Check out the Game 2 predictions from EuroCupbasketball.com staff members.
Semifinals predictions: Game 2, Paris vs. London
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4 Mins read
The best-of-three BKT EuroCup Semifinals are historic already as Paris Basketball and London Lions bring the highest-level European club game yet to the French capital.
Paris sweeps
by Igor Petrinovic
Paris continued its dominance in the competition on Tuesday with its third win this season over London. Of their three head-to-head games, the only one that had drama in it was in Round 4 when Paris pulled out a 102-106 overtime decision. Back then, Paris did it despite losing T.J. Shorts in overtime, but even without him managed to finish the game on a 0-9 run. London Lions will not go down without a fight, but I think Paris sweeps its way into the EuroCup Finals. My pick: Paris.
London will make amends at Copper Box
by Geoff Gillingham
There were positive signs from the London Lions during Game 1 at Paris, but ultimately some frustrations got the better of them, allowing the hosts to pull away. The good thing about playing in a series, however, is that you can quickly learn from your mistakes. In front of a packed-out Copper Box Arena, I think Petar Bozic’s charges will get back on track and force a Game 3 back in the French capital, with David Nwaba, Sam Dekker and Gabe Olaseni likely to be at the center of everything good. Perhaps the biggest factor that could swing Game 2 is how well Matt Morgan gets on, with London’s leading scorer netting just 2 points in Game 2. If he can get going on offense, that should make his teammates' lives a lot easier. My pick: London.
Paris seals EuroCup Finals ticket
by Javier Gancedo
One may think that it took Paris two overtimes to beat London at the Copper Box in its last visit and that the Lions now a feature natural-born mismatch in David Nwaba. The truth is that Paris is also a much better basketball team than a few months ago; aggressive and focused on defense, and with two difference-makers in T.J. Shorts and Nadir Hifi. It is the whole team's discipline on defense that allowed Paris play its free-flowing basketball on offense. Paris has been rock-solid until now and should get its 20th win of the season, a special one, punching its ticket to its first-ever EuroCup Finals. My pick: Paris.
London bounces back, barely
by Frank Lawlor
Playoffs are all about adjusting game to game, and London boss Petar Bozic had plenty experience as a point guard in continental battles like this. First, his team needs to rebound a lot better than in Game 1. If that happens, a stop-and-start tempo will help. Remember, Besiktas won in Paris this season 63-68, holding a record-pace scoring team to an incredible 35 points below its average. London won't need the same blueprint, just to borrow from it by maximizing the shot clock when necessary and getting physical inside, all to keep the ball out of the hands of T.J. Shorts. Rebounding and dominating the clock will level the playing field, after which London can compete. On this night, at least. My pick: London.
Paris takes care of business
by Frankie Sachs
The London Lions looked good at times in Game 1. Really good. Yet that wasn’t enough to threaten the best team in the EuroCup. And Copper Box Arena is not enough to make up the 13-point difference. Paris is now 3-0 against London this season and has won in London both this season and last. Will it be close? Probably. Does London have a shot? Sure. Do I expect the Lions to win? No. I think Paris takes care of business in an entertaining game and starts its preparations to host Game 1 of the 2024 EuroCup Finals. My pick: Paris.