Chasing the impossible: what makes EuroLeague's playoff race different than the NBA's / News - Basketnews.com

If the play-in format had not been introduced before the 2023-24 season, Zalgiris, 15th, would have already been eliminated from the playoff race, and we would only be discussing 11 teams involved in the playoff contention.

Credit: Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS Credit Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS

"Some cheese for the bonus," Zalgiris Kaunas assistant coach Massimiliano Menetti approachedKevarrius Hayesin the locker room after the game against his native Italians.

Zalgiris Kaunas / Schedule

FC Bayern Munich Zalgiris Kaunas64-58 Zalgiris Kaunas Virtus Segafredo Bologna96-81 Zalgiris Kaunas Baskonia Vitoria-GasteizThu18:00

Hayes truly deserved any reward after his performance, where he secured 4 offensive rebounds alongside 13 points and his career-high 26 PIR.

Those second chances gave Zalgiris an extra 8 points in a hard-fought victory over Virtus Bologna,96-81.

"I just played great defense, and good things seem to follow,"Hayes smiled, eagerly anticipating the taste of that cheese in his hand.

Nothing is sweeter than victory, though. Zalgiris secured their 12th win this season, bringing them within just two wins of the 10th spot in the standings, currently held by Partizan Belgrade after they triumphed over Baskonia.

With four games remaining, Zalgiris remains one of the six teams with theoretical chances to make the play-in.

While many NBA teams are entering tanking or rebuilding mode in the final months of the season, only two EuroLeague clubs, accounting for 11.1% of the entire competition with 4-5 games left, have been eliminated from even a theoretical playoff conversation.

"I don't know much about the play-in here, but I've actually played in the play-in last year with the Pacers. We won, then we had to play a game and ended up losing. But I feel like it makes every game meaningful,"Edmond Sumnershared his NBA play-in experience.

"But then again, over here in Europe, it is different. You guys care about every game. In the NBA, if you're

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