Euroleague basketball predictions included under each mini game preview.
Stark Arena will be rocking when the teams take the floor for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four Semifinals. The four teams to have run the gauntlet and reach Belgrade to fight for EuroLeague Glory represent the best of the competition. The matchups have the top-scoring team in the league CSKA Moscow), the best defense (Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul), the classic underdog (Zalgiris Kaunas) and the team with the reigning MVP and basketball’s teenage sensation (Real Madrid). First will be reigning champion Fenerbahce against Lithuanian champ Zalgiris. Then comes regular season winner CSKA against Madrid. Only the winners will play for the title 48 hours later. Welcome to the Final Four!
Friday’s semi finals
Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul vs Zalgiris Kaunas
Master meets apprentice when Fenerbahce Coach Zeljko Obradovic goes up against Zalgiris play-caller Sarunas Jasikevicius, who won the EuroLeague title as a player under Obradovic with Panathinaikos in 2009. The progression of dark horse Zalgiris to the Final Four has been one of the biggest surprises in the EuroLeague in recent seasons, but the Lithuanian champion absolutely deserves to be in Belgrade after an outstanding campaign which included regular season wins against top-four finishers Fenerbahce, CSKA, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, and then a 3-1 playoffs victory against Olympiacos. Brandon Davies was named April’s MVP after an outstanding playoff series and his battle in the paint with Jan Vesely will be a key. Backcourt supremacy will also be crucial, with Kevin Pangos averaging 2.2 three-pointers and 6.0 assists per game while Kostas Sloukas set a new playoffs record with 36 assists in four games (9.0 per game).
Tip: Over 155.5 with bet365
(Price correct at 18/05/2018, 09:30UK)
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid
Expect a high-scoring and exciting shoot-out between this season’s two highest-scoring teams, with CSKA mustering 89.2 points per game and Madrid 85.7. Los Blancos’ challenge received an enormous boost in the playoffs as last season’s MVP Sergio Llull made a successful return from injury and Madrid will hope to further strengthen its backcourt by welcoming back Facundo Campazzo after he missed the playoffs with a knee injury. CSKA also has injury concerns with Nando De Colo and Kyle Hines targeting a Final Four return after spells on the sidelines. Madrid enjoyed a comfortable 82-69 victory when the teams met in Spain in Round 2, but CSKA – which will have Sergio Rodriguez and Othello Hunter going up after their former team – gained revenge with a 93-87 victory in Moscow in Round 21. Despite both teams being perennial title contenders, this is their first meaningful Final Four meeting this century.
Tip: 2 (+3.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 18/05/2018, 09:30UK)
Let’s summarize our Euroleague tips today.
Euroleague Basketball Tips
| Date | League | Event | Pick | Type | Odds | Bookie | Bet | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/05/2018 | EL - F4 | Real Madrid v Fenerbahce | 1 | Pre | 2.10 (20/04/2018 at 09.20) |  | 30 | |
| 18/05/2018 | EL - F4 | CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid | 2 (+3.5) | Pre | 1.90 (18/04/2018 at 09.15) |  | 100 | +90 |
| 18/05/2018 | EL - F4 | Fenerbahce v Zalgiris | Over 155.5 | Pre | 1.90 (18/04/2018 at 09.15) | | 50 | -50 |
Source: euroleague.net
Basketball Tips: livetipster.com
* Odds are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
