Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has officially reached the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, becoming the fifth team this season to qualify for the postseason. The team booked its place in the playoffs following a 28-27 loss on the road at Zalgiris Kaunas on Thursday, which gave it a 19-14 record after the penultimate round of action in the regular season.

Maccabi qualified for the playoffs because at 19 wins it cannot lose any possible tiebreaker. The one that could have potentially eliminated Maccabi at the end of the regular season was a three-way tie with Baskonia and Zalgiris for seventh, eighth and ninth place. With all three teams splitting home wins, Maccabi is -15 head-to-head against Baskonia, and now is even head-to-head against Zalgiris after each team won by a 1-point margin on home floor. But since Zalgiris is -16 in head-to-head games against Baskonia, in such three-way tie, Baskonia would be seventh, Maccabi eighth and Zalgiris ninth. Thanks to Partizan sweeping Zalgiris and Baskonia sweeping Fenerbahce, Maccabi cannot be worse than eighth anymore, therefore, it qualifies for the playoffs for the second straight season.

Maccabi will not be able to clinch home-court advantage because Olympiacos Piraeus, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and AS Monaco have already wrapped up the top four spots in the standings. Heading into the final round next week, Maccabi seeks another win to lock up the five seed. However, it already knows that a possible Game 5 would be played away from Tel Aviv.

### Road to playoffs

Maccabi started the season strong with four wins against Zalgiris, Monaco, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and Panathinaikos Athens in the first five games. Granted, those wins all arrived at Menora Mivtachim Arena and, while a sticky patch soon arrived, the team responded by putting together another 4-1 stretch between Rounds 12 and 16 – the last of which was an 80-72 win against back-to-back reigning champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul – to get back on track.

One defining factor for Maccabi throughout this season has been its ability to turn Menora Mivtachim Arena into a fortress, as the team regularly picked up victories at home. In fact, despite recording just its third road win of the season in Round 23, beating Valencia Basket 93-94, Maccabi's results in Tel Aviv meant that it remained firmly in the race to make the playoffs. Then, a six-game winning streak between Rounds 27 and 32, which included wins over playoff-chasing trio Fenerbahce, Efes and Baskonia, as well as an offensive clinic in a 111-80 victory against Virtus Segafredo Bologna, all but sealed the team's progress to the postseason. With a league-best 14-2 home record in its back pocket, confirmation of Maccabi's playoff spot finally arrived in Round 33, when it beat Zalgiris XX-XX on the road at Zalgirio Arena.

### Playoff experience

Maccabi has an experienced roster with regard to the EuroLeague Playoffs. Plenty of the team's players have taken part in key series over the years, be it with Maccabi or with another team. Yet, only two players know what it is like to advance to the Final Four. Darrun Hilliard did so with CSKA Moscow in 2021, only to fall in the semifinals to the eventual champion, Efes. The only other player on the roster to have ever won a playoff series is Guy Pnini, who not only played in the Final Four but won it, as Maccabi beat Real Madrid in the 2014 championship game in Milan. He also played in the 2011 Final Four, losing in Europe's showpiece fixture to Panathinaikos.

The team's star backcourt of Wade Baldwin and Lorenzo Brown, as well as the likes of Austin Hollins and Alex Poythress, have all played playoff series for other teams, such as FC Bayern Munich, Fenerbahce and Zenit St Petersburg. Meanwhile, EuroLeague rookies Bonzie Colson and Jarell Martin will get a taste of the playoffs at the first time of asking. Elsewhere, Maccabi veterans Jake Cohen and John DiBartolomeo will be looking to make it to the Final Four for the first time in their careers.

### Playoff history

Since the new EuroLeague playoff format was introduced in the 2004-05 season, Maccabi has appeared in a total of 11 series and advanced to the Final Four on six occasions. In those series, the Israeli side played a total 37 games, winning 43.2% of those contests for a total record of 16-21. Maccabi has also been involved in four series sweeps: one in its favor (2004-05 against Scavolini Pesaro) and three against (2013 against Real, 2015 against Fenerbahce and 2022 against Real again).

In 2022, Maccabi returned to the playoffs after a surprise five-season absence, which meant that one of the biggest clubs in the EuroLeague could finally taste postseason basketball once again. However, it fell to Real Madrid, losing 0-3. Before that, in 2015, Maccabi was also swept 0-3 by Fenerbahce. One year before, in 2014, the Israeli team completed a storybook season by lifting the trophy in Milan after defeating Real Madrid 86-98 in overtime. That triumph was Maccabi's second since the new playoff format began in 2004-05, as it became the back-to-back champion at the 2005 Final Four in Moscow. After dominating Skipper Bologna in the 2004 championship game, 118-74, Maccabi followed that up with a 91-82 win against Panathinaikos Athens one year later.

Maccabi advances to the playoffs!

 Kazys Maksvytis: 'I am still shaking' 

### Zalgiris Kaunas head coach Kazys Maksvytis

"We started to mix our defense, one time we went switch defense, one time we went man-to-man. I think in the first half we were very predictable and had problems with our defense. Thank God we changed our defense. Maybe sometimes our offense was too static, but we won this game with our second-half defense. We were playing with more defensive players, we tried to keep our best defenders on the court. It is a very big win, we are still in the race and we are very happy. \[On the final play\] I think Butkevicius did a great job, then the help came. It was a hard shot. It looks like they played for only one shot, and it worked for us, we got a stop. I am still shaking, but we are in the race. I am very happy and proud of our team. Congratulations to our fans one more time."

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach Oded Kattash

"Zalgiris won with a lot of heart. They played hard. It was a tough game, with high intensity. Offensively, in the second half, we missed a lot of shots, sometimes really good shots. Defensively we played the second half better than the first half, we did the right things to win the game, but unlucky in the end."

### Zalgiris Kaunas forward Rolands Smits

"Everybody understood that needs to play better defense \[in the second half\]. Needed to fight for every ball, and we did that. We started playing more as a team, put more energy until the last second. I did not feel nervous, but it was a very hard game and I am happy about my team. I knew Baldwin was going to attack \[on the last play\], I think we played pretty good defense and did good on the last rebound."

### Zalgiris Kaunas forward Arnas Butkevicius

"I am a little bit tired, to be honest. I feel it for sure. I am just happy that we won, and when we win it means that it all paid off. I am happy about that. \[On the last play\] I tried to give my best, bend the legs and work hard. I am happy that Baldwin missed, Kevarrius helped a bit. It's a team effort. Our goal is a top-eight spot. We are looking for this last game, and don’t' think too much. Just go and play hard, like we always do. give our best and hope we are going to make the playoffs."

Game Videos

Game News

Kazys Maksvytis: 'I am still shaking'

Zalgiris Kaunas v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-04-06T17:00:00.000Z)

So far, 32 Rounds have been completed, and two more are left to finish the regular season. Four teams have qualified for the playoffs, Olympiacos (23-9), Barcelona (22-10), Real Madrid (22-10), and Monaco (21-11). At this point, then, there are four spots left for six candidates, of whom some have more chances, others have less.

If there were ever a time for a player to step up and give his team what the occasion calls for, that little bit extra, it is now.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1485926/hidden-aces-of-the-playoffs-race/)

Hidden aces of the playoff race, by Eurohoops

With just two games remaining in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, a huge game in the battle to make it to the playoffs takes place on Thursday evening (19:45 CET) as [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (18-14) hosts Anadolu Efes Istanbul (16-16) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2022/290/)at Ulker Sports and Event Hall. Everything is set up for arguably one of the most exciting Turkish derbies in EuroLeague history. 

First things first, both teams have the chance to qualify for the postseason, and here is how they can do so. In the case of Fenerbahce, it will qualify for the playoffs if it beats Efes and either Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (17-15) or Zalgiris Kaunas (17-15) loses. That's due to the tiebreak disadvantage Fener has against Baskonia (0-2) and Zalgiris (1-1, -12). 

Efes, meanwhile, is eliminated with a loss, regardless of other scores. A win against Fenerbahce, however, would keep Efes in the playoff race due to its 2-0 record against Zalgiris. Baskonia swept Efes, so it wants to avoid any possible tie with the Spanish team, but that's a conversation for Round 34 if Efes wins and mathematically stays alive. 

Both teams could end up tied with one another at the end of the regular season, so it is important to keep in mind what happened in their matchup earlier this season. Back in Round 5, Fenerbahce topped Efes 79-88 as it continued its 100% start to the season. [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/), who is unavailable this time around, led the winners with 25 points. [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) added 19 while [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) had 11. [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) scored 19 points for Efes, which was without [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/). 

There will not be much room for tactical surprises, as Efes and Fenerbahce play each other at least four times per season, and up to 18 times in a worst-case scenario, which already can't happen this season. Free throws, however, could be critical if it is a close showdown: Fenerbahce ranks last in the EuroLeague from the charity stripe at 70.8%, whereas Efes is second overall (82.4%). 

For Efes, seven players in its current rotation shoot over that percentage, including [Tibor Pleiss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tibor-pleiss/lhk/) (91.3%), [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) (86.7%), Micic (86.5%) and [Amath M'Baye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/amath-m-baye/007993/) (86.5%). Some of Fenerbahce's main players are somewhat unreliable at the free-throw line, though, such as [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) (74.0%), Motley (68.8%), [Dyshawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dyshawn-pierre/010560/) (57.1%) and [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) (33.3%). 

Since the then-called Fenerbahce Ulker was put together in 2006, both teams have faced each other 19 times. By far, the biggest edition of the EuroLeague's Turkish Derby took place in the 2019 semifinal at Buesa Arena in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Efes thrashed Fenerbahce 73-92 behind 30 points from Larkin and 25 from Micic. As many as 10 of the players that featured in that game – seven for Efes, three for Fenerbahce – are still with their respective teams, which shows a lot of continuity. Fenerbahce has a 12-7 winning record against Efes, which has been victorious in six of the last nine derbies. 

Now, let's look at the coaches. Fenerbahce tactician Dimitris Itoudis won his second EuroLeague title with CSKA Moscow in 2019, downing Efes 83-91 in the championship game. On the other side of things, Ergin Ataman led Efes to an 86-89 victory against CSKA in the 2021 semifinals. Playing for CSKA, Clyburn was chosen as the 2019 Final Four MVP, although two years later he missed the potential go-ahead shot in the final seconds of the 2021 semifinal. Clyburn now plays for Efes and goes against Coach Itoudis. 

No other Turkish teams have won the EuroLeague title, as Fenerbahce lifted the trophy in 2017 and Efes claimed back-to-back crowns in 2021 and 2022. With a playoff berth on the line, this latest edition of the Turkish Derby will be as good as it gets!

Playoffs on the line as Fenerbahce, Efes meet

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2023-04-06T17:45:00.000Z)

Here you can find all the latest injury news surrounding all rostered players in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. 

EuroLeague injury report

Check out all injuries and absences expected in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague before Round 33:

**ALBA Berlin**

Gabriele Procida missed a domestic game on Wednesday due to flu.

Yoval Zoosman returned to action last week.

Marcus Eriksson is out indefinitely due to a leg injury.

Tamir Blatt is out indefinitely with a thumb injury.

**Anadolu Efes Istanbul**

Bryant Dunston has not played since Round 29 due to injury, and is questionable for Round 33.

Erten Gazi is out for Round 33 clash vs. Fenerbahce.

Dogus Balbay is out long-term after undergoing surgery on his left hip.

**AS Monaco**

Chima Moneke did not play in Round 32.

**Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz**

Tadas Sedekerskis (muscle discomfort) remains sidelined indefinitely.

[Pierria Henry](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/baskonia-henry-suspend-their-agreement/) is unavailable until further notice.

**Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade**

Nemanja Nedovic has not played in two games last week.

Ben Bentil has missed a domestic league games over the weekend due to a leg injury.

Branko Lazic has been missing from the lineup since Round 25.

**EA7 Emporio Armani Milan**

Kevin Pangos (abdominal muscle strain) returned to play in a domestic league game over the weekend.

Luigi Datome (ankle) also returned to the floor in Italian League action over the weekend.

Brandon Davies did not play over the weekend with an illness.

[Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/milan-devon-hall-out-at-least-four-weeks-with-injury/) and Paul Biligha have been deactivated from Milan's roster. Hall played in the Italian League this weekend.

**FC Barcelona**

Nikola Kalinic did not play in the Spanish League over the weekend due to a foot injury.

**FC Bayern Munich**

Othello Hunter (back) missed the last four games.

Ognjen Jaramaz returned to action in the German League over the weekend.

D.J. Seeley did not play in a domestic game on Tuesday due to a back issue.

Cassius Winston missed the last three games.

[Augustine Rubit](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/bayerns-rubit-out-indefinitely/) is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for an Achilles injury.

Elias Harris suffered a foot injury in Round 21 that has kept him out since then. He is having individual practice sessions.

**Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**

Nemanja Bjelica will miss Round 33 with a leg injury, the club reported.

[Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-booker-out-three-weeks/) suffered a knee injury in Round 31 and he is expected to miss up to four weeks.

Dyshawn Pierre, who missed the last four games with an injury, and Melih Mahmutoglu who did not play since Round 26, will be available in Round 33 vs. Efes.

[Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-wilbekin-sidelined-with-knee-injury/) will remain sidelined until at least late April with a knee injury.

[Metecan Birsen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-metecan-birsen-out-six-weeks/) remains sidelined with injury.

Samet Geyik and Ismet Akpinar are deactivated due to coach's decision.

**LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne**

Amine Noua did not play in two games last week.

Antoine Diot missed a domestic game on Tuesday due to illness.

Zaccharie Risacher is unavailable to play in Round 33.

[Joffrey Lauvergne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/asvels-lauvergne-suffers-torn-acl/) is out indefinitely due to a torn ACL.

**Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv**

[Jalen Adams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/maccabis-adams-out-for-season-after-shoulder-surgery/), who last played in Round 26, is likely out for the season following shoulder surgery.

Austin Hollins has not played since Round 21 due to a knee injury.

[Alex Poythress ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/maccabi-loses-poythress-for-at-least-four-months/?pageTitle=Maccabi%20Playtika%20Tel%20Aviv&historyUrl=/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/tel/)remains sidelined since Round 11 with a broken hand.

**Olympiacos Piraeus**

Isaiah Canaan, on parental leave last week, returned to action in the Greek League last weekend.

**Panathinaikos Athens**

Matt Thomas missed a Greek League game over the weekend with a back issue.

Mateusz Ponitka (ankle) has missed the last three games.

Nate Wolters did not play in either EuroLeague game last week.

**Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade**

[Balsa Koprivica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/partizan-announces-injuries-to-exum-koprivica/) is out indefinitely with mononucleosis.

**Real Madrid**

Anthony Randolph (knee) saw action in the Spanish League and is set to make his EuroLeague season debut.

[Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-madrid-sergio-llull-out-indefinitely-with-knee-injury/?pageTitle=Real%20Madrid&historyUrl=/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) is nearing his return after a knee injury.

Carlos Alocen (knee) is out indefinitely.

Nigel Williams-Goss, who last played in Round 28, returned to training. His Round 33 status is uncertain.

Fabien Causeur missed practice on Wednesday due to back discomfort.

Rudy Fernandez has missed practices this week with a fever.

Vincent Poirier will not be playing as he underwent a minor surgery.

Guerschon Yabusele did not play in Round 32.

**Valencia Basket**

Bojan Dubljevic is out with a right ankle injury.

[Klemen Prepelic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencia-prepelic-out-4-weeks/) will miss four weeks due to a leg injury.

[Sam Van Rossom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencias-van-rossom-to-undergo-knee-surgery/) is out indefinitely due to a knee injury.

Millan Jimenez, sidelined for a long period of time due to an ankle problem, has returned to practice.

**Virtus Segafredo Bologna**

Marco Belinelli is due to miss Round 33 with illness

Isaia Cordinier has not played since Round 23 due to a foot injury. He is still out.

Milos Teodosic last played in Round 29, will be missing in action this week, and is expected to be out until mid-April.

Alessandro Pajola, who missed the last three games, will not return in Round 33.

Awudu Abass will not play in Round 33.

**Zalgiris Kaunas**

Head coach Kazys Maksvytis stated on Wednesday that Ignas Brazdeikis "is not 100 percent".

[Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zalgiris-evans-suffers-torn-achilles/) will miss the rest of the season after suffering an Achilles injury.

[Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zalgiriss-tyler-cavanaugh-out-more-three-months/) (back) will remain out until late April after undergoing back surgery.

Liutauras Lelevicius is sidelined with a leg injury.

Injury report, Round 33

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v FC Barcelona (2023-04-07T18:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos Athens v ALBA Berlin (2023-04-07T18:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2023-04-07T19:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v FC Bayern Munich (2023-04-06T18:45:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2023-04-06T18:30:00.000Z)

Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2023-04-06T19:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Olympiacos Piraeus (2023-04-06T17:00:00.000Z)

The 33rd and penultimate round of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season remains full of suspense going into six games on Thursday and three on Friday, all but two of which will have an impact on playoff qualifications or seeding scenarios. Check out all of this week's possibilities below.

### Seedings scenarios

[Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2022-23) (23-9) clinches first place if it wins at Crvena Zvezda. 

Olympiacos also will finish first if Real, Barcelona and Monaco all lose.

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/roster/bar/?season=2022-23) (22-10) will finish second with a win at Milan if Olympiacos wins and if Real loses.

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2022-23) (22-10) will finish third if it loses vs. Bayern, Monaco loses and Barcelona wins.

[AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/roster/mco/?season=2022-23) (21-11) will finish fourth if it loses vs. Partizan. 

Monaco also will finish fourth if Real, Barcelona and Olympiacos all win.

### Playoff possibilities

[Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/roster/tel/?season=2022-23) (19-13) will qualify for the playoffs with a win at Zalgiris. 

Maccabi also will qualify with a loss by fewer than 2 points in regulation time. 

Maccabi also will qualify if Fenerbahce, Partizan or Baskonia loses. 

Maccabi will finish fifth with a win if Fenerbahce loses.

### PARTIZAN

[Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/partizan-nis-belgrade/roster/par/?season=2022-23) (18-14) will qualify for the playoffs with a victory at Monaco. Partizan also will qualify if either Baskonia or Zalgiris lose.

### FENERBAHCE

[Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/?season=2022-23) (18-14) will qualify for the playoffs if it wins vs. Efes and either Baskonia or Zalgiris loses.

### BASKONIA

[Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/bitci-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/roster/bas/?season=2022-23) (17-15) will qualify for the playoffs with a victory vs. ASVEL if Zalgiris loses.

### ZALGIRIS

[Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/roster/zal/?season=2022-23) (17-15) will be eliminated with a loss vs. Maccabi if Baskonia and Fenerbahce both win.

### EFES

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/roster/ist/?season=2022-23) (16-16) will be eliminated with a loss vs. Fenerbahce.

Round 33 playoff possibilities and seedings scenarios

What a great time to be a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fan! With just two regular season left, six teams are fighting for four open playoffs spot. Moreover, some of those teams are going against each other in absolutely must-watch showdowns in Round 33. Zalgiris Kaunas takes on Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, Anadolu Efes Istanbul visits Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in a do-or-die date for the defending back-to-back champions, and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade plays on the road against already-qualified AS Monaco. Wow!

Of course, all this will have an impact in the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/home): the more competitive the games are, the fewer surprises we will get. My team, Gancedato, took a step back in Round 32 after a brilliant Round 31. Josh Nebo of Maccabi was my highest scoring player at just 18.7 fantasy points. In fact, head coach Dusko Ivanovic of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade outscored everyone on my team, with 20 points. I ended up getting 137.6 points, which made me drop to the 1,927th spot overall. We are entering the last nine Fantasy Challenge rounds, at most, depending whether we have long playoff series or not. It is do-or-die time.

Three trades will be allowed before each round until the end of the regular season. I am selling Coach Ivanovic because his team is eliminated and plays against Olympiacos, which is in search of clinching first place. I am going for a coach whose team is fighting to get to the playoffs but his opponent is eliminated, and that will be Joan Penarroya of Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Basically, it is the same move as in Round 32, but backwards. I am selling Nigel Hayes-Davis of Fenerbahce because I have Will Clyburn of Efes and don't like to have players going against each other. I am selling Jan Wimberg of FC Bayern Munich because he has not made the most out of his playing time. And finally, I am letting Rokas Jokubaitis of FC Barcelona go because I have another player in mind.

I am buying [Vanja Marinkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vanja-marinkovic/004761/) of Baskonia because he has been red-hot lately, amassing 75 points in three games last week. Marinkovic is a streak shooter and as long as he keeps doing well, he will be on my team. I am also buying [Paris Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/paris-lee/011225/) of Panathinaikos Athens. I know, his team is eliminated but Panathinaikos is a proud squad playing at home, and I am sure it will give everything to get a win in its final EuroLeague game at OAKA Altion this season. Finally, without a lot of money to spend, I am buying [Jaron Blossomgame](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jaron-blossomgame/011231/) of Monaco. He just seems to be the best option with the money I have left.

You can take a look at my team here:

As you can see, my team features seven players whose teams play on Thursday, with Darius Thompson of Baskonia as provisional team captain, and three more on Friday, including potential starters in Lee and, especially, Nikola Mirotic of Barca. The team looks very good, especially if Marinkovic keeps delivering. All potential bench players are worth at least 6.0 credits, so no one is at the very end of the bench. 

Remember, the 2022-23 EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime features better prizes than ever, so get your game on now!

And don't forget to use #fantasychallenge on social media all season long. Good luck!

Fantasy Challenge, Round 33: it's do-or-die time! 

Estonians have been few and far between on Turkish Airlines EuroLeague rosters over the last 23 years, but the country's newest representative in the continent's top competition has certainly made his presence felt. 

Maik Kotsar, Baskonia: 'I've always liked the underdog mentality'

Estonians have been few and far between on Turkish Airlines EuroLeague rosters over the last 23 years, but the country's newest representative in the continent's top competition has certainly made his presence felt. 

Big man [Maik Kotsar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/maik-kotsar/004603/) of Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has made as much of an impact as almost any rookie in the competition. From his opening-game MVP of the Week performance back in October to his second such accolade in Round 31, Kotsar has been a pilar in Baskonia's quest to make the playoffs.

Kotsar, 26, learned basketball with the Audentes sports academy in the Estonian capital of Tallin before moving to the United States for a successful collegiate career at University of South Carolina and then debuting as a pro last season in the 7DAYS EuroCup with Hamburg Towers.

Despite the limited pool of just eight Estonians who have played the EuroLeague this century, when Baskonia came calling, Kotsar had one of them to consult, his current teammate Sander Raieste, who moved from Estonia to Spain at age 17 and has been on Baskonia's EuroLeague roster now for three seasons.

"He was a lot of help," Kotsar says of Raieste. "I could ask him anything about the club, about the teammates, obviously the coaching change, although not a lot about that. Overall, what the city's like, what the team's like, all that. I feel like he helped me a lot during that decision."

Not only had Kotsar known Raieste from recently playing on the Estonian national team together, but they also coincided for exactly one game back at Audentes sports academy. Kotsar appeared in only one game in his final year at the school due to an injury, but the younger Raieste was on court in that game, too. 

"It's really nice to have actually played almost every position."

Kotsar's injury in his last year of high school in Estonia was his second already at a young age, after a broken leg at age 15. Before the cast went on his leg, he had been a 1.78-meter point guard, but by the time it came off, he was on his way to becoming the 2.12-meter center he is now. 

"I was in a cast for two months, and during the time, I actually started growing," he recalls. "By the time they took my cast off, my foot had already gotten bigger, so the cast got too small for me. And then, my sophomore year of high school, I grew I'd say like 15 centimeters almost. Quite a lot. And by the end of my junior year I was almost the height I am now."

As such, Kotsar made a gradual progression of playing through almost all the positions on a basketball court, learning a lot of skills as he went through both forward spots to finally become a center. He now plays with an elevated court awareness that allows him to use his quickness to great effect, often operating from the perimeter to beat slower-footed defenders his size to the rim. 

"Just as I started to grow, I went from being the point guard to playing the three \[position\]," he recounts. "Played the three quite a lot. And then, once I got to the U.S., I started playing the four, and played four-five throughout college, and now I'm playing the five. So, everything went like step by step. I'm lucky that it went so smoothly. It's really nice to have actually played almost every position."

Maik Kotsar Top Plays of the 2022-23 Regular Season

Maik Kotsa, Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz highlights

Kotsar knows his strengths. He is averaging 9.2 points without so much as attempting a three-pointer this season, and his 65.3% two-point scoring rate is the best of any EuroLeague newcomer this season. Having started 26 of 32 EuroLeague games as a rookie, he is first on Baskonia in offensive rebounds (52), tied for second in total rebounds (137) and third in both steals (25) and blocks (13). 

Kotsar's Achilles heel so far is 56.6% free-throw shooting, which has kept him from averaging double digits in scoring. Nonetheless, among EuroLeague rookies, his 13.2 average PIR is ranked fourth, behind only his teammate Darius Thompson (16.5), Johnathan Motley of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (16.5) and Bonzie Colson of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (13.6). On a per-40-minute basis, however, Kotsar (25.9) is second only to Motley (29.0).

His success doesn't seem so sudden, though, when you realize that Kotsar knew exactly why he chose Baskonia -- and vice-versa, no doubt.

"I've always liked the underdog mentality, the fighting, going out there and, no matter who you're against, just giving it your all: fight, don't back down," he says. "I've enjoyed that mentality for the longest time and that's something that I think I see from the club. The club wants their players, and even staff, to be that way, to just keep on pushing, keep on pushing. I really enjoy that and it was one of the driving forces for me to come here."

[Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) is having a solid maiden season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

 

"I am aware of the expectations," Edwards understands. "I expect a lot from myself, I am very competitive as everyone is probably that plays this game at this level."

 

The main obstacle for Edwards this season has been adjusting to the European game and the league.

 

"A lot of people I know have played overseas," Edwards explains. "I spoke with them and they told me about the adjustment part - on the court and off the court - and what to expect. I'm the new guy."

 

He was brought in as a strong scorer and he has become a contributor off the bench with 7.8 points of average in his 29 appearances this season.

 

"The guy can score, definitely," coach Dimitris Itoudis says. "He needs to make it happen on the courta nd I have to translate that."

 

Now Edwards can help bring Fenerbahce to the EuroLeague playoffs this week as it battles cross-town rival and defending champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

 

"Every game is important and I am excited to play in this games, " Edwards says. "I hope that I can make an impact."

Maccabi advances to the playoffs!

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Hidden aces of the playoff race, by Eurohoops

Playoffs on the line as Fenerbahce, Efes meet

Injury report, Round 33

Round 33 playoff possibilities and seedings scenarios

Fantasy Challenge, Round 33: it's do-or-die time!

Maik Kotsar, Baskonia: 'I've always liked the underdog mentality'

Carsen Edwards, Fenerbahce: 'I expect a lot of myself'