Quarterfinals predictions: Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul

The BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals continue tonight with the showdown between Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul. All four quarterfinal duels are one-game clashes, so the players will leave everything on the floor. Just like in the previous round, the EuroCupbasketball.com staff members who follow the competition as closely as anyone have made their predictions for each game.

Hapoel to go through

by Igor Petrinovic

For the third time this season Hapoel and Besiktas go against one another, and in a third different neutral venue, but for the first time with the crowd in the stands. Hapoel swept their regular-season series, including a 21-point win in the Round 18 finale. However, Besiktas had nothing to play for on that night while Hapoel was highly motivated to clinch second place in Group A. And Besiktas is a lot more confident team now than what they were in early February, especially after ousting Gran Canaria with an eighthfinals road win last week. But Hapoel (96.1 ppg.) averages 17 points more per game than Besiktas (79.0 ppg.), and has seven different players averaging double digits in scoring this season. I think, in a do-or-die game, such depth and Hapoel's individual quality of Jaylen Hoard (16.2 ppg., 4.8 rpg.), Xavier Munford (15.9 ppg.), Will Cummings (12.8 ppg.) or J'Covan Brown (12.2 ppg., 6.5 apg.) will make the difference. I expect a close battle, because coach Dusan Alimpijevic and playmaker Derek Needham will not allow Besiktas to fold, but Hapoel will pull out a win and earn a place in the semifinals. My pick: Hapoel.

Hapoel should stay hot

by Frankie Sachs

These teams are meeting for the third time this season and the first two finished the same way: with Hapoel victorious. The first time the game was close with Hapoel winning by 6. Then, head coach Danny Franco's team upgraded with the additions of Will Cummings and Dez Wells. Their second victory came by 21. Besiktas has dangerous weapons in Angel Delgado inside and Jonah Matthews, Derek Needham and Kyle Allman on the perimeter. But Hapoel boasts a much deeper and more experienced lineup. If Hapoel controls the glass and can run, Besiktas will struggle to keep up. A slower pace favors the visitors, but even so, it is tough to contain Hapoel for four quarters. The backcourt of J'Covan Brown and Cummings and frontcourt of Kyle Alexander and Jaylen Hoard cannot be taken lightly. My pick: Hapoel.

Hapoel survives the challenge

by Javier Gancedo

Hapoel takes on Besiktas in what promises to be a hard-fought physical battle in Vilnius, Lithuania. Besiktas sent a message that echoed around continental basketball by dethroning Dreamland Gran Canaria on the road last week. Among its strengths are head coach Dusan Alimpijevic and former All-EuroLeague playmaker Derek Needham leading a team that's really versatile on the wings and anchored by center Angel Delgado, who ranks second in rebounds at 9.6 per night. Hapoel, however, has all it takes to win this game. Will Cummings and J'Covan Brown are experienced guards, Jaylen Hoard and Braian Angola are excellent one-on-one players and, above all, Kyle Alexander and Tomer Ginat can play good defense on Delgado. No surprises here: Hapoel survives this strong test and advanced to the semifinal. My pick: Hapoel.

Besiktas to surprise Hapoel in Vilnius

by Geoff Gillingham

Hapoel and Besiktas are already familiar with one another, having faced off twice during the regular season ahead of Wednesday’s quarterfinal bout. The Israeli side comes into this meeting 2-0 in this series after winning 81-75 in Round 9 and 73-94 in Round 18, but Besiktas showed in the EuroCup Eighthfinals that it has what it takes to cause an upset, defeating Dreamland Gran Canaria 78-80 on the road. Besiktas head coach Dusan Alimpijevic is one of the best motivators around and he has experience of guiding a team on a fairy-tale run, having taken Frutti Extra Bursaspor to the EuroCup Final just two years ago. I expect him to have his players ready to run through a brick wall, with the likes of Jonah Mathews, Derek Needham and Angel Delgado all set for big games. My pick: Besiktas.

Hapoel has more routes to victory

by Frank Lawlor

It's another offense vs. defense affair, with Hapoel dominant in nine of 12 major offensive statistics and Besiktas in eight of 12 on defense. The fact that all those rankings came within the same group, save for Besiktas winning its eightfinals matchup against defending champion Dreamland Gran Canaria, makes those stats viable. Besiktas cannot outscore Hapoel in a game with a lot of possessions; that much was clear from its two earlier losses to the Israeli club. But keeping turnovers low and rebounds high while limiting Hapoel's significantly better shooting percentages is one route to victory for Besiktas, perhaps the only one. Hapoel has many more routes to choose from, and even if its machine-like scoring becomes more difficult in the face of solid defense, should find solid solutions. If the game is close, though, watch out for Besiktas. My pick: Hapoel.