Euroleague Basketball Predictions
These are the last games from the Euroleague playoffs series. Which teams will join CSKA Moscow for this years’s Euroleague Final Four?
Our EuroLeague basketball tips appear under each mini game preview.
Efes – Real Madrid (2-2)
Efes and Real are set to engage in a deciding Game 5 of their best-of-five Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series with the winner booking a ticket to the 2021 Final Four in Cologne, Germany. Efes returns to its Sinan Erdem Dome where it won the first two games of the series by 27 and 23 points, respectively, but it is Real coming into this game with the momentum after two double-digit fourth-quarter comebacks in the Spanish capital in Games 3 and 4. With a place at the Final Four on the line, Efes will be looking to bounce back at home while Real will aim to become the first team ever to come back from a 0-2 deficit and win a best-of-five series.
For the offensive juggernaut that is Efes, the key in Game 5 lies in defense. When Efes is in control of its paint it also plays better and more free on offense because Efes pushes the ball in transition and does not allow Real to set up its half-court defense. Efes could use more balance offensively, but it also needs to stick to its strengths and keep the focus to finish the game strong.
Real comes into this game with momentum on its side. The team showed great belief and pride in Games 3 and 4, especially in the second half in each of that game. Los Blancos had plenty of fight in them and a never-die attitude. All that, and a good dose of its 1-2-2 matchup zone, is what has kept Real alive in the series against Efes. To win again, and make history on Tuesday, Real will need all of that for a full 40 minutes.
Tip: 1 (-8.0) points at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/05/2021, 10:30 CET, subject to change)
Milano – Bayern Munich (2-2)
History will be made one way or another on Tuesday when AX Armani Exchange Milan hosts FC Bayern Munich in Game 5 of their best-of-five Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series for a ticket to the 2021 Final Four in Cologne, Germany. After Milan won the first two games in Italy, Bayern took the next two in Germany. Through four games, the teams are nearly identical in many ways, including total points scored with Milan holding a 320-317 edge.
After holding Bayern to 73.5 points in the two games in Italy, Milan allowed Bayern to score 85 points in both games in Munich. Those numbers are in line with Milan’s full-season line; it allowed 84.7 points in regular-season losses compared to 73.7 in victories. Milan is 4-12 this season when it has allowed at least 80 points and Bayern is 11-3 when it has scored that many, so that may be the magic number in Game 5.
Bayern has converted 56.1% of its two-point shots in its two wins in this series, but made just 40.8% in its two losses. Vladimir Lucic and Jalen Reynolds, who both shot above 60% on twos in the regular season, have made 37.5% and 41.9% of their twos, respectively, in the playoffs. Getting strong play and good shooting from those two could lift Bayern to new heights.
Tip: Over 155.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/05/2021, 10:30 CET, subject to change)
Barcelona – Zenit (2-2)
A spot at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four comes down to one game when FC Barcelona hosts Zenit St Peterburg in a winner-takes-all clash on Tuesday. The two teams have each won one game on the road in taking their best-of-five playoff series the full distance. Zenit has outscored Barcelona by 4 points over the four games in one of the closest playoff series in history.
Barcelona has averaged 5.5 three-pointers made at 36.7% shooting in the two playoff games it has lost against Zenit and has knocked down 7.0 threes per game at 48.3% in its two wins. Cory Higgins (3 for 13), Nick Calathes (4 for 13) and Alex Abrines (0 for 3) have each struggled to get going from downtown. If they can heat up and the rest of the shooters, such as Kyle Kuric and Nikola Mirotic stay hot, Barcelona will have a big advantage.
Zenit will do its best to follow the game plan from Game 4 in which it dominated the glass 40-26 and silenced Barcelona’s star big man Brandon Davies. After averaging 20.7 points in the first three games, Davies was held to 1 point on 0-for-6 two-point shooting and 1 rebound in 25 minutes in Game 4. Tarik Black and Alex Poythress, who combined for 23 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes for Zenit, will be tasked with this job.
Tip: 1 (-6.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/05/2021, 10:30 CET, subject to change)
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