This is the first game of Euroleague playoffs at Ulker sports and Event Hall. Considering both teams results, this should be a very interesting and tough match for both teams. This is an entertaining game, so please review our thoughts here below.

 

Fenerbahce

Turks have proved to be considered being favorites to win Euroleague by taking 1st place in a regular season with 25 wins and only 5 losses. The team finished the regular season with 4 wins out of last 5 games losing only to CSKA at Moscow. Fenerbahce is being coached by absolute legend Zeljko Obradovic, who knows how to prepare the team for such matches.

Teams leaders are Kostas Sloukas avg 12 points per game and Jan Vesely avg 13 points. However, big help comes from Nikola Kalinic who averages 9.8 points per game and Muhammed Ali 9.3 point per game. The team is well balanced as everyone knows their place, very dangerous from 3 point range, shooting 3 pts 43.2% and under the rim, collecting 30.7 rebounds per game. Turks like to play fast basketball, involving Jan Vesely, who loves to finish such attacks with easy layups or dunks. In conclusion, if opponents cant provides something special, it is very difficult to stop this team from easy victory.

 

Zalgiris

This season Zalgiris struggled to win in the opponent’s arena and it seemed to be impossible for them to earn the spot in playoffs, however, the Lithuanians provided one of the best comebacks with 6 wins in a row, defeating Olympiakos, Real, Bayern, Maccabi. Teams coach former player Sarunas Jasikevicius proved that he can motivate the team to never give up. Zalgiris recent form is on fire, as they have 12 victories in a row including Euroleague and LKL.

Teams leaders Brandon Davies avg 14.4 points per game and Nate Wolters 10.9 point per game are the ones who will have to carry the team on their shoulders. However, they can expect help from  Marius Grigonis and Aaron White. Arturas Milaknis is the players whose 3 points can inspire and carry the team to victory as it happened in a match against Maccabi. Zalgiris is on fire, but this is playoffs and they are facing last years champions, so it will be very difficult to continue their winning dream.

 

H2H

In their past 5 meetings, Zalgiris managed to win only once, and couldn’t reach victory this season.

 

Article Image Taken from https://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=90&seasoncode=E2017