Barça Basket has made it to the last three EuroLeague Final Fours, compared to the last two for Olympiacos BC, but this time only one of them will punch their ticket to Berlin. So what are the main questions ahead of the series?

5 key questions: Barcelona vs. Olympiacos

FC Barcelona has made it to the last three Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Fours, compared to the last two for Olympiacos Piraeus, but this time only one of them will punch their ticket to Berlin. So what are the main questions ahead of the series?

#### Will home-court advantage be decisive?

Barca has been really solid at home this season, losing just twice in 17 regular-season games. If you look back in playoff history since best-of-five series were introduced in 2009, however, the *Blaugrana* have lost at least one playoff game at Palau Blaugrana against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2009), Real Madrid (2010), Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2011 and 2013), Olympiacos (2015), Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar (2016), Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2019), Zenit St Petersburg (2021) and FC Bayern Munich (2022). It lost the home-court advantage seven times, and was unable to finish the job at home twice. Since 2009, Olympiacos has won playoff road games against Real (2009), Asseco Prokom Gydnia (2010), Montepaschi Siena (2012), Barca (2015), Efes (2017), AS Monaco (2022) and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2023). Will Barca make its home-court advantage count or will it come unstuck against a team that specializes in winning on the road?

With the series equal after Fenerbahçe's impressive road win in Piraeus, the Turkish titans aim to utilise home-court advantage against an Olympiacos team bidding to bounce back and unleash the supreme talents of the season's leading scorer, Sasha Vezenkov.

Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul vs Olympiacos Piraeus - Playoffs Game 3 - Highlights

#### Can Barca stay red-hot from downtown?

Barca beat Olympiacos in both of their meetings this season. Sharing the ball well and finding good options for its three-point shooters allowed Barca to get those wins, which eventually led to the home-court advantage in this series. In those two games, Barca combined for 26-of-51 three-pointers (51.0% 3FG), forcing Olympiacos to hit just 15-of-47 shots from beyond the arc (31.9%). This season, Roger Grimau's squad ranks 15th in three-point shooting in road games (34.3% 3FG) but hit 15-of-26 attempts (57.7% 3FG) at Peace and Friendship Stadium. [Alex Abrines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alex-abrines/003478/) (45.2% 3FG), [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) (42.7%), [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolas-laprovittola/006435/) (40.4%) and [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) (36.9%) are Barca's best three-point shooters this season, and they all did even better against the Reds (Abrines 71.4% 3FG, Laprovittola 60.0%, Parker 57.1%, Kalinic 55.6%). Will Olympiacos improve its three-point defense against Barca in the most crucial part of the season?

FC Barcelona players has combined for 26 three-pointers in two games against Olympiacos Piraeus in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Barcelona's three-pointers against Olympiacos

#### Can Canaan and Peters keep impressing?

Olympiacos started the season with some big shoes to fill and instead of looking for star players in the market, head coach Georgios Bartzokas opted to give bigger roles to a couple of players who had more limited playing time in the 2022-23 season. It has paid off really well, as [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) and [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/) are posting career-best numbers. Canaan averaged 6.3 points on 38.2% three-point shooting and a PIR of 3.4 last season. In the 2023-24 campaign, Canaan has boosted those numbers to 12.0 points on 44.7% three-pointers and a PIR of 9.4. Peters had a smaller role off the bench last season, averaging 4.6 points on 41.1% three-pointers, 2.5 rebounds and a PIR of 4.5. This season, Peters is averaging 13.4 points on a league-leading 51.3% from downtown, 4.8 rebounds and a PIR of 14.7, while he's also started in all 33 games he took part in. Can they take those bigger numbers into high-pressure playoff games?

Alec Peters and Isaiah Canaan are seeing more playing time and posting better numbers in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Peters, Canaan with improved roles

#### Who will be the X-factor in this series?

As always, some players will raise their level in the playoffs and help their team get to the Final Four. Last season, Barca got an extra contribution from [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/), who averaged 5.0 points, 2.5 assists and a PIR of 6.3 in regular-season action but increased his numbers to 10.7 points, 3.3 assists and a PIR of 14.7 in his team's series against Zalgiris Kaunas. Last season, Olympiacos eliminated Fenerbahce in a five-game series. The Reds relied on [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) to make the difference in the paint, averaging 8.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 blocks and a PIR of 16.6, which were all greater than his regular-season numbers (7.2 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 2.0 apg., 0.8 bpg., 11.7 PIR). Of course, Barca's main candidate to be an X-factor is [Ricky Rubio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rubio-ricky/lfw/), who joined the team late and is ready to prove his value. The same can be said about [Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moses-wright/012878/) and [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/), who can add something different to the Reds' mix in a fascinating-looking series.

Ricky Rubio could be FC Barcelona's X-factor in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoffs.

Rubio: only getting better and better

#### Which team will protect the paint better?

They say basketball is a game of small details, but that's even truer in the playoffs. This one is very simple: both teams have really effective centers, and the team that gets its big men involved and scoring should have an edge in this series. Barca center [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/) leads the 2023-24 EuroLeague in two-pointers made per 40 minutes (10.0) followed by teammate [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) (9.4). That means one of them scores inside the arc once every 2 minutes and 37 seconds, combining for 301-of-486 attempts (61.9% 2FG). On the other side of the court, Fall is the most effective two-point shooter this season (79.7% 2FG), [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) leads the EuroLeague in offensive rebounds per 40 minutes (5.5) and in just 11 games, Moses Wright averages 9.3 points on 73.1% two-pointers and a PIR of 11.1 in less than 16 minutes on the floor. Who will find the best options for their highly efficient centers?

Nikola Milutinov, Moustapha Fall and Moses Wright have allowed Olympiacos Piraeus to return to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoffs by being really reliable in the paint.

Olympiacos centers' great effectiveness

The two historic clubs will go to battle in the EuroLeague Playoffs in the 4-5 matchup

FC Barcelona v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-04-24T19:00:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-04-26T19:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco and Fenerbahçe Beko face off in the 3-6 matchup in the EuroLeague Playoffs, with Game 1 taking place on Wednesday night.

5 key questions: AS Monaco vs. Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul

One series that is likely to get a lot of attention is [AS Monaco’s matchup against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/312/) in the 3-6 matchup, with the two teams set to face off in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs for the first-ever time. Third-placed Monaco is in the postseason for the third year in its history, having only made its EuroLeague debut in the 2021-22 campaign, while this is sixth-placed Fenerbahce’s 10th trip to the playoffs. There are star matchups all over the court, but which five questions should be on people’s minds heading into this series?

#### Will Mike James wrap up the MVP?

The frontrunner to become the 2023-24 EuroLeague MVP is Monaco’s [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), who will all but certainly be handed the award with a strong showing against Fenerbahce and another trip to the Final Four. However, it won’t be easy. The playoffs are where a player can either confirm the voters that he is worthy of such an award, or it could open the door for a late surge by someone else. James will be certain to avoid any doubts by showing up against Fenerbahce, as he did during both regular-season games, recording 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in an 86-74 road loss before amassing 23 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in a 76-69 win at home. Expect James to be front and center in this series.

The best plays of AS Monaco star Mike James in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Mike James's top plays in 2023-24

#### Can Fenerbahce address its slide?

Fenerbahce had been a team transformed since Saras Jasikevicius’s appointment as head coach ahead of Round 14, going 12-4 through his first 16 games to put the Turkish club in a great position to make the EuroLeague Playoffs. However, a 1-3 end to the regular season has put a dampener on things for Fenerbahce, which dropped to sixth position and fell out of contention for home-court advantage. The good news is that it has a stacked roster capable of beating any team in the EuroLeague – it beat all the playoff teams at least once during the regular season – so that should fill Jasikevicius’s men with confidence ahead of their showdown with Monaco.

Monaco search for a fourth consecutive win and are equipped with the clockwork consistency of Mike James, Round 24's MVP after powering his team over Partizan. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce enhanced its fragile road form with an impressive evening at ASVEL and have center Johnathan Motley thriving.

AS Monaco-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Round 25 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

#### How important will seeding be?

Curiously, Fenerbahce has only advanced once from five attempts when it has been the lower seed in a playoff series, doing so in 2016-17 when it swept Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The last two times it has been the lower seed, it was swept by CSKA Moscow (2020-21) and then lost in a five-game series to Olympiacos Piraeus (2022-23). Monaco, meanwhile, lost in Game 5 on the road at Olympiacos as the lower seed in 2021-22 but then beat Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on its home floor in Game 5 as the higher seed in the 4-5 matchup. Monaco is once again the higher seed this time around, so will that make the difference?

#### Will playoff experience prove to be key?

Fenerbahce enters the playoffs with a roster that is the second-most experienced in terms of playoff games played, with 143 combined playoff appearances among the squad. For Monaco, that number is 79, making it the sixth-most experienced team in the EuroLeague Playoffs. Then, in terms of average age, Monaco has the oldest average age at 29.8, compared to 27.9 for Fenerbahce, the fourth highest. While the majority of this Monaco side were part of the team that made it to last year’s Final Four, something Fenerbahce hasn’t achieved since 2018-19, it is advantage Fenerbahce when it comes to playing postseason basketball in the EuroLeague.

Fenerbahce continue to rely on the leadership of Nigel Hayes-Davis, as he remains the only player to have started every game of the campaign. Next for them are Monaco, who has won three of their last four, including a hard-fought road triumph at Zalgiris where Mike James again asserted his importance.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-AS Monaco | Round 14 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

#### Which coach will make the difference?

Coach Obradovic and Coach Jasikevicius have faced off seven times as head coaches in the past, with the Lithuanian tactician enjoying a 5-2 record against his Serbian counterpart. In fact, Jasikevicius also has the advantage when it comes to postseason basketball, having gone 16-13 to date in the playoffs and Final Four. Obradovic, meanwhile, is 6-6, all of which have come with Monaco. In addition to the battles on the floor, seeing the two coaches trying to outwit one another should also make for fascinating viewing. Which players should be in the closing group? How will they react to a defeat? These are questions that Obradovic and Jasikevicius will be dealing with, and the coach who handles things the best is likely to be the one who ends up celebrating a spot in the Final Four.

The 3-6 matchup gets underway on Wednesday night

5 key questions: Monaco vs. Fenerbahce

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-04-24T17:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-04-26T17:00:00.000Z)

Here are some questions ahead of Panathinaikos BC vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv BC, which could tell us how this series will end up.  

5 key questions: Panathinaikos vs. Maccabi

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv are historic rivals who have met in past championship games and in dramatic playoff series. After a quiet stretch, the rivalry will be rekindled as [they square off with both teams eager to end a Final Four drought with a ticket to Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/313/). Here are some questions whose answers could tell us how this series will end up.  

#### Which Lorenzo Brown will we see?

What a week it’s been for [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/). After a rough patch, he went off on Tuesday in setting Maccabi postseason records for points scored and three-pointers made in defeating Baskonia Vitoria-Gastiez in the Play-In Showdown. Then he returned to Tel Aviv and was with his fiancé as she gave birth to their son. Will the Lorenzo Brown who faces Panathinaikos be the All-EuroLeague First team star of last season? After the Baskonia game, Brown spoke about feeling pain-free for the first time in a while. If he has his full range of mobility back after the injuries that slowed him down earlier, he makes all those around him better. There is no brilliant analysis to be had about this matter. If Brown is at his best physically, he and Maccabi are more dangerous.

#### Will the Nunn-Baldwin matchup provide fireworks? 

Many journalists around Europe were secretly rooting for this matchup. Aside from the fact that these are two of the most dynamic scorers in the competition, their words have been pitted against one another over the past month. It started with [Nunn telling reporters he thought he was the best offensive player in the EuroLeague](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1648893/kendrick-nunn-panathinaikos-euroleague-barcelona-round-31/). [Baldwin telling the official EuroLeague website that the numbers say otherwise](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1653985/wade-baldwin-iv-kendrick-nunn-maccabi-tel-aviv-panathinaikos-euroleague/). And Nunn firing back about Baldwin’s NBA stats. Bottom line: they lead their respective teams in scoring with Baldwin’s 18.0 points per game ranking third in the league and Nunn’s 15.4 placing him eighth. And it should be an exciting matchup to follow. 

The top plays of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv's Wade Baldwin and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens's Kendrick Nunn in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Baldwin vs. Nunn: Their best plays this season

#### Is the Lessort-Nebo matchup the one we should be watching?

While the Nunn-Baldwin matchup may provide more headlines, is the battle in the paint between the Greens’ [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) and his Maccabi counterpart [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) the one we should be watching? These two are the poster boys for modern, athletic bigs. They have similar numbers with Nebo standing out as the better rebounder (7.3 rpg. to 6.0) and Lessort as the better scorer (13.6 ppg. to 10.9). Nebo outperformed Lessort in their two meetings this season, averaging 13 points and 10 boards to Lessort’s 8 points and 5 rebounds per game. Can Nebo continue his strong production against Panathinaikos and Lessort in this series? The answer to that question may be critical to the series outcome. 

Keep an eye on the Lessort-Nebo matchup

#### How important is controlling the pace?

It could be very important. These teams play at much different paces. Maccabi leads the league by a wide margin at 73.7 possessions on average over 40 minutes. The difference between it and second-placed ALBA Berlin is 1.6. Panathinaikos is way back in 13th place at 69.6. Panathinaikos is the second-most efficient team in the league, outscoring its opponents by 6.4 points per 100 possessions. Maccabi is seventh at 2.4. While those numbers tell a story of how the teams have played over the course of the season, what they do not share is how each team will function at the other’s preferred pace. If Maccabi pushes the pace, will Panathinaikos and its shorter rotation be as efficient? If Panathinaikos grinds the game to a halt, can Maccabi score? It may very well be that the team which controls the pace has a massive advantage.

#### What role will experience play?

There is no shortage of experience on these two teams’ rosters. On the one hand, the case for Panathinaikos is easy. Head coach Ergin Ataman is a two-time champ, point guard [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) has three rings with two different teams and [Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/) has played in the championship game twice. Meanwhile, the only members of the Maccabi delegation to have Final Four playing experience are head coach Oded Kattash and assistant coach Guy Pnini. On the other hand, Kattash guided eight of his current charges into a grueling five-game playoff loss to AS Monaco last season. The Greens’ squad has little shared playoff history. How much will Maccabi’s shared experience help it? What impact will Ataman and Sloukas have on the Panathinaikos players stepping into the playoff waters for the first time? We will know the answers to all these questions soon enough!

In an exclusive interview, Panathinaikos guard Kostas Sloukas talks about his summer move from archrival Olympiacos and his quest to add to his three EuroLeague titles.

Kostas Sloukas, Panathinaikos: 'People say I look good in green'

Tuesday night will see the 2-7 playoff matchup begin in Athens

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-04-25T18:15:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-04-23T17:30:00.000Z)

After finishing the regular season with nine consecutive home wins, Panathinaikos BC will look to stay strong in Athens with a visit on Tuesday from dangerous Maccabi Tel Aviv BC, which cruised through its play-in test by crushing Baskonia 113-85.

Preview: Panathinaikos BC vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv BC

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/313/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-game-facts-pan-tel/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-game-notes-pan-tel/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-prequotes-pan-tel/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-37/)

Maccabi is one of only three visiting teams to win in Athens this season, triumphing 81-86 after overtime in October behind 21 points from [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/), who faces a great matchup with [Dinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/).

In the paint, two of the league's best big men will battle for supremacy. [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) averages 13.6 points and 6.0 rebounds for the Greens, while [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) leads the league with 7.3 rebounds per game and has posted double-digit PIRs in 13 consecutive games.

[Panathinaikos Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/statistics/pan/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Maccabi Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/statistics/tel/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Kendrick Nunn vs. Wade Baldwin: Two of the best scorers in the EuroLeague will go head to head as they look to lead their teams to a Game 1 victory.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv ground out a hard-fought overtime road win over Panathinaikos Athens, 81-86, at OAKA on Friday night. 

Panathinaikos Athens-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | Round 4 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

The Greens are in great form with eight wins out of the last nine and appear well on course to conclude the regular season in the top-six. They journey to a stuttering Maccabi outfit seeking defensive improvement after losing three of their previous four, having shipped 88 points in each of those defeats.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Round 23 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

After finishing the regular season with nine consecutive home wins, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens will look to stay strong in the Greek capital with a visit on Tuesday from dangerous Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, which cruised through its play-in test by crushing Baskonia 113-85.

Panathinaikos, Maccabi get the EuroLeague Playoffs started in style!

Reigning champ and regular season standings leader Real Madrid will aim to strike first at home on Tuesday against Baskonia, which qualified for the playoffs by surging past Virtus Bologna in Friday's play-in decider.

Preview: Real Madrid vs. Baskonia

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/E2023/310/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-game-facts-mad-bas/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-game-notes-mad-bas/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-prequotes-mad-bas/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-37/)

The visiting team will take confidence from a thrilling 91-95 victory at the WiZink Center in the penultimate round of the regular season. [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/) was the chief architect of that victory with 35 points, and he will clearly be a focus for the home team's defense after also netting 28 in the win over Virtus.

Real will look to dominate physically through its fearsome big man duo of [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/), who rank first and second, respectively, in blocks with 1.5 and 1.4 per game. Baskonia will desperately hope that [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) will recover from injury soon to play at 100%, while [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-costello/010444/) has fond memories of Madrid after scoring 19 crucial points in the Round 33 victory.

[Madrid Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/statistics/mad/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Baskonia Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/statistics/bas/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Facundo Campazzo vs. Codi Miller-McIntyre: Which of these two elite playmakers will end up having the biggest impact in Game 1?

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Real Madrid | Round 1 | Highlights

Los Blancos has already set a record for the most regular season victories and they aim for a fifth after Dzanan Musa inspired a triumph versus Zvezda, whereas Baskonia have stumbled via three straight losses and bid to avenge an opening night loss to Real after Markus Howard missed on the buzzer.

Real Madrid-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 33 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Reigning champ and regular season standings leader Real Madrid will aim to strike first at home on Tuesday against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, which qualified for the playoffs by surging past Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Friday's play-in decider.

Reigning champ Real Madrid takes on plucky Baskonia in Game 1

Real Madrid v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-04-23T19:00:00.000Z)

The Fenerbahce play-caller dishes on his favorite plays when the game is on the line

Sarunas Jasikevicus: 'Most important is to not speak, but to actually do it'

Euroleague Masterminds, presented by Motorola, spoke to five Turkish Airlines EuroLeague head coaches about their philosophy and tactics.

The fifth and final installment of this series features Sarunas Jasikevicus, a four-time champion as a player who has guided two teams to Final Fours as a head coach. Saras shares his outlook on coaching, especially when the game is on the line. 

"You have to play good defense, you have to not give cheap points," Jasikevicus explains. "In European basketball, the teams are so similar to one another. So every cheap point, every transition point, offensive rebound, 50-50 balls; these balls really determine at the end of the game for 5, 6, 7 points difference. And usually the games are decided in that point range."

Jasikevicius was the last among the five coaching greats to share some of the tricks of the trade on Euroleague Masterminds, presented by Motorola. Previous episodes saw [Zeljko Obradovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/euroleague-masterminds-what-coaching-greats-know/) of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, [Ioannis Sfairopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/ioannis-sfairopoulos-work-hard-improve-yourself-be-patient/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, [Ettore Messina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/ettore-messina-i-try-to-learn-every-day-from-my-players/) of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and [Pablo Laso](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/pablo-laso-explains-his-transition-offense/) of FC Bayern Munich take us inside the mind of an elite head coach.

The third- and sixth-place teams from the regular season will lock horns as AS Monaco Basket hosts Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul in the principality on Wednesday. 

Preview: AS Monaco vs. Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/312/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-game-facts-mco-ulk/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-game-notes-mco-ulk/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-prequotes-mco-ulk/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-37/)

Fenerbahce has the worst road record out of all playoff teams, with just 5 wins in 17 regular-season attempts, while Monaco has won nine of its last ten at home.

Monaco, as always, will run its offense through the competition's all-time leading scorer [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), who averaged 18.7 points and 5.1 assists during the regular season and reached double-digit scoring in every single game. He has plenty of support from the likes of all-action forward [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) and smooth shooting big man [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/).

Fenerbahce will run its offense through the experience of [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) (4.9 assists per game) and the three-point shooting of [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/) (3.0 triples per night), while the Turkish team's all-around threat, [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/), faces a great matchup against defensive ace [John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/).

[Monaco Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/statistics/mco/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Fenerbahce Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/statistics/ulk/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Mike James vs. Scottie Wilbekin: The opposition defenses are going to have their hands full when it comes to trying to contain these two.

The third- and sixth-place teams from the regular season will lock horns as Monaco hosts Fenerbahce in the principality on Wednesday. 

Monaco, Fenerbahce ready to lock horns in a Game 1 showdown

Heavyweights collide at Palau Blaugrana as Barça Basket welcomes Olympiacos BC, boosted by the knowledge of already having beaten the Greek team twice this season: 86-78 at home and 68-77 in Piraeus.

Preview: Barça Basket vs. Olympiacos BC

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-barcelona-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/311/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-game-facts-bar-oly/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-game-notes-bar-oly/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-po-g1-prequotes-bar-oly/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-37/)

The Reds made the stronger finish to the regular season, winning 10 of their last 11 games, and head coach Georgios Bartzokas has been further strengthened by the return of towering center [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) after nearly three months out injured. His physical presence will be important against the outstanding Barca big-man duo of [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) and [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/), who combined for an average of 24 points and 9.3 rebounds during the regular season.

Two stellar defensive guards will look to control the tempo as [Tomas Satoransky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tomas-satoransky/002939/) faces [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/), while long-range shooting prowess is provided by [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolas-laprovittola/006435/) (12.8 ppg., 40.4% 3PT) and [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/) (12.0 ppg., 44.7% 3PT).

[Barcelona Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/statistics/bar/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Olympiacos Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/statistics/oly/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Jabari Parker vs. Alec Peters: There will be quite the battle between the two do-it-all power forwards when they face off in Game 1.

FC Barcelona ground out a well-deserved 68-77 win at Olympiacos Piraeus in the second round of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season. The visitors overwhelmed the home side in the last few minutes of an enthralling rollercoaster, having thrown away a 15-point second-quarter lead in a vibrant atmosphere.

Olympiacos Piraeus-FC Barcelona | Round 2 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Jan Vesely was seemingly unstoppable in Barcelona's big wins against Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Baskonia, netting 27 and 23 points, respectively. His battle with Moustapha Fall could be one to watch as fast-rising Olympiaocs strive to manage tempo via the leadership skills of Thomas Walkup.

FC Barcelona-Olympiacos Piraeus | Round 20 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Heavyweights collide at Palau Blaugrana as FC Barcelona welcomes Olympiacos Piraeus, boosted by the knowledge of already having beaten the Greek team twice this season: 86-78 at home and 68-77 in Greece.

Barcelona, Olympiacos eager to start off on the right foot in Game 1

It’s playoff time! And that, in itself, brings new obstacles to EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge managers. On the one hand, fewer players to choose from. On the other, no easy games; no easy points. Moreso than ever before, in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, every game matters! The co-hosts of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast, Javier Gancedo, are here to help you navigate through these playoff predicaments.

Fantasy Challenge Podcast: ‘What time is it, Javi?’

It’s playoff time! And that, in itself, brings new obstacles to [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) managers. On the one hand, fewer players to choose from. On the other, no easy games; no easy points. Moreso than ever before, in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, every game matters! The co-hosts of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast, Javier Gancedo, are here to help you navigate through these playoff predicaments.

The two jump from series to series, discussing the big names and the underpriced sleepers, to make sure you have thought through all the angles before finalizing your fantasy teams. Get ready for the playoffs with episode No. 32 of your favorite fantasy basketball podcast. 