Euroleague previews, 16 October, 2014

BASKETBALL - EUROLEAGUE 

These are first round games of the 2014/2015 Euroleague regular season group phase. We have new teams in competition, a lot of teams made big changes in their coaching staff or player roster, so I have to watch a couple of games to see exactly the teams playing philosophy, rotation etc. We are in the beginning of the season and it's hard to bet right now, but because BASKETBALL it's my favourite sport, I will try to write a few ideas about today's matches :

ANADOLU EFES v UNICS KAZAN

Head coach Dusan Ivkovic makes his return to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with a new-look Efes squad, which will open up at home against Unics Kazan, which comes in fresh off a successful qualifying Rounds bid. The hosts have plenty of strength up front with rising stars Dario Saric, who had a very strong World Cup performance and Cedi Osman plus veteran centers Nenad Krstic and Stephane Lasme(very good transfers in my opinion). I expect Stratos Perperoglou, a very interesting small forward, to explode here, because I think he was underrated in the past years at Olympiakos. The visitors will turn to D’Or Fischer to protect the rim, while relying on guards Keith Langford and Curtis Jerrells to generate offense. All-around aces Kostas Kaimakoglou and James White could also play key roles for Unics. Dontaye Draper and Dogus Balbay could hold the keys for Efes as their efforts on the Kazan guards will have a major impact, while at the other end the Efes playmakers could set the tone with their abilities to create for the hosts’ deep frontline.

"I think for the reason that Unics Kazan qualified from the qualification games they are the most prepared Euroleague team now, for sure. They started the season early. They have a very experienced team. First of all we have to take care about the defense. Especially in one on one offense they have many creative players like Jerrels, Langford, Zisis and Kaimakoglou. We have to play with a good defense and to have the game control." - Dusan Ivkovic

In the last few days, the odds on Unics Kazan dropped very fast and I don't understand exactly why, maybe because everybody is betting on them. They started earlier this season and Efes lost their game in Turkish League, but I think Efes has a very good roster and in front of their fans they are favourites from my point of view, I expect Efes to win(1.88)... | ✓

CEDEVITA ZAGREB v UNICAJA MALAGA

Head coach Jasmin Repesa of Cedevita will see many familiar faces on then opposition for the first game of the season. Repesa previously coached Unicaja and has guided four of its players in the past. Now his goal will be to take the Croatian champs forward. Cedevita has experience through guard Roko Ukic, Marto Tomas and Nemanja Gordic, who are among the team leaders. Cedevita players Marko Arapovic, Luka Babic, Ante Delas, Lovro Mazalin, Fran Pilepic, Ivan Ramljak and Karlo Zganec are due to make their Turkish Airlines Euroleague debuts.Unicaja will look to dominate inside through shots blocked king Fran Vazquez and Vladimir Golubovic, while forward Carlos Suarez and Kostas Vasileiadis feed off their frontline players to get room to operate. Tomislav Zubcic and Miro Bilan will need to protect the paint for the home team. Point guards Jayson Granger and Stefan Markovic play important roles in the Unicaja attack. With several young players on both teams, it could be an up-and-coming talent that plays a decisive role in this promising Group B challenge. Joan Plaza(foto) is one of my favourite coach, he hasn't a roster with huge stars, but the team is playing as a unit. They started the season very well winning among others Caja Laboral, a decent Euroleague team. I'm sure that in Zagreb will be a warm, super atmosphere, but watching the two teams, I have to give the first chance to the Spanish side. I expect them to win, maybe covering the handicap(7.5) - 1.90  | ✓, Unicaja to win by 6-10 points - 4.60 may be a fantasy bet. 

MACCABI TEL-AVIV v LIMOGES

The reigning champs host a French club that hasn’t dominated at this level in two decades, but is eager to change that. Limoges and Maccabi have squared off 16 times over the years in the Euroleague, but this will be their first meeting since November 1997. Maccabi Electra has a new-look squad, with a new coach on the sidelines too. But the preseason has shown that the duo of Sylven Landesberg and Jeremy Pargo are ready and able to generate offense and Alex Tyus and Brian Randle will do what it takes to control the paint. Limoges enjoys a balanced attack with players like Leo Westermann and Pape Philippe at guard and Joao Paulo Batista and Adrien Moerman inside. Nobel Boungou-Colo also plays an important role at forward for the French champs. Quietly, veterans like Maccabi Devin Smith and Limoges’s Ramel Curry could end up being the unsung heroes in this clash. Honestly, I don't know much about the French side, on the other hand, a lot of things has changed during this summer at Maccabi, maybe we will see an overish game(154.5) - 1.85 | ✓, because probably Maccabi want to start strong the Euroleague season in front of their fans, but I don't recommend to bet on this match ! 

CRVENA ZVEZDA v GALATASARAY

The Turkish Airlines Euroleague returns to Kombank Arena with this electric showdown. Zvezda relies on Marcus Williams to make the difference at point guard, but Galatasaray is really deep at that position with Carlos Arroyo, Nolan Smith and Ender Arslan. The guests' main concern will be slowing center Boban Marjanovic, a dominant force in the paint. Marjanovic will get plenty of help from Maik Zirbes, Marko Tejic and Luka Mitrovic against a very experienced Galatasaray frontcourt led by Kerem Gonlum, Zoran Erceg, Nate Jawai and Furkan Aldemir. Both teams are reloaded at both wings - Zvezda brought in small forward Nikola Kalinic to play alongside Jaka Blazic and Charles Jenkins. Pietro Aradori, Vladimir Micov and Marty Pocius will see most of the playing time at the wings, and Coach Ergin Ataman will most likely use twin point guards at some point. Surely we will have a great crowd, as always, at Kombank Arena, Galatasaray looks stronger on paper for me, they have more experienced players, I think they have a good chance to win, but it's not easy to play in Serbia ! I expect a tough game, an underish game(148.5) - 1.85 | ✓ and I anticipate that Zvezda is a little bit overrated here, so you can try Galatasaray to win on moneyline - 2.20 | ✖

PAMESA VALENCIA v OLYMPIAKOS 

Turkish Airlines Euroleague action returns to Valencia for the first time since 2011. Valencia may be without Bojan Dubljevic, so Kresimir Loncar, Pablo Aguilar and Serhiy Lishchuk will see extended playing time in the paint against a physical frontcourt led by Euroleague Best Defender Bryant Dunston, Othello Hunter and Brent Petway. Of course, Valencia needs to find a way to stop Vassilis Spanoulis(foto), who has been playing with Vangelis Mantzaris and Kostas Sloukas for several years. Sam Van Rossom and Guillem Vives will share the point guard duties against Oliver Lafayette, who played for Valencia last season. Pau Ribas will have the tough mission to guard Spanoulis, with the help of Dwight Buycks. Vladimir Lucic and Romain Sato will try to make the difference at small forward against Matt Lojeski. High intensity and a great basketball atmosphere are certain things at this game. It's the first game of the Euroleague season, both teams has great defenders, I expect a defence-minded game, an underish match(154.5) - 1.85 | ✓... Pamesa is considered favourite of this game, but in my eyes this match is at least 50-50, Olympiakos has a sensational player, Spanoulis, who can decide a game on his own anytime, so if you want to pick a winner, I think the odds on guests (2.30) has value | ✓....