Euroleague Preview – Round 15 – The end of half the season

Euroleague Preview & Tips

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season reaches its midway point with a flurry of festive fixtures, including two powerhouses going head to head to break their tie for joint second place.

Thursday’s matches

The action starts in Istanbul, where Anadolu Efes (7-7) will seek to maintain its place in the top half of the standings against one of five teams currently sharing second place, Real Madrid (9-5). The Spanish team has lost three consecutive games on the road but still boasts the highest index rating of all teams (103.07 per game), while Efes ranks third in that category (95.36 per game). Both teams possess excellent rebounding skills, with Madrid ranked second in the league in overall rebounds (37.14 per game) and Efes claiming more offensive boards than anyone else (14.21 per game). It might not be as easy as the odds suggest for the visitors, so try to find an alternative on the margin or points bets. For us it’s a no bet.

After seeing a six-game winning run come to an end, CSKA Moscow (10-2) will try to bounce back at Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (6-8). Zvezda’s last two home games have seen it defeat the champions from 2014 (Maccabi) and 2015 (Madrid), and the Serbian team will now aim to overcome last season’s winners on the back of its defense, which has seen it claim more steals than any other team (8.0 per game). CSKA is the league’s top scorer with an average of 89.92 points per game, but was held to a season-low 75 points (in regulation time) in last week’s loss. What about another upset for CSKA here? At 3.80 we take the risk with a home win.

A big battle is guaranteed in Piraeus, where the tie for joint-second place will be broken as Olympiacos (9-5) hosts Fenerbahce Istanbul (9-5). One factor in favour of the visitor is long-range shooting, with Fenerbahce boasting the league’s third-best three-point conversion rate (40.36%), whereas Olympiacos is ranked third-worst (33.93%). But the host will look to exploit a different area of dominance, enjoying a clear advantage in rebounding (36.93 per game against 32.93). There is no Printezis for the hosts and no Bogdanovic for the visitors, so the total scoring might stay under 151.5 which is priced at 1.90 as always.

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (4-10) will attempt to end the league’s longest losing run, seven games, with the visit of Zalgiris Kaunas (5-9). Milan has struggled to even get close to winning in recent weeks, losing four of its last five games by at least 14 points, and has allowed more points than any other team (87.64 per game). That will give encouragement to Zalgiris’s productive offense, which has scored at least 84 points in each of its last five road games partly thanks to the competition’s best free throw conversion rate (82.61%). No bet here.

Thursday’s final tip-off is the Game of the Week as Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz (9-5) welcomes Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv (5-9), which will be led by its fourth head coach this season. Baskonia is the league’s best rebounding team (38.36 per game) and has won five straight at home. In contrast, Maccabi has lost five in a row after allowing leads of 18 and 19 points to slip in its last two games. Ball handling could be crucial – only Maccabi (15.14 per game) has committed more turnovers than Baskonia (14.29 per game). I fancy Maccabi when they are offered as underdogs and our pick goes to the away win with  a handicap of +5.0 points at 1.90.

Friday’s matches

On Friday, Unics Kazan (5-9) will seek its third straight win with the visit of another in-form side, Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens (9-5). Even if the Greek giants prevails, it’s unlikely to be easy: the Russian side has won three of its last five home games, and the two losses were both by just one point. Panathinaikos now possesses the best defense in the competition, allowing just 73 points per game, but Unics has the league’s third-best true shooting percentage (50.27%). Pantahinaikos has the upper hand here and despite expecting a tight game, the visitor’s form suggests an away win. We’ll take the risk with the -2.0 points handicap at 1.90 with bet365.

Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul (4-10) will attempt to climb off the foot of the standings by climbing level with visiting Brose Bamberg (5-9). What happens when Bamberg misses shots could be crucial: the German team is the league’s worst offensive rebounding team (6.79 per game), while Galatasaray has the lowest number of defensive boards (21.71 per game). But shooting accuracy is in Bamberg’s favour, with a true shooting percentage of 51.48% against the host’s 46.71%. This should be a close encounter and is a tricky one. Bamberg can surely win again but they love… thrillers so we will back the home team with a handicap of +2.5 points.

And finally, two teams will aim to maintain their recent improvement as FC Barcelona Lassa (6-8) welcomes Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul (8-6). In what is likely to be a close game, a key question could be which team manages to improve its shooting accuracy: Darussafaka has the league’s lowest two-point conversion rate (48.31%), while Barcelona is only slightly better at 50.10%. The teams also rank low down in assist-turnover ratio – Barcelona is 12th with 125%, while Darussafaka is 13th with 119.64%. Barcelona has based their wins on the defense and it is more than probable they will concentrate to keep Darussafaka to a low score. This could lead to an Under 150.5 game, priced at 1.90 with bet365.

Source: euroleague.net

Tips: livetipster.com

Daily Basketball Picks

DateLeagueEventPickOddsBet+/-Type
01/12/2023NBABOS Celtics - PHI 76ersOver 222.51.902000Pre
30/11/2023NBACHI Bulls - MIL Bucks2 (-7.5)1.901000-1000Pre
30/11/2023ELMonaco - OlympiacosUnder 156.51.90400-400Pre
29/11/2023NBATOR Raptors - PHX SunsOver 222.51.90200-200Pre
28/11/2023NBAMIA Heat - MIL Bucks1 (+3.0)1.90100-100Pre
27/11/2023NBAUTA Jazz - NO Pelicans1 (+4.0)1.90200+180Pre
26/11/2023NBAMIL Bucks - POR Trail Blazers1 (-12.5)1.90100-100Pre
25/11/2023NBAUTA Jazz - NO Pelicans12.00200+200Pre
24/11/2023ELEfes - Partizan2 (+3.0)1.90100-100Pre
23/11/2023ELPanathinaikos - ValenciaHome Over 81.52.172000+2340Pre
22/11/2023NBABOS Celtics - MIL BucksOver 235.51.901000-1000Pre
21/11/2023NBALA Lakers - UTA Jazz2 (+8.5)1.90400-400Pre
20/11/2023NBACHI Bulls - MIA Heat1 (+1.5)1.90200-200Pre
19/11/2023NBACLE Cavaliers - DEN Nuggets2 (-2.5)1.95100-100Pre
18/11/2023NBAMIL Bucks - DAL MavericksOver 242.51.90100+90Pre
17/11/2023NBACLE Cavaliers - DET Pistons2 (+8.5)1.952000+1900Pre
16/11/2023ELMaccabi - FenerbahceOver 160.51.901000-1000Pre
15/11/2023ELPanathinaikos - Zalgiris1 & Over 150.51.90400-400Pre
14/11/2023ELValencia - Real MadridOver 157.51.90200-200Pre
13/11/2023NBAMIL Bucks - CHI BullsOver 229.01.90100-100Pre
12/11/2023NBALA Clippers - MEM Grizzlies2 (+8.5)1.95200+190Pre
11/11/2023NBAORL Magic - MIL Bucks2 (-3.0)1.90100-100Pre
10/11/2023ELALBA - Panathinaikos2 (-3.5)1.95400+380Pre
09/11/2023ELPartizan - Fenerbahce1 (-6.5)2.20200-200Pre
08/11/2023ECTurk Telekom - Gran CanariaOver 160.51.90100-100Pre
07/11/2023ECVenezia - Cedevita2 (+8.5)1.90100+90Pre
06/11/2023NBADET Pistons - GS Warriors2 (-6.0)1.90100+90Pre
05/11/2023NBADET Pistons - PHX Suns2 (-5.5)1.90200+180Pre
04/11/2023NBAPHI 76ers - PHX SunsOver 220.51.90100-100Pre
03/11/2023ELVirtus Bologna - Efes1 (-2.5)1.90200+180Pre
02/11/2023ELFenerbahce - Olympiacos1 (-4.5)1.95100-100Pre
31/10/2023ELMilano - Maccabi2 (+5.5)1.90100+90Pre
30/10/2023GRE - A1Olympiacos - Panathinaikos2 (+7.5)1.90200+180Pre
29/10/2023GRE - A1Lavrio - PAOKUnder 157.51.94100-100Pre
28/10/2023GRE - A1Marousi - Karditsa1 (-4.5)1.90100+90Pre
27/10/2023ELBayern - FenerbahceUnder 159.51.90200+180Pre
26/10/2023ELReal Madrid - BarcelonaOver 166.51.90100-100Pre
25/10/2023ECSlask - Aris Salonika2 (-2.5)1.90100+90Pre
24/10/2023BCLDarussafaka - Tenerife1 (+4.5)1.90100+90Pre
23/10/2023GRE - A1Panathinaikos - LavrioOver 158.51.951000+950Pre
22/10/2023SPA - ACBBaskonia - Malaga1 (-4.5)1.98400-400Pre
21/10/2023SPA - ACBJoventut - Andorra1 (-7.5)1.90200-200Pre
20/10/2023ELBarca - Bayern2 (+8.5)1.90100-100Pre
19/10/2023ELOlympiacos - Partizan2 (+6.5)1.90100+90Pre
18/10/2023ELVirtus Bologna - Alba Berlin1 (-8.5)1.90100+90Pre
17/10/2023ELMilano - Olympiacos11.781000+780Pre
15/10/2023ITA - AVarese - TortonaOver 169.51.95400-400Pre
14/10/2023ITA - AMilano - Reggio EmiliaUnder 155.51.901000+900Pre
13/10/2023ELOlympiacos - Barcelona22.202000+2400Pre
12/10/2023ELAlba Berlin - BaskoniaUnder 167.52.001000-1000Pre
11/10/2023ECGran Canaria - Ulm1 (-8.5)1.953000+2850Pre
10/10/2023ECLietkabelis - Aris2 (+4.5)1.952000-2000Pre
09/10/2023GRE - A1Panathinaikos - ArisOver 160.51.911400-1400Pre
08/10/2023GRE - A1Aris - Olympiacos1 (+18.5)1.952000+1900Pre
07/10/2023SPA - ACBTenerife - BreoganUnder 157.51.871700-1700Pre
06/10/2023ELPanathinaikos - OlympiacosUnder 154.51.911000-1000Pre
05/10/2023ELMaccabi - Partizan2 (+4.5)1.85400-400Pre
04/10/2023ECAris - Gran Canaria1 (+6.5)1.95200-200Pre
01/10/2023SPA - ACBReal Madrid - BarcaOver 166.51.95100-100Pre
30/09/2023GRE - SCOlympiacos - PanathinaikosUnder 157.51.93200+186Pre
29/09/2023GRE - SCPeristeri - Olympiacos1 (+13.5)1.93100-100Pre
28/09/2023SPA - ACBJoventut - Granada2 (+11.5)1.90500+450Pre
27/09/2023SPA - ACBMurcia - Baskonia1 (+4.5)2.002000+2000Pre
26/09/2023FRA - PROMonaco - Saint-Quenin1 (-19.5)2.051000-1000Pre
24/09/2023SPA - ACBGran Canaria - Manresa2 (+8.5)1.952000+1900Pre
23/09/2023ITA - SCMilano - Virtus BolognaOver 154.51.801500-1500Pre
19/09/2023WNBADAL Wings - ATL DreamUnder 170.51.90900-900Pre
18/09/2023FRA - CupPont de Cheruy - Antibes2 (-11.5)1.90300-300Pre
17/09/2023WNBALV Aces - CHI SkyOver 170.51.90200-200Pre
13/09/2023WNBALV Aces - CHI SkyOver 170.51.90100-100Pre
10/09/2023WC 2023Germany - SerbiaOver 42.5 Total Fouls1.85200+170Pre
09/09/2023WC 2023Latvia - LithuaniaOver 173.51.95100-100Pre
08/09/2023WC 2023Serbia - Canada1 (+4.5)1.90400+360Pre
07/09/2023WC 2023Italy - Latvia11.90150-150Pre
06/09/2023WC 2023Canada - SloveniaUnder 176.51.95100-100Pre
05/09/2023WC 2023Italy - USAUnder 178.51.95100+95Pre
03/09/2023WC 2023Spain - CanadaOver 168.51.90100+90Pre
02/09/2023WC 2023Jordan - Mexico2 (-5.5)2.00100+100Pre
01/09/2023WC 2023Lithuania - Greece1 (-7.5)1.90100+90Pre
31/08/2023WC 2023Egypt - Jordan11.95400+380Pre
30/08/2023WC 2023USA - JordanOver 185.51.90200-200Pre
29/08/2023WC 2023Montenegro - Lithuania1 (+5.5)1.90100-100Pre
28/08/2023WC 2023Brazil - SpainOver 162.51.90100+90Pre
27/08/2023WC 2023Italy - Dominican Rep.2 (+5.5)1.90100+90Pre
26/08/2023WC 2023USA - New Zealand2 (+36.5)1.901000+900Pre
25/08/2023WC 2023Canada - FranceOver 167.51.95400-400Pre
20/08/2023OG - QTurkey - CroatiaOver 167.51.90200-200Pre
18/08/2023OG - QCroatia - UkraineOver 159.51.90100-100Pre
17/08/2023OG - QChile - ColombiaUnder 148.51.90400+360Pre
16/08/2023OG - QPortugal - PolandOver 152.51.90200-200Pre
15/08/2023OG - QBulgaria - Iceland1 (+4.5)1.95100-100Pre
14/08/2023OG - QSweden - CroatiaOver 155.51.90100+90Pre
13/08/2023WNBAWAS Mystics - CHI SkyUnder 159.51.95200+190Pre
08/08/2023WNBACHI Sky - MIN Lynx1 (-3.5)1.95100-100Pre
04/08/2023WNBAIND Fever - CON Sun2 (-7.5)1.90200+180Pre
02/08/2023WNBASEA Storm - DAL WingsOver 168.51.90100-100Pre
01/08/2023WNBAIND Fever - PHX MercuryUnder 160.51.90100+90Pre

Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore