Euroleague Top16 predictions

February 13, 2008

We have waited long enough now – finally the Euroleague is back with its first elimination round. Today we will already see how CSKA Moscow and Panathinaikos Athens will perform.

We got some predictions in from our journalists, though, some were not in the office this past week so there won’t be any predictions for Lottomatica Roma, Efen Pilsen and also not For Tau Ceramica. Maybe you want to tell us what you think?

Here is what the Greek web site doubleteam.gr thinks about Panathinaikos performance in the Top16:

TOP 16 is a different story and this is were the men are distinguished from the boys.

Panthinaikos, running a 12-2 record in the Euroleague, starts the TOP 16 Round with probably the most challenging couple of weeks of the whole Season. As if Efes (away), Partisan (home) and Siena (away) were not enough, they will also have to fight for the first place in Greek League’s regular season in two consecutive matches against Olympiakos and Aris, both away from OAKA Arena. Four “hot” games away from their home in two weeks is an extremely rough schedule for the defending Euroleaue Champions and gets more rough as they can’t rely on the help of Tsartsaris (injured – 2 months out) and Tomasevic (injured – 2 to 6 months out), therefore lucking on inside game and strength in the paint. But apart from the problems the team in general is in good morale, finding their way to attractive basketball again and hopefully and in a very optimistic mood they will end this round with a 5 wins / 1 loss record and will get the first place in the Group.

Prediction: 5-1.

Julien Debove made his prediction for CSKA Moscow short and clear:

Siskauskas on his way to the MVP Award.

Prediction: 5-1.

Seems like the two teams will perform just as in the regular season. We will see.

For Lietuvos Rytas Christophe Ney thinks this:

In probably the easiest group of the Top16, Lietuvos Rytas should be able to qualify for the quarterfinals. By opening this round at home against TAU as this could the the beginning of an unbeaten record at home.

Prediction: 4-2.

Lets get it on!

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This post was published on February 13, 2008
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Comments: 5
  1. 15 years ago

    TAU Ceramica was the lucky one at the TOP 16 draw. After losing the Cup, played at home against Joventut Badalona, they need to focus their efforts on Euroleague and ACB league in order to win a major title.

    Everybody knows that being 2nd on the group will make you stay in quarterfinals against PAO (even though TAU Ceramica already beat them in that round in 2006 edition). So they have to go for the first spot.

    My prediction 5-1

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  2. Kerem
    15 years ago

    I sent in my predictions a bit late so here they are on the comments sections:

    Fenerbahce goes for 3-3 and most optimistically, if they beat Aris tmrw in Greece then 4-2.. They need to play strong at home and take the support of the crowd alongside, to prove me right. Hopefully the new addition Tarrence Kinsey lives up to his expectations by the club and helps Fenerbahce reach the Final 8. James White will be back this week, coming back from a sprained right ankle he suffered during the Turkish Cup last week.. The duo of Przeldic and Vidmar, the two youngsters from Slovenia, will also have to step up as Fenerbahce enters a rather tougher phase of Euroleague.. The two have improved the last couple of months and have matured their games playing along side with the king himself, Willie Solomon.. That last name, Solomon will be the most integral man in Fenerbahce’s quest to the final 8, since his state of mind before every game will decide the result for Fenerbahce.. Let’s hope he enters the game focused and aggresive tmrw in Greece!

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  3. 15 years ago

    Kalaitzis will piss off as usual and he will lose his concentration…

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  4. DK
    15 years ago

    Kalaitzis is not Aris’s strong point, though. He’s just filler material for an incredibly shallow team. Aris only has Masey, Tsaldaris, Motola, Boisa, D-wash, Terry, Wright and maybe Iliadis on a good day. If the team fields anyone else on the court it’s a lot like watching a 4-man team.

    On the subject of predictions Aris will probably get 2-4.

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  5. 15 years ago

    Well, Kalaitzis may be running lower and lower the last years but don’t forget he’s still the one with the most medals on his chest (during his days at Panathinaikos). And stuff like that really count on that level.
    It’s not that Aris will qualify but they may be prove very difficult to beat especially in Thessaloniki.

    PS. We gave 5-1 prediction for Panathinaikos and our guys in Green managed to make the “1” come true already! Thanks guys! Now we have to beat Sienna away (which was the game we considered as lost in our prediction). Hell!

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