BASKETBALL - EUROLEAGUE
DINAMO SASSARI v UNICS KAZAN
It is a must-win game for the hosts, who will run out of chances to advance with a loss. Sassari, which leads the Euroleague in three-point shots taken (29.1 per game) and steals (11.3 spg.), relies on Jerome Dyson and Edgar Sosa to set their team's usual run-and-gun tempo, which won't be easy against two experienced playmakers such as Nikos Zisis and Curtis Jerrells. Unics relies on Keith Langford and James White to make the difference at the wings. Langford will test his shooting skills against David Logan, while White faces a physical battle against Rakim Sanders. Dmitry Sokolov did not play last week. If he remains sidelined, D'or Fischer will see most of the minutes at center, sharing playing time with Kostas Kaimakoglou and Viktor Sanikidze at power forward. Shane Lawal faces a physical matchup against Lawal, while Miroslav Todic and Jeff Brooks will try to open the floor against Kaimakoglou and Sanikidze.
UNICS KAZAN is coming after a huge win, maybe one of the most spectacular surprises of this Euroleague edition, because they won on road in Madrid against REAL by 10 points thanks to D'or Fischer, Curtis Jerrels and Keith Langford's excellent offensive performance. Sassari lost on road against Anadolu Efes by double digits, but are playing much better basketball at home. They are in a do or die situation, so I think the team's leaders : Sanders, Dyson, Logan, Lawal, Sosa, Brooks have to step upfront...
I expect a big scoring game from David Logan this evening. The 32 years old shooting guard is the most experienced player of this team from my point of view. He had played at good teams in Europe like Panathinaikos, Maccabi, Laboral Kutxa or Alba Berlin. He is one of the leaders, a good shooter, the best scorer of the team in LegaBasket Serie A, likes to attempt 3-pointers and I think after 2 weaker scoring performance, it's time for him to make a big game, to lead Sassari for a morale win in front of their fans
- over 11.5 points - 1.83 (Sportingbet) / over 12.5 points - 1.84 (Bet365) | ✓
MACCABI TEL AVIV v ALBA BERLIN
Maccabi will qualify if it wins and CSKA Moscow beats Cedevita Zagreb. ALBA will try to end its eight-game losing streak against the Israeli champ and relies on its frontcourt, led by Jamel McLean, Marko Banic and Leon Radosevic, to make the different in the paint. It will not be easy, however, as Maccabi features strong, experienced big men such as Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Alex Tyus and a recovered Brian Randle, who will return to his team's lineup. Maccabi needs to stop ALBA's point guard duo of Cliff Hammonds and Alex Renfroe. Hammonds will use his strong defense against Jeremy Pargo, while Renfroe will not have it easy against Yohev Ohayon and Marquez Haynes. Sylven Landesberg and Devin Smith must step up at the wings. The matchup between Smith and Reggie Redding will be critical. Landesberg will not have it easy against Vojdan Stojanovski and Alex King. Expect a physical, intense game.
Maccabi lost by double digits against CSKA at home in the last round of Euroleague, so surely today they want a clear win in front of their fans. They are very hard to beat in Nokia Arena, so it will be very tough for ALBA to get something after this match. Maccabi has 3 key scoring players : Jeremy Pargo, Devin Smith and Brian Randle. Randle is coming after an injury, so I don't know exactly his form, Devin Smith is one of my favourite players, is an all-around players, this season is scoring regularly at least 13-14 points, but my pick for this match is the point guard of the team, Jeremy Pargo.
This guy was clearly underrated last season in Russia, where he didn't get the chances he deserved at CSKA. He signed this summer with Maccabi and I from my point of view he fits extremely well in this team. He is performing great, averaging 13.4 points and 5.9 assists. I expect an open, scoring game, I expect Maccabi to score around 80 points and I hope JP will score at least 13.
- over 12.5 points - 1.83 (Sportingbet) / over 13.5 points - 1.84 (Bet365) | ✖
David Logan had a great night, he finished with 17 points (5/11 3pt), while despite his team scored 95 points, Jeremy Pargo didn't shoot enough to score 13-14 points...
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