their roster. With the only exception of Quincy Acy, Bartzokas has been able to get something out of every player at his disposal.

Three statistical elements that can play a decisive role are 3-pointers, rebounds, and turnovers. Panathinaikos will be in dire need of some outside shots, first due to the presence of Moustapha Fall, and secondly due to the limited productivity of points off assists (they're 15th in Euroleague, unlike Olympiacos, which are in 6th place on the list).

I don't think Olympiacos can be surprised by anything that coach Priftis might think of this time around. To a large extent, it's their game to win or lose.

Uygar: I guess it is a clear Olympiacos victory here. Bartzokas is a very specific type of coach, and he will do what is required when there is a target looming on the horizon.

Olympiacos are aiming for a Top 4 finish, and I don't think that Panathinaikos can do any harm to them. Yes, it is difficult to guess the outcome of a derby game, but I think simple logic would point to Olympiacos.

Miguel: When we talk about this classic rivalry, I would not take into account too much in which shape both teams are. All-in with Olympiacos.

ALBA Berlin have a 3-game winning streak. Can they become a dark horse at the end of the season and make a sensational jump in the Top 8?

Giorgos: My answer is simple. No, they can't.

First off, because their three wins were against the weakest team in the competition in the last couple of months (ASVEL) and over Zalgiris and Olympiacos in Berlin. The point is that they will need some away wins also, which will be hard to find.

ALBA are a team that can still do a lot of damage to anyone willing to take them lightly, but getting theoretically closer to the playoffs won't make them change anything in the way they approach games.

Judging by their schedule and remaining games, their chances are very slim. Right now, they need at least four or five wins in a total of seven remaining games to go through, but I don't think they will get more than three.

Whatever happens, ALBA should be the team least worried about the outcome of the playoff race. They are a team that has been presenting the laid-back, care-free style of play that Aito Garcia Reneses and his successor, Israel Gonzalez, have always stood for.

In a recent interview with BasketNews, which will be published soon, Gonzalez said something that no other coach currently in the EuroLeague would even consider - or dare to say.

When asked about their intentional lack of scouting ahead of games and whether it also applies to their main rival, Bayern Munich, Gonzalez candidly admitted: "If you asked me to name or describe one play that Bayern use, I would tell you that I simply don't know any."

Take it or leave it; that's called ALBA mentality.

Uygar: As a believer of ALBA's ambitions and a very courageous path with all those youngsters from the beginning, I am more than happy to see that finally, they are getting some consistent results.

If we count the domestic victories and the Cup trophy alongside the ones in EuroLeague, they won 10 games in a row. I think this is one of the hottest streaks in all European leagues.

The Top 8 in the Euroleague is another matter, though. One injury, one bad week could bring a dream to an end. Their schedule is tough but not impossible.

Playing away against Baskonia is a winnable game, so is a home game against Barcelona, as the Zalgiris exemplified. They would be coming to Istanbul to play back-to-back games against Fenerbahce and Efes, so they don't need to travel during midweek.

The last time it happened in Istanbul, ASVEL got very close to beating Efes in the second game of the week. So, it can be advantageous for the away team. All the other games are promising as well - Panathinaikos, Crvena Zvezda, and Monaco.

The week in Istanbul is going to be decisive, I believe. If it comes down to the game against Fenerbahce, the fans in Istanbul will make it really hard for ALBA to bring the hosts down here. They played fewer games so far, which could be turned into an advantage as well.

Miguel:As Crvena Zvezda, ALBA are having a great stretch in the EuroLeague.

It looks like the German Cup gave them more confidence despite some absences of Marcus Eriksson, Yovel Zoosman, or Louis Olinde. They have increased their physicality, making them even more dangerous due to their high pace.

However, looking at the upcoming schedule, I do not see them making the jump into the Top 8. They will face Baskonia, Fenerbahce, Efes, and Monaco on the road while hosting FC Barcelona, Crvena, and Panathinaikos at home.

Apart from the Greek powerhouse, all the other teams will be battling for the EuroLeague playoffs. They can still play without pressure, giving opportunities to youngsters like Jonas Matisseck, Tim Schneider, and Malte Delow. I love this project since Himar Ojeda landed there.

Early predictions: there are 5-7 clubs battling for the place in the Top 8. Which teams do you think will make the cut?

Giorgos: If we take for granted that Barcelona, Real Madrid, AX Armani Exchange Milan, Olympiacos, and Anadolu Efes will make the cut one way or another, there are three more open spots.

Of course, Efes have 12 wins, and for them to go through, at least two more will be required. Their schedule is hard as nails (Zalgiris, Zvezda on the road, Real, Armani, and both German teams at home), but I think they can pull it off.

Maccabi are 11-11, but their schedule is tough. Milan, Real Madrid, ASVEL and Fenerbahce at home, Panathinaikos and Barca away. As they are right now, it will not be easy for them to get three wins.

Their key game will be against PAO in Athens. A win at OAKA will take some pressure off ahead of their remaining home games. Monaco are 11-13 and have been greatly hurt by the decision to leave out games played against Russian teams, but they can beat Olympiacos, Baskonia, and ALBA at home to qualify. That's all they need. They also got Milan on the road, which will be hard.

Bayern find themselves in a peculiar situation. On paper, they're as close to the playoffs as any contender (12-10). In reality, though, they will have to overcome huge obstacles away from Munich in order to qualify. Their away games are against both Turkish teams, Milan, Panathinaikos, and Real Madrid. They will only be hosting Zvezda. As with Maccabi, Panathinaikos can be the X-factor for the Germans' playoff chances.

Uygar: Barcelona, Olympiacos, Real Madrid, and Milan are sure cases.

Efes look content, but it can go tricky, especially with the home court advantage issue, but their schedule is not as easy as it seems. Four home games do not guarantee four wins, and the Zalgiris game will not be easy due to the hosts' recent form.

But eventually, Efes will be in the Top 8, albeit without the home court, probably in 5th or 6th place. The next three teams in the Top 8 will be ALBA, Monaco, and Crvena Zvezda, in my opinion. All three are in better shape, more organized, and higher in morale than Maccabi, Bayern, and Fenerbahce.

Miguel: If I had to choose, I would say Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahce, Bayern, and Maccabi. Both Turkish powerhouses have talented enough players to pull it off, while Bayern have experience in these kinds of situations and one of the best coaches in the competition.

Finally, Maccabi will play four of its last six games at home. Despite their uncertainty since Sfairopoulos' firing, they should be there. AS Monaco could also clinch a spot if they win their three games at home (Olympiacos, Baskonia, and ALBA), but they seem inconsistent.

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