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It’s here, we’ve been waiting for it, you’ve been waiting for it, it’s the final week of the regular season. Freaknick is coming off an impressive week of picking games and yes to everyone’s amazement he took over Slam in the race for picking supremacy (SLAM: 67-29; FREAKNICK: 68-28). Let’s see who can make the Top 16 in Week 10; games with qualifying implications will be highlighted in blue and teams that have already clinched will have an asterisk. And as always, you can read Freaknick’s extended preview for SLAMOnline.
Efes Pilsen @ Orleans
Slam: The basketball goods have been cruel to Efes Pilsen as they have lost so many close games this year. The gods can’t be mad at them forever. Efes Pilsen
Freaknick: Efes Pilsen
Unicaja* @ Lietuvos Rytas
Slam: If Rytas wins this game they will make the Top 16. At home, any team with a heart wins this game. Lietuvos Rytas
Freaknick: Lietuvos Rytas
Partizan* @ Olympiacos*
Slam: 4 game winning streak and scoring no less than 83 points in those game, Olympiacos offense is rolling. Josh Childress with a 3-point shot and Milos Teodosic playing under the control is a scary combo. Olympiacos
Freaknick: Olympiacos
BC Khimki* @ Asseco Prokom
Slam: Prokom needs this game to make the Top 16 and Khimki needs this game to challenge for 2nd place in the group. One team has more to play for but one team is better, plus Khimki’s bigs will eat up the post in this game. It doesn’t hurt that Khimki won by 22 last time either. BC Khimki
Freaknick: Asseco Prokom
Real Madrid* @ AJ Milano
Slam: Under any other circumstance I would pick Real Madrid to win this game. AJ Milano has a Top 16 berth on the line without their leader (Mo Finley), but I think they respond with their backs against the wall. Milano will have to put in a lot of 3’s to get the outcome they want. AJ Milano
Freaknick: Real Madrid
Panathinaikos* @ EWE Baskets
Slam: Panathinaikos won by 33 points last time these 2 matched up, no I don’t think this is going to be close. Another big game for the emerging Nick Calathes looks likely, he is securing more and more future playoff minutes every time out. Panathinaikos
Freaknick: Panathinaikos
Asvel Basket @ Cibona
Slam: CIBONA FOREVER, NEVER GIVE UP NEVER SURRENDER! CIBONA
Freaknick: Asvel
FB Ulker @ Zalgiris
Slam: FB Ulker with a win and they’re in. Roko Ukic is back in Europe and last time he was here this summer for Eurobasket he was dominant. FB Ulker
Freaknick: FB Ulker
Montepaschi Siena* @ Regal Barcelona*
Slam: Barcelona beat the bleep out of Siena in Siena. Although there isn’t much to play for, this has come down to a pride thing for Barcelona, they don’t want to be beat. Barcelona
Freaknick: Barcelona
Caja Laboral* @ CSKA Moscow*
Slam: CSKA Moscow made a possible season changing move when they brought in Pops Mensah-Bonsu this week. Last year in a few Euroleague games Pops was an absolute monster, leading the league in scoring when he left for the NBA. Moscow will be resting too many of their older players, and Caja is still a much deeper team. Caja Laboral
Freaknick: CSKA Moscow
Union Olimpija @ Lottomatica Roma
Slam: It’s Lottomatica or Maroussi for the final qualifying spot in Group C. This game is in Roma against the worst team in the group, Ibby Jaaber has to come through, he has to. Roma
Freaknick: Roma
Maccabi Electra* @ Maroussi
Slam: Maroussi with the possibility of advancing is going to want this game so much more than Maccabi. The problem is Chuck Edison is playing out of his mind right now. Maccabi
Freaknick: Maccabi