Week 3 Picks: As the injuries pile up, who will come tumbling down?

So after last week’s picks, here’s how we stand on the season (remember, our picks started in Week 2): SLAM: 8-4; FREAKNICK: 6-6. Let’s see if we can do a little better this time around.

Montepaschi Siena @ Asvel Basket

Slam: Did Asvel change their name to Ali-vel? Because unless anyone else steps up I smell blowout against Siena. Siena.

Freaknick: When you count the hair, Stonerook might have an inch or two on Asvel big ‘un Ali Traore. Well, I’m counting the hair. Montepaschi Siena.

Cibona @ Fenerbahce Ulker

Slam: I think we’re all starting to feel bad. FB Ulker.

Freaknick: Lynn Greer and Oguz Savas are high-fiving each other somewhere. FB Ulker.

Lietuvos Rytas @ Olympiacos

Slam: You can’t pick against the October MVP, Bojan Popovic. Rytas.

Freaknick: You can’t pick against the October MVP…unless he’s playing on the road against a team that’s talented and mad as hell after last week’s beat down. Olympiacos.

Lottomatica Roma @ Maroussi

Slam: Can anybody stop the offensive machine that is Roma? Well, yes probably at some point but it’s not going to be Maroussi. Roma

Freaknick: Don’t think they’ll stay undefeated much longer, but one week isn’t much longer. Roma.

EWE Baskets @ BC Khimki

Slam: Finally, the three-headed monster down low (Mozgov, Jankunas, Javtokas) puts it all together. Khimki.

Freaknick: Unless Perkovic plays like Pekovic, EWE’s in for a long night. Khimki.

AJ Milano @ Asseco Prokom

Slam: Mo Finley vs. David Logan, round 1: Mo Finely takes the W. AJ Milano.

Freaknick: I’m not yet convinced that Jan Jagla is a complete waste of space down low. At least not at home: Asseco Prokom.

Regal FCB @ Zalgiris

Slam: No JC Navarro. No Gianluca Basile. No problem. Barcelona.

Freaknick: Here’s something you might’ve forgotten: Erazem Lorbek plays in Barcelona now. I know, I know; I almost forgot, too. Jog our memory, Erazem. Barcelona.

Entente Orleanaise @ Partizan

Slam: Partizan finally, finally catches some breaks and comes through with the victory. Partizan.

Freaknick: It’s tough to imagine that this team was a couple days away from starting the season without Bo McCalebb. Partizan.

Efes Pilsen @ Unicaja

Slam: A little Taquan Dean helps solve a lot of problems. Now, they are in rare form. Unicaja.

Freaknick: Despite their 0-5 ACB record and the nasty injury to Printezis, I can’t pick against them at home for a second straight week. Unicaja.

CSKA Moscow @ Maccabi Electra

Slam: Slaughter. Maccabi Electra.

Freaknick: Watching CSKA’s fall from grace is like watching an artistic masterpiece lay out in the rain. Maccabi Electra.

Caja Laboral @ Union Olimpija

Slam: Upset pick of the week as Olimija takes down Caja with some outstanding outside shooting (Walsh and Becirovic). Union Olimpija.

Freaknick: Is there any team in the Euroleague that leans on a single player like Caja does Tiago Splitter? Caja Laboral.

Panathinaikos @ Real Madrid

Slam: Darjus Lavrinovic is hotter than an atomic fireball right now, I wouldn’t pick against him. Real Madrid.

Freaknick: This year, great individual performances by big men have not equaled wins. Sorry Darjus. Spanoulis/Diamantidis>Hansen/Kaukenas. Panathinaikos.

3 Responses

November 4, 2009 Luca

Slam…!?! Popovic or not, do you really believe that Lietuvos is able to win at the P&F Stadium? If so, huge problem for the reds. I pick the dockers. Moreover I go for Efes at Unicaja and suppose that for Barca won’t be that easy in Kaunas. Anyway, very interesting games this week, with Pana-Madrid as the icing on the cake… Well, sorry Ettore, I still see green.
Bye guys! Well done!
- November 4, 2009 Freaknick
  
  Great to hear from you, Luca. I apologize for my partner’s foolishness with the Rytas game, and the Efes/Unicaja game is a source of much internal doubt for me. On one hand, I’m always rooting for Taquan and last week they made me look silly, and Efes has disappointed since I picked them for my Final Four, so we’ll see what happens. Hope you’re right about the Greens, too. I need to catch up with Slam on picks this week.
November 4, 2009 Simas

I see two potential losses looking from the Lithuanian perspective. Both Žalgiris and Rytas will have their chances as Kaunas is one nasty place to play in but in my view Barca look stronger at the moment than Oly. Žalgiris might have a problem playing against big teams because they are not usually able to do the work on defense and competing with Barcelona offensively is not the way out. And Rytas is really good playing against anyone who likes to play individualy, not as a team. Their defensive system allows a lot of help D and if no-one from the Greek team is having a really extra super duper night, they should be contained. It might really get tough in the offensive end though if Popivč gets cut out, the whole game is based on him finding open team mates, either on the 3 point line or dishing out the ball after the drive.