Regular Season
Round 15 of 18
Regular Season
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U-BT Cluj-NapocaUBT
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Frutti Extra BursasporFEB
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Overview
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Desperation time for Cluj, Bursaspor
Article
3 Mins read
Heading into this Wednesday's 7DAYS EuroCup clash between U-BT Cluj-Napoca and Frutti Extra Bursaspor, the two teams have their sights set on one thing: the playoffs. Eight sides from each group are able to make the postseason, but with Cluj (4-10) sitting in ninth and Bursaspor (6-8) in eighth, this has become a crucial game for both clubs.
Cluj enters this fixture on a three-game losing streak, which has dealt its playoff hopes a big blow. Its last fixture, a 103-84 defeat at Germani Brescia, was another setback, while the team has also lost each of its last three games on its home court. Yet, with just four games remaining in the regular season, it needs to find a reaction now before it is too late.
In Round 14, Cluj's usual go-to man, Leonardo Meindl, was only able to contribute 11 points in his side's heavy loss to Brescia, but mid-season arrivals Kasey Shepherd and Jalen Jones showed what they can do with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Experienced center Andrija Stipanovic (12 points) and forward Karel Guzman (11 points) joined them in double figures, however it wasn't enough to prevent a heavy defeat on the road. As such, it will be important for Cluj to step up on defense if it is to keep its faint postseason hopes alive.
Bursaspor, meanwhile, was able to end a run of three games without a win by beating Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse 92-82 in Round 14. The Turkish team has the upper hand heading into this Wednesday's game against Cluj, as it has a two-win advantage over the Romanian outfit. As such, a victory for Bursaspor would not only extend that gap to three wins, but it would effectively end Cluj's chances of making the playoffs.
The positive for Bursaspor head coach Dusan Alimpijevic is that last year's EuroCup runner-up appeared to find a way to right the ship and third-place Bourg. Last week, star players Onuralp Bitim and Derek Needham exploded for a respective 19 and 16 points, while center Zach Auguste stepped up with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. Similar performances in Round 15 will go a long way towards all but confirming Bursaspor's spot in the playoffs.
One thing is almost guaranteed coming into this game, though: there should be plenty of points scored. Cluj has the fifth-best offense in the EuroCup with an average of 85.1 points per night, whereas Bursaspor is fourth with 85.2. Conversely, on the other side of the ball, Cluj is 19th – second last – when it comes to defense, giving up 88.1 points on average, while Bursaspor is 15th with 84.7. Therefore, a high-scoring contest could be in store.
Both Cluj and Bursaspor know that this Wednesday's meeting between the sides has big implications, which makes this a must-watch game for fans and neutrals alike. Bursaspor was able to down Cluj 95-80 in Round 6, so could revenge be on the cards for Cluj? This game has all the makings of a classic, so make sure to tune in from 18:30 CET to see how it all pans out.