By: Sam Meyerkopf & Nick Gibson
What a wild and crazy Wednesday we had.
Neither of us saw Wednesday’s Panathinaikos debacle coming and that tricky Group F did a number on us as well, but we both found ways to finish 4-2 in yesterday’s picks.
Just two games today, and they should be good ‘uns.
Galatasaray (0-1) vs. Olympiacos (0-1)
Sam: In 2-3 weeks Olympiacos will be rolling once they figure out how to totally integrate all of their new parts. For now, Galatasaray is going to make them play ugly, slow-it-down basketball, and that is going to tear the Reds apart. Galatasaray.
Nick: I need to see Galatasaray beat a legitimate Euroleague team (See: Not Union Olimpija or Asseco Prokom) before I buy in. Against an Olympiacos squad whose toughness can be underrated, I think the Turks will have a difficult time imposing their will. The crowd noise is Galatasaray’s greatest advantage, clearly, but Vassilis Spanoulis has played—and excelled—in more raucous conditions. Olympiacos.
Maccabi Electra (1-0) vs. Barcelona Regal (1-0)
Sam: This one is sure to be a dousy and might have serious implications on who will finish first in the group. Teams have started to figure out Barcelona a bit, and the team is secretly craving some Juan Carlos Navarro shooting wizardry as soon as possible. With Navarro supposedly playing, the Maccabi guards will have to take an even bigger step up; but Demond Mallet already looks real comfy and Maccabi has the bigs to throw at Barcelona. Maccabi Electra.
Nick: Last week against Cantu, Barcelona delivered its ugliest performance of the year outside their fourth quarter collapse in Siena in week nine. They’re too good to duplicate such mediocrity, even in a hostile environment like Nokia Arena. Mallet and Langford have as much as offensive firepower as any backcourt left in the Top 16, but they need more time to cuddle up. Barcelona Regal.
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1st game – Olympiacos for sure. Gala needs to step up and show they have something to sell in the top 16. they havent showed up anything of real quality so far.
2nd game – thats gonna be a big fight.. Nokia arena is a tough place to play, in which maccabi lost only once in 18 home games this year.. Barca ofcourse is a different rival, but they are not in their best shape, and thats maccabi’s time to sting a win.. anyway, gonna be a great night.
it’s gonna be a tough game but we’ll take it! because ‘Nobody fucks with Maccabi in the yad!’
last season we played for the 10pt difference, not for the victory (and even then it got to overtime) and they don’t have their 2 main guys of last year’s victory- Morris and Lamonica. expect a yellow W with Sofo kicking some ass.