euroleague selections

[messina]

Two giants of European basketball end the regular season on Wednesday when Real Madrid hosts Panathinaikos in a Group C game that will alter neither team's status going into the Top 16. Panathinaikos (11-2) can win the group with a victory if Unicaja loses at Pau-Orthez the same night. But even if not, Panathinikos will be the one second place team to join the group winners in the top tier of the Top 16 draw. Madrid (7-6), meanwhile, is stuck in fourth place and the fourth level of Monday's draw. The game means plenty to the hosts, however, in terms of ending a two-game losing streak and showing themselves capable of facing down a Euroleague favorite on their home court. When these teams met in December, Panathinikos won 87-71 in Athens in what was a close game through three quarters. Jaka Lakovic had 18 points to lead the Greens that night while Mike Batiste put up a double-double of 17 and 11 rebounds. Louis Bullock had 27 for Madrid. Bullock (16.2 ppg., 86.2% FT) will return this week after missing Madrid's 77-74 defeat at Montepaschi last week. He and Madrid's other leading scorer, Igor Rakocevic (15.2 ppg.) might have help in the backcourt, too, if Madrid registers newly-signed point guard Josh Fisher in time for the game. All three will be challenged by the world-class Panathinaikos backcourt of Jaka Lakovic (16.8 ppg., 85.1% FT), Vasilis Spanoulis (14.9 ppg., 3 apg.) and Dimitris Diamantidis (10.4 ppg., 2.6 spg., 65.9% 2FG). In the frontcourt, Batiste (13.6 ppg., 5.3 rpg.) and Kostas Tsartsaris (7.4 ppg., 3.4 rpg.) will again need more help rebounding since new signing Brandon Hunter broke his hand last week. The Greens have played most of the season without centers Dejan Tomasevic and Patrick Femerling, too, although Femerling could make a return this week. Help inside will be needed to deal with Madrid's Felipe Reyes (10.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg.), the Euroleague's third-ranked rebounder and co-MVP last week after posting 23 points and 15 boards against Montepaschi. He joins Axel Hervelle (9.3 ppg., 4.9 ppg.) and Venson Hamilton (4.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg.) to give Madrid stability in the paint. On the wings, it'll be Madrid youngsters Mickael Gelabale and Marko Tomas testing themselves against Panathinaikos veterans Fragiskos Alvertis and Dimitris Papanikolau. Which is not to forget the two winningest coaches of the Final Four era, Zeljko Obradovic of Panathinaikos and Bozidar Maljkovic of Madrid. Even when the stakes are not so high, all of them should contribute to a serious battle based on the strong pride of both clubs.my pick will be Real to win the match(1.95 at betandwin)

[davidmphill]

Re: euroleague selections Welsome messina:welcome Great post from you, hope to have plenty where this came from. (Moved it to the correct forum for you):ok