Bold predictions: Monaco vs. Fenerbahce

Check out the bold predictions from EuroLeague.net staff members for Game 5 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs between AS Monaco and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

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Fenerbahce steals the show

by Javier Gancedo

Both teams have won at home and on the road, so this is one hard showdown to predict. Fenerbahce has managed to force Mike James to shoot the ball poorly (32.1% 2FG, 23.8% 3FG) until now, mainly due to Nick Calathes's outstanding defense. Fenerbahce found balance on offense with Georgios Papagiannis helping on the boards, and has a good number of pure shooters ready to bounce back from that painful home loss in Game 5. Whether it's Scottie Wilbekin, Tyler Dorsey, Tarik Biberovic or Marko Guduric, Fenerbahce can find answers from beyond the arc. Monaco had six players averaging over 25 minutes per game in this series, which makes the team a bit predictable at this point. Only Nigel Hayes-Davis and Calathes play over 25 minutes on average for Fenerbahce. The visitors should be fresh and ready to look for advantages everywhere. My pick: Fenerbahce.

Monaco toughs it out, reaches Berlin

by Igor Petrinovic

The closest and the most physical series will come down to that, physicality. The first three games might have been high scoring affairs, but the Game 4 was just what I expect this Game 5 to be; a physical, defensive-minded, low-scoring game. That is a type of game Monaco will want, and I think that's the game that Monaco will win. Jordan Loyd and Elie Okobo have been huge for Monaco, and I believe Mike James will join them in this decider. Fenerbahce did steal the series opener in the principality, but I don't see Nate Sestina getting hot as he did that night. Also, when Fenerbahce won Game 3, Tyler Dorsey and Scottie Wilbekin each hit 6 triples, and I don't see that happening again. Besides, my prediction for the entire series said it will go to five games, with teams splitting wins in Monaco and in Istanbul. So, I am sticking to it. It's going to be a battle, but I go with the home team. My pick: Monaco.

Fenerbahce to make history in Monaco

by Geoff Gillingham

For the first time in the EuroLeague Playoffs history, we will see a road winner in a Game 5. Fenerbahce has what it takes to go on the road and win at Monaco, having already done so in Game 1, and head coach Saras Jasikevicius is certainly capable of putting together a game plan to send his team to the Final Four. Coach Jasikevicius has become an expert in guiding teams to the Final Four, doing so in three straight seasons with FC Barcelona, and he has plenty of weapons at his disposal this time around. With Nick Calathes running the show and the likes of Scottie Wilbekin, Nigel Hayes-Davis and Marko Guduric all capable of stepping up scoring-wise, Fenerbahce has a great opportunity to stun Monaco in the principality. My pick: Fenerbahce.

Monaco makes the Final Four, again

by Frankie Sachs

The more I think about this series, the more confident I am in Monaco winning Game 5, just like it did last season against Maccabi. Mike James has been quiet for too long. Too many Monaco role players have been playing well. Fenerbahce had its chances and missed. It has not been great on the road this season, while Monaco has been superb at home. Monaco was built for this. Fenerbahce is a team that underwent no small amount of change during the season. It has overcome plenty and at times seemed destined to be in Berlin. But that was then. On Wednesday, Monaco will create its own destiny. My pick: Monaco.

Fenerbahce breaks the curse

by Frank Lawlor

The EuroLeague is too exceptionally competitive to think that home-court advantage will always prevail. Monaco and Fenerbahce are very evenly matched, and have proven so by winning once on each other's floor already in this series. Monaco's guards get all the love, but I like the way their big men have come to play lately. If Fenerbahce doesn't have Johnathan Motley again and John Brown is available for Monaco – both are considered game-time decisions – I might waver more on this. But knowing what we know, I believe Fenerbahce has what it takes to pull off a historic first. Nigel-Hayes is rested and ready for a big game. Nick Calathes is not going to tremble at the pressure. Georgios Papagiannis adds a dimension this team didn't have when the series started. And one or two among Marko Guduric, Tyler Dorsey and Scottie Wilbekin are likely to heat up with Sarunas Jasikevicius calling the plays. It should be a great battle, but my hunch is that Fenerbahce will be going to Berlin. My pick: Fenerbahce.